Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[lashbear]

I'm just the happiest bear in the whole WORLD at the moment.

I got "The Long Long Trailer" on DVD finally.

It came with "Forever Darling" as well.

[CoasterMatt]

I shared "Gimme the Mermaid" with a few coworkers today.

One guy said it was the greatest, most mindfvcking thing he'd ever seen.

One girl said "Matthew, don't EVER share your crazy ass psychotic noise AGAIN"

Just wait until she hears my sound governor in person :evil:

[€uroMeinke]

Just saw Temple of Doom - I had to check every few moments to see if I hadn't accidentally slipped in the Pirates Sequel - Holy Cliché Adventure Batman!

[Gemini Cricket]

Just saw Temple of Doom - I had to check every few moments to see if I hadn't accidentally slipped in the Pirates Sequel - Holy Cliché Adventure Batman!
Gunga Din was better.
:)

[€uroMeinke]

I need to finish the Fritz Lang Indian Epic

[Not Afraid]

Well, I didn't know about the marathon and I'm 2/3 of the way through the 3. Also, I now have absolutely NO desire to see Temple of Doom again....ever. No amount of haystacks could take away the bad taste in my mouth. Maybe I should go watch the original Batman movie because it was better and all of the tricks used in ToD were created by Batman.

[CoasterMatt]

I love Temple of Doom...

but not the way I love Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[innerSpaceman]

Um, Batman was made many years after Temple of Doom.


That doesn't make any less a piece of filth.

[€uroMeinke]

Um, Batman was made many years after Temple of Doom.


That doesn't make any less a piece of filth.

Pssst - I think she means the Adam West Batman ;)

[innerSpaceman]

Oh, hahahahaha!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Spain + Penelope Cruiz + Scarlett Johansson + making out + directed by Woody Allen = most anticipated movie ever.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/05/13/movie-trailer-woody-allenvicky-cristina-barcelona/

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Spain + Penelope Cruiz + Scarlett Johansson + making out + directed by Woody Allen = most anticipated movie ever.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/05/13/movie-trailer-woody-allenvicky-cristina-barcelona/

Take out "Woody Allen" and I might agree with you. Actually, Cruz doesn't really do it for me, but I understand her appeal, at least.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I finally watched There Will Be Blood. After the first hour passed, I thought, "Why were so many of my friends disappointed? This is GREAT!" And then the next hour passed, and I thought, "Okay, it's starting to flounder a bit, but I'll keep heart and maybe he will rein it in during the 3rd act."

And then..... Well, honestly, it was like watching a brilliant mind deteriorate. I felt like I was actually watching a friend I love go mad towards the end of his life. I'm not talking about Plainview's deterioration, mind. I'm personifying the movie. I really do think it had a brilliant start. I was completely riveted, and then I was completely let down.

And that final scene? Some of the worst overacting I've seen from a truly gifted actor in a long time. As for Dano's performance, I wasn't keen on it for most of the picture, so was less disappointed when he too floundered in the last 15 minutes.

Ah, well. I still have Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love to turn to.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Okay, I have not gone back and read previous postings on There Will Be Blood. Thanks to Netflix I saw it last night.

Let me preface, I loved Paul Dano and Daniel Day Lewis. I did not love the film. I really thought it was a colassal bore. I did not get the EPIC nature of the film at all.

I loved the nuance at the very end in DDL's cry I'm Finished (in more ways than one). Paul Dano was, I think, creepier than Javiar Bardem in NCFM (which I loved as a film and will buy on DVD)

What am I missing here?

Everyone has such a different take on this film, which is maybe the most interesting thing about the movie, the first hour excepted (because I loved it so much).

I actually didn't care for Dano, and most people seemed to. Times I liked him, times I thought his performance was terrible.

And though I also think DDL overdid the last 15 or 20 minutes, I also very much like his delivery of that final line. That was, as you said, nuanced.

[innerSpaceman]

Well, when I watched it again ... I was suprised to realize IT'S A COMEDY.


Seriously, I laughed all the way through it. Not AT it. With it. The final scene when Plainview is an adle-brained, drunken old coot is only overacting if you don't see his behaviour when he's younger and more sane.

Every scene with him and Paul Dano is a laugh riot. The scene in the restaurant with his son and the guys from Union Oil has me in stitches. And the bowling scene finale is simply icing on an already preposterious character's cake (or milkshake, as the case may be).


Comedy, Comedy, Comedy .... looked at from that angle, There Will Be Blood is pure black gold ... and Daniel Day deserved the Oscar he got (before they were warned how he'd dress for the ceremony).

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I loved the theme of conflict between religion and capitalism for control of society. I love that capitalism won and it wasn't shown as a gentle "good" victory.

I think I should have read your post first before writing mine, and just responded, "What he said," to this and the rest.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I enjoyed the film's black humor, though I wouldn't categorize it as a comedy, or even a Black Comedy. There were scenes where I laughed, and I think I was meant to laugh.

But that doesn't change how I felt about the piece as a whole. If it's a masterpiece I've misunderstood I'm cool with that, and there's a someecard to back me up. :)

http://mail2.someecards.com/filestorage/mov_3.jpg

[Snowflake]

Love the card EH1812. Brilliant!

iSm, I got the humor, but I'm still meh on the movie. Overlong and over tedious. I did find the restairant scene funny.

[Alex]

Ugh.

Werner Herzog is going to remake Bad Lieutenant with Nic Cage in the Harvey Keitel role.

I'm not one to immediately reject remakes, but Bad Lieutenant?

[Stan4dSteph]

I really liked The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. The extras on the DVD are very good as well.

[Alex]

Finally watched The Commitments last night. After seeing Once last year, Lani asked me to get The Commitments from Netflix since it also has Glen Hansard in it. Well, after six months of waiting for her to finally watch it, I finally said "I'm watching it tonight and sending it back. You can't really complain I didn't give you enough time."

Now, while Lani was just interested in seeing more of Hansard, I actually read the book years ago and loved it. In fact I love the whole Barrytown Trilogy from Roddy Doyle. They're near perfection and it is really too bad that I haven't cared for much that he's written since then (The Woman Who Walked Into Doors was fine but the rest I haven't even finished).

Anyway, so I actually had a fair bit of interest in watching the movie. Unfortunately, I can't say I was too thrilled by it. Nothing really bad about it but the soul-singing Irish band was an idea that played much more humorously in print than in reality. It was too much just a concert film, and a concert film of quality Motown covers at that.

So, no complaints that I can really make but I'd have been happy sticking with just the book.

[Not Afraid]

I loved the movie long ago (I still adore the soundtrack) but I agree, the book was more compelling.

[€uroMeinke]

Saw Indian Jones and the last crusade last night and found it an enjoyable romp and not nearly as painful as Temple of Doom, at least these leaves me with some hope that this upcomming one won't suck.

[Alex]

Raising Arizona is one of those iconic movies that you just somehow go through life having missed. Over the years my respect for the Coen Brothers has grown immensely.

So it pains me to say that Raising Arizona is complete ****. Getting to see Holly Hunter's face barely provides any redemption. I don't think the corner of my mouth so much as twitched once in amusement. Nicolas Cage, as he pretty much was in every early performance, was awful. The story was awful.

Suck, suck, suck, fail.

[Not Afraid]

Raising Arizona is not one of my favorite Cohen movies either. I tend to get bored with the "high jinks" genre.

However, Indy 3 was thoroughly enjoyable. I really had no complaints about the film at all. Hopefully the next film will be as fun.

[innerSpaceman]

I haven't watched it in quite a while, but Raising Arizona was a great one, to my memory. It's only been about a decade, not something from childhood. So I'll stand by its goofball, screwy comedy. Nicholas Cage was great, and so was everyone else. It's wacky fun, well-written, well-directed and well-performed. Comedy Gold Classic.


Alex is just pain wrong. :p


* * * *

As for Indiana Jones 3, yes it's not nearly as painful to watch as Indy 2 Temple of Crap. That's why I considered it a "success" when it was released. But it's barely watchable now. Pleasant enough? Perhaps. A trifle. "Doesn't.Completely.Suck" was good enough for a Temple of Doom follow-up ... but NOT for a Raiders of the Lost Ark sequel.


My high hopes for the 4th one, with a sequel/prequel track record of "MEH" ... ride on the fact that they rejected a bunch of scripts and waited till Harrison Ford had one foot in the grave before finding the script they liked. Not that I trust half of Spielberg's instincts or any of George Lucas's ... but at least it's an indication of care that portends less slapped-together than Temple of Doom or Last Crusade.



Oooooh, Indy Marathon tomorrow at LSP and Tom's. Three viewings of Indy 4 by a week from today! Including the opening midnight show in Westwood and the LoT Swanktacular viewing at the Dome for the prime Saturday night screening.

I'm excited.

:iSm:

Please don't suck. Please don't suck. Please don't suck.

[CoasterMatt]

Now that I've got the bluray drive in the ACBF, I can definitely say that I won't be needing my Across the Universe DVD anymore :)

[Gemini Cricket]

I saw Dan in Real Life last night and liked it. I thought it was a decent film. The happy-go-lucky family kind of drove me nuts and I thought Dan should have put his foot down with his daughters a bit at the end... but all in all I liked it.

[tracilicious]

I loved Dan in Real Life. I loved the way he treated his daughters. It bugged me that he was willing to give up the woman he loved, but self-sacrifice always gives me the heeby jeebies. I'm a sucker for cute and sappy movies as long as they're relatively well done. I hated all of them working out on the lawn. Who does that?

[Gemini Cricket]

Apparently, there is going to be 3 new Terminator movies starring Christian Bale as John Connor. Interesting. No word yet on if the Governator is going to reprise his role.

[Gemini Cricket]

Oh, and Jake Gyllenhaal is playing the lead role in the film Prince of Persia that is based on the video game of the same name.

[innerSpaceman]

Wow, they remade The Andromeda Strain and I didn't even know it. It's a two-part TV movie premiering Memorial Day on A&E.


I love the 70's original. It's a must see in widescreen, because of all the split-screen madness that's always been removed in the Pan&Scan versions shown on TV through the years.

I'm anxious to see the remake. It's a great story.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I never saw the movie version, but I HATED the book. And the commercial we saw for the A&E version looked awful.

[innerSpaceman]

Really? I love the book. You, Sir, are WRONG. :p

[Ghoulish Delight]

Crichton's worst ending. And that's a pretty lofty prize.

[innerSpaceman]

Beat only by Stephen King's. Way to ruin almost every book he's ever written.

[CoasterMatt]

Iron Man was a ton of fun.

Best Stan Lee cameo yet.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Beat only by Stephen King's. Way to ruin almost every book he's ever written.I could take issue with that... ;)

[Snowflake]

ooh, the Clay Theater will be showing Rosemary's Baby begining on June 5th. I've never seen it in the theater. This movie is such a hoot!

[Deebs]

Um, Snowflake? Want company? I have never seen this in a theater either.

[GusGus]

I've actually never seen it at all.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Iron Man was a ton of fun.

Best Stan Lee cameo yet.I think I missed it...where was he?

[mousepod]

I think I missed it...where was he?

His back to the camera, he appeared as "Hef", surrounded by women. He turned ... and the audience (in our theater, at least), broke into laughter and applause.

[Alex]

It was the funniest cameo of the bunch, but I really wish they'd stop doing them.

[Gemini Cricket]

Noooooooooo!
It's really happening!
The Women remake (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0430770/)
There are production stills and everything!
Noooo! I'm melting... what a world what a world....

[innerSpaceman]

Maybe I should try to slog through the original.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Oh, my, the amount of plastic surgery evidenced on the imdb gallery photos from that remake is outstanding.

[Gemini Cricket]

Maybe I should try to slog through the original.
Steve, you ignorant slut.
Of course you should slog through it!
It's fun.
:D


ETA... Waitaminute, didn't someone cool and awesome buy that for you for Hannukah?
;)

[LSPoorEeyorick]

The Key Art Awards nominations (http://royal.reliaserve.com/keyart/inline/content/viewContent.aspx?Content=nominees) are out. They're like Oscars for movie marketing. I'd like to note that we've snagged our first nomination ever, for Superbad. Snaps to EH, who headed up that project (and to our very cool team.)

We have one super heavyweight fellow nominee, and they totally deserve to win (but it's totally an honor to be nominated)

[innerSpaceman]

Congratulations.


(Though I really didn't care for that movie)




* * * *

And yes, GC, I'm more than cognizant that The Women was a gift from you, and that I'm not really gay until I watch it. Maybe that's why I don't want to finish it. I have issues with my homosexuality.


Or maybe it was just incredibly unentertaining.


Sigh, I'll try again.

[Alex]

I live across the street (literally) from a 20 screen (plus IMAX) multiplex.

I'm sitting here a little bit bored. My Netflix movies aren't appealing at the moment so I figure "might as well walk across the street, they must be showing some second- or third-choice movie that I can sit in the dark for.

Remember, 21 screens.

Right now on these 21 screens they are showing The Chronicles of Narnia on 5 screens. Indiana Jones on 6 screens. Iron Man 4 screens. Speed Racer on 3 screens. What Happens in Vegas and Made of Honor each get a screen and then Harold & Kumar, Baby Mama, and Sarah Marshall are all sharing the last screen.


21 screens and 18 of them are dedicated to four movies. How annoying.

[€uroMeinke]

I believe this is how the 500 channels of cable TV panned out too

[innerSpaceman]

I don't think Multi-Plexes were designed to offer a wide selection of films to suit any taste, but rather a wide-selection of showtimes to suit any schedule.

[Snowflake]

Noooooooooo!
It's really happening!
The Women remake (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0430770/)
There are production stills and everything!
Noooo! I'm melting... what a world what a world....

Augh..................


Eva Mendes ... Crystal Allen
Meg Ryan ... Mary Haines - WTF? I'm sorry, not acceptable casting to me UGH
Carrie Fisher ... Nancy Blake - Okay
Candice Bergen ... Catherine Frazier
Jada Pinkett Smith ... Miriam Aarons
Debra Messing ... Edith Potter
Annette Bening ... Sylvia Fowler - Okay
Bette Midler ... Flora DeLave - She'll be a hoot, not Mary Boland, but still a hoot
Cloris Leachman ... Maggie - See above and sub Marjorie Main for Mary Boland
Debi Mazar ... Olga
Keegan Connor Tracy ... Dolly Dupuyster
Joanna Gleason ... Barbara Delacorte - I love Joanna Gleason

WHO will do the clothes? I do not know who the listed wardrobe guy is.

Augh! I will go see it, of course, but AUGH just the same.

[Not Afraid]

WHO will do the clothes? I do not know who the listed wardrobe guy is.



He has a fairly decent list of costumes under his belt including some great retro productions: Mad Men, Factory Girl, Notorious Bettie Page. I have no idea what time frame this remake will be set in.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Seems present-day, from the gallery of botox horrors.

[Gemini Cricket]

Using Snowflake's list:

Eva Mendes ... Crystal Allen - no idea who EM is...
Meg Ryan ... Mary Haines - WTF X2. Meg Ryan... she's all gums when she smiles. Can't stand her.
Carrie Fisher ... Nancy Blake - I actally like this casting. It could have been Lilly Tomlin, too. ;)
Candice Bergen ... Catherine Frazier - Who the heck is Catherine Frazier?
Jada Pinkett Smith ... Miriam Aarons - No. JPS looks like she's mad all the time. Miriam should have been someone hotter and nicer.
Debra Messing ... Edith Potter - Really?! No no no no. Edith should have been played by someone feisty who can act.
Annette Bening ... Sylvia Fowler - Foul indeed. UGH! Can't stand Bening. I only liked her in American Beauty. We'll see what she does wit this cherry of a role.
Bette Midler ... Flora DeLave - That could work... But Every movie that Midler had been in lately has tanked. She's bad luck or something.
Cloris Leachman ... Maggie - I love her.
Debi Mazar ... Olga - I could see that.
Keegan Connor Tracy ... Dolly Dupuyster - No idea.
Joanna Gleason ... Barbara Delacorte - Not sure who she is...


All of this makes me sad. But at least the original is still there for all of us to enjoy.

More to add...

I just looked at the pictures.
Canoes?!

And Dianne English has never directed before. Can she do it?

[Alex]

I don't think Multi-Plexes were designed to offer a wide selection of films to suit any taste, but rather a wide-selection of showtimes to suit any schedule.

True, and I understand why they do it (and how the changing technology behind the scenes allows for it).

Doesn't make it any less annoying.

[Snowflake]

Using Snowflake's list:
Carrie Fisher ... Nancy Blake - I actally like this casting. It could have been Lilly Tomlin, too. ;)
Bette Midler ... Flora DeLave - That could work... But Every movie that Midler had been in lately has tanked. She's bad luck or something.


Okay, I wish I'd thought of Lily Tomlin. My God, why isn't she in this? She'd work as Nancy.

Bette can be so over the top, but I think she'll be funny as hell as the Countess.

I'd better bone up on the play now, GC! ;-)

[Alex]

I wonder if Charlie Kaufman actually wants people to see his new movie. I suspect a fair number of people will avoid it just because of its title:

Synecdoche, New York

First, the title is a bit of a pun/play of words off of Schenectady, New York. Second synecdoche is a word that 99% won't know the meaning of (I knew, but wasn't confident enough that I was right so looked it up anyway). And of the 1% of people who know what it means, half of them probably won't know how to pronounce it.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

sih-neck-do-key, right?

[Alex]

si-neck-duh-key (no sure how you were pronouncing the "do" syllable.

But past experience tells me that a very many people will think it is pronounced "sigh-neck-doe(sh)." At the post-screening press conference at Cannes yesterday, Kaufman had to explain to an audience of writers how to pronounce the title of the movie.

And I'm sure viewers will then launch into a discussion of the fine distinction between synecdoche and metonymy.


The dangers of trying to discuss the movie by name remind me of the pitfall of reading Hamlet out loud in my high school English class. I knew perfectly well the meaning of "melancholy" (both the modern meaning and the slightly different meaning 400 years ago). But I had never heard the word said out loud. Sadly for my easily embarrassed (back then) ego, the proper pronunciation was not the first that came to mind.

[Ghoulish Delight]

On the last point, by playing off "Schenectady", people have a better chance of pronouncing it right.

And I knew at one point what it meant, but couldn't dredge up the definition so I had to look it up.

[Alex]

I wonder though. If you don't already know how the word is pronounced then the play on Schenectady is not so obvious.

Plus, I suspect a decent number of people also don't know how to pronounce Schenectady.

I'm just being nitpicky though. It's a Charlie Kaufman movie, so regardless of title not many people will be seeing it (I love his movies, but they aren't really commercial). I just think it is an overly artsy title, even from an artsy director/writer.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'm just being nitpicky though. It's a Charlie Kaufman movie, so regardless of title not many people will be seeing it (I love his movies, but they aren't really commercial). I just think it is an overly artsy title, even from an artsy director/writer.I totally agree. Awful title. (only because I don't know the word, couldn't pronounce it, and the link to Skin-Necked-Lady, NY didn't occur to me)

[Stan4dSteph]

WTF? Why is he referencing Schenectady?

BTW it's Ska-NECK-ta-dee

[Strangler Lewis]

I have this sense that he came up with the title and built a movie around it. I'll probably see it, but I think his ideas run out of steam long before the movies end. "Eternal Sunshine" was my favorite because it had a strong emotional core amidst the high concept.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

WTF? Why is he referencing Schenectady?

BTW it's Ska-NECK-ta-dee

Well, Schenectady is. But synecdoche isn't.

I actually think the title's pretty funny because it sneaks up on you.

[Moonliner]

Lies I tell you lies!

In the theater, waiting for Indy, they were showing those movie trivia/advertising slides. Two of them grabbed my attention:

1. In Silence of the Lambs - Anthony Hopkins never blinks.
It happened to be on today. They lie. He blinked at a more or less normal rate.

2. The loudest movie ever made is: Close Encounters Of the Third Kind?
WTF? Did these people never see Tommy? Terminator-2? I have trouble accepting this one.

[mousepod]

I remember those "facts", too Moony. There was another one that was a total lie, but I can't remember it right now.

[wendybeth]

A little late to the party, but we finally got around to seeing 'Ironman'.


It totally rocked. I'm sure with successive viewings I could find things to pick apart but I don't want to. It is easily my favorite comic book movie, by far. Never have been a Batman/Superman/Spideyman type (although the previews of 'Dark Knight' lead me to believe that may change) and I have never read the series this movie is based on, but on it's own it was great. I'm so glad RDJ got off the shyt and back into life- he really made this movie what it is.

[RStar]

I agree with you, WB! RDJ did do a great job, and I hope he can keep things together and do some sequils.

[Alex]

Ugh.

I just saw they are working on Beverly Hills Cop IV. Regardless of the recent record of resuming movies series after long layoffs (Rocky Balboa was decent, Rambo was awful, Indiana Jones and Die Hard were fun enough for single viewings) I'm not always opposed to it. But it is hard to think of a big '80s-'90s series that was more creatively dead by the end than Beverly Hills Cop.

At least Judge Reinhold get to be in one more movie.

And it is a good thing that Gibson has blacklisted himself and Danny Glover looks 80 years old (though he's only 64) or I think we'd be soon subject to Lethal Weapon V.

[flippyshark]

And it is a good thing that Gibson has blacklisted himself and Danny Glover looks 80 years old (though he's only 64) or I think we'd be soon subject to Lethal Weapon V.

I officially predict that they aren't going to let any of that stop them.

[innerSpaceman]

I agree with you, WB! RDJ did do a great job, and I hope he can keep things together and do some sequils.

Actually, for the sake of more craptastic sequels to good movies remaining unmade, I hope to find him naked all cracked out on the floor behind my local motel sometime before production begins on any of those.




And, um, what the hell is "loudest" movie??? WTF? Close Encounters is many "ests" of cinema, but not the loudest.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

And, um, what the hell is "loudest" movie???Off the top of my head, I'd nominate Top Gun.

And also for the gayest (mainstream) movie.

[Alex]

Saw two older movies this week:

The Piano - Much that I liked about the movie. Wish they'd not had the Holly Hunter voice over and let her truly be mute through the whole movie. She had conveyed things just fine without the exposition. Didn't care for Sam Neil's performance though, thought he threw the whole endeavor off.

Machine Gun Kelly - Charles Bronson's first leading role (so I read) and the 20th directorial effort from Roger Corman (which is a lot since his first job directing was just three years earlier). Boy howdy did it suck. And not in a good Roger Cormanish campy way. Just suck. But then I've never really seen much evidence that Bronson deserved his film career (but admittedly I haven't seen a lot of it).

[Alex]

Not that many here will be reading this and heading to movies this weekend but here's my review (http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=sr080606as) of Kung Fu Panda.

I really enjoyed it quite a bit. Now I do have a fondness for the martial arts genre and so if they do absolutely nothing for you I can see this falling flat but it is strong with the animation, strong with the humor, and strong with the martial arts.

[Ponine]

Thanks for that Alex. I have a group of boys from karate class dying to go first thing tomorrow.

[cirquelover]

Thanks Alex. I read it last night and it looks like I'll be going to see Kung Fu Panda. I was kind of surprised that you liked it so much, maybe I will too!

[Alex]

I was surprised I liked it too. Lani didn't even want to go with me but decided to when it turned out the screening was at the theater across the street from us on a Saturday morning (so she didn't really have anything else to do anyway). And she really liked it as well.

[Moonliner]

Any good suggestions?

I need the perfect DVD for Headliner and I to watch on the flight down to WDW. For last years trip to DLR we of course picked Nemo, but I can't come up with a good tie in movie for this trip.

We never saw Dinosaur but I don't think the ride has much if anything to do with the movie. We will also be visiting Universal so that could be another source of options or perhaps something with a Florida theme.

[Snowflake]

Not for the faint of heart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWxjeFPS8DI

[Snowflake]

Any good suggestions?

I need the perfect DVD for Headliner and I to watch on the flight down to WDW. For last years trip to DLR we of course picked Nemo, but I can't come up with a good tie in movie for this trip.

We never saw Dinosaur but I don't think the ride has much if anything to do with the movie. We will also be visiting Universal so that could be another source of options or perhaps something with a Florida theme.

Snow White, of course!

[Moonliner]

Not for the faint of heart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWxjeFPS8DI

Errr, I'm hoping that was not a response to my preceding post. :eek:

[LSPoorEeyorick]

That one's down but this one's still up.
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809926850/trailer

And, seriously. If I can see the botox in the blurry, fuzzy, badly-encoded trailer above, that is TOO MUCH BOTOX.

[Snowflake]

That one's down but this one's still up.
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809926850/trailer

And, seriously. If I can see the botox in the blurry, fuzzy, badly-encoded trailer above, that is TOO MUCH BOTOX.

Nah, it's still there, just a little thingie in front of the actual trailer. Anyway, I agree, too much botox and not enough Claire Booth Luce!

[Snowflake]

Errr, I'm hoping that was not a response to my preceding post. :eek:

Nope, not at all!

[Stan4dSteph]

I watched The Bridge (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0799954/) last night. Thought-provoking film. I can't believe they got all that on film. I should look up how they filmed it. I am guessing they had people monitoring the cameras for just about the entire year in 2004.

[Moonliner]

I watched The Bridge (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0799954/) last night. Thought-provoking film. I can't believe they got all that on film. I should look up how they filmed it. I am guessing they had people monitoring the cameras for just about the entire year in 2004.

Yes. They had permission from the bridge authorities to film a "Nature documentary". As I heard it, there was a bit of a stir when the true nature of the film came out.

Still overall I like the attitude that the bridge authority takes for the Golden Gate. Which in short sums up as "If you jump, it ain't our job to stop you". They still allow pedestrians access and don't try to jumper proof the bridge with a lot of unsightly chin link and such.

[cirquelover]

Any good suggestions?

I need the perfect DVD for Headliner and I to watch on the flight down to WDW. For last years trip to DLR we of course picked Nemo, but I can't come up with a good tie in movie for this trip.

We never saw Dinosaur but I don't think the ride has much if anything to do with the movie. We will also be visiting Universal so that could be another source of options or perhaps something with a Florida theme.

I don't know how old Headliner is but there is:

Cat in the Hat
Jurassic Park
( both kind of a Universal tie in)

My boy says Ratatouille for an Epcot tie in.

That's all I got, sorry.

[Gemini Cricket]

Ugh.
Presenting... the trailer for The Women remake. Click. (http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3571908889/)

:rolleyes:

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Duuude! Like, all of four posts north!

[Not Afraid]

I can't figure out who is botoxed and who is not.

[Gemini Cricket]

Duuude! Like, all of four posts north!
Oops.
:D

I hate this movie already.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I know - me too!

[BarTopDancer]

Well this is just Smurfy! (http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSN1039068320080611)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Yeech. The Alvin and the Chipmunks treatment?? They looked so scary. I can only imagine what kind of horror a 3D, CG Smurf would be.

[Ponine]

Oops.
:D

I hate this movie already.

Awwwww....
I finally watched the trailer. I dont hate it, its not perfect, but it cant be.
They are remaking perfection.

Its cute, it will more than likely make money. And money from me.

[Gemini Cricket]

Awwwww....
I finally watched the trailer. I dont hate it, its not perfect, but it cant be.
They are remaking perfection.

Its cute, it will more than likely make money. And money from me.
This is not directed at you.
But Hollywood has run out of ideas and is too chicken to take risks. They saw a movie that had a fan base and thought by making a remake it would get money from those built in fans. It happens a lot.
They should be making perfect movies and not trying to exploit perfect movies of the past.
I expect a remake of Auntie Mame or Mame soon. Starring Beyonce as the main character. Bleh.
:D

[Ponine]

Well, if they knew the movie had a fan base, then they knew WHAT the movies fan base was made up of.

So hire an indy person, and re-make The Women with gay men and fag hag roles.

Then at least we'd have something to relate to. :P

[Gemini Cricket]

Well, if they knew the movie had a fan base, then they knew WHAT the movies fan base was made up of.

So hire an indy person, and re-make The Women with gay men and fag hag roles.

Then at least we'd have something to relate to. :P
Now there's an idea! Hire that girl right now, Smitty!
:D

On that same note, I have always wanted to see a version of Auntie Mame or Mame with a drag queen as Mame. I think it would be fabulous and would add an extra twist to the whole story.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I expect a remake of Auntie Mame or Mame soon. Starring Beyonce as the main character. Bleh.
:DBITE YOUR TONGUE MISTER! :eek:
Auntie Mame with Roz* is absolute perfection! We don't need any Hollywood dipsh¡ts getting wind of that idea. :rolleyes:
I have always wanted to see a version of Auntie Mame or Mame with a drag queen as Mame. I think it would be fabulous and would add an extra twist to the whole story.Now that could actually be enjoyable on a campy level, but there's a fine, easily crossed line that the makers would have to walk to make it work.



*(We do not discuss Mame with Lucy.)

[Chernabog]

*(We do not discuss Mame with Lucy.)

*However, we do discuss the vaseline on the lens* ;)

[Snowflake]

I expect a remake of Auntie Mame or Mame soon. Starring Beyonce as the main character. Bleh.
:D

Beyonce would be a perfect little Gloria Upson.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

*(We do not discuss Mame with Lucy.)

Hey!

While I don't love Lucy in it particularly, I LOVE the musical play.

[Snowflake]

Hey!

While I don't love Lucy in it particularly, I LOVE the musical play.

And Bea Arthur is wonderful. I still lament it was not Angela Lansbury as Mame, it shoulda been!

[BarTopDancer]

Yeech. The Alvin and the Chipmunks treatment?? They looked so scary. I can only imagine what kind of horror a 3D, CG Smurf would be.

Now with live action Azreal and Gargamel!

[LSPoorEeyorick]

And Bea Arthur is wonderful. I still lament it was not Angela Lansbury as Mame, it shoulda been!

It still is, on my original Broadway cast soundtrack... sigh...

[innerSpaceman]

I think M. Night's career is basically over.


The Happining has a neat and disturbing premise, and then manages to be really kinda awful.


Too bad. I like his first four films a lot.


Good Night M. Night.

[mousepod]

I won't post much about the new Adam Sandler movie (we saw it last night), other than to say I don't normally find his movies consistently good and this was no exception.

Punch Drunk Love was the exception. I know he has it in him. Too many penis jokes in this one...

[Alex]

I too thought The Happening was pretty bad. However, assuming that iSm begins counting with The Sixth Sense and not wide awake, that suggests that you thought The Village was good. I don't get that at all (though I'm ok with a divergent opinion, I loved Lady in the Water).

Zohan is stupid Sandler. But, I did find myself laughing a fair amount. The last half hour, however, is beyond bad and the introduction to Zohan on vacation was nearly as awful. Some funny stuff in the middle.

However, any movie that can put Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae; yes, that one) in a sex scene with Adam Sandler gets some bonus points for trying hard.

[innerSpaceman]

Yeah, my count starts with The Sixth Sense. Shows what I know.


I can appreciate how some people really dig Lady in the Water. I just don't happen to be one of them, and I can also completely understand why it was a great big bomb.

And I surely understand why most people did not like The Village.

I just don't happen to be one of them.





I just watched Signs, to take the bad Happening taste out of my mouth. Similar premise of an end-of-the-world scenario Hitchcockianish / WarOftheWorldsely told via a micro story of a small and isolated group.

And while Signs is not my personal favorite of M. Night's work ... I think it is one of those rare, perfectly crafted and constructed films. And I can see why it was his biggest mainstream hit. And I love it.



I think I'm gonna watch some more of his movies, and then wonder what went wrong.


Damn talent arc.

[Alex]

I'm hoping he'll pull back and make someone else's script. He knows how to make a movie, but he can't live with the pressure of having a career's-worth of great original ideas.

[flippyshark]

As usual, I'm way behind the curve in catching up with acclaimed movies. Anyhow, last night I watched JUNO, and I was pretty charmed. Emily Watson's performance is practically the whole movie, though the supporting cast is well chosen. It's pretty slight, fluffy stuff but I enjoyed it.

However, I have a question for those of you who have seen this - What's the deal with the twee, folksy songs on the soundtrack!?! Is this an actual genre? What is it called? Why does it exist?! The movie was punctuated by a number of quirky tunes, accompanied by guitar, and though the songs themselves were sort of funny and cute, the style of singing has me completely baffled. I can only describe it as a kind of indifferent, sluggish and off-key chanting. The credits indicate that a number of artists contributed, which is why I wonder if this is a category unto itself - whispy little tunes performed by non-singers who sound like they are waking up from a long nap. The effect is precious to the point of being agonizing. It fit the mood of the film okay, but the main character, Juno, kept talking about how much she loved punk bands of the late seventies. Why didn't we get to hear them instead?

[mousepod]

It's Anti-Folk (http://www.antifolk.net/), my friend.

[flippyshark]

Interesting. Most of the video examples I checked out on that site were more polished and accomplished than what I heard during Juno, but I could tell they were cut from similar cloth. I'm glad I have this board to keep me at least tenuously hooked into what's new.

EDITED TO ADD: Well, not so new. I've been listening to Ani DeFranco, Michelle Shocked and Nellie McKay for quiet a while without knowing that they were antifolk. Still, I wouldn't have thought of them in comparison with the odd singers heard in Juno. Guess it's best to ignore labels and just enjoy what I enjoy and disregard the rest.

[Alex]

Over the weekend we stayed in a Mammoth Lakes motel and one of the channels was Showtime Extreme. Showtime Extreme apparently is a channel devoted to showing incredibly bad action movies.

UKM: Ultimate Killing Machine was an incredibly bad action movie. I'm sure it was straight to video and the only recognizable actor was Michael Madsen. I'm sure that nobody will ever see this movie.

But in trying to track down its title for my movie watching log, I saw that, per IMDb, Michael Madsen is appearing in 18 movies this year. He's not a great actor, but he's not a horrible one either. So it is kind of sad to see him taking every straight-to-video dollar he can get.

[innerSpaceman]

Finally saw Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Great film that I found hard to watch. Two hapless brothers (Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke) hatch an ill-advised crime scheme that results in both their lives getting progressively and excruciately destroyed. Great performances and a good script, a lot of time shifting (which I love), and it was wonderfully directed by the not-dead-yet Sidney Lumet.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

It's Anti-Folk (http://www.antifolk.net/), my friend.

I didn't realize Elliott Smith was Anti-Folk. (I'm very fond of his music, I'm still mourning his untimely departure.)

[Snowflake]

Finally saw Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Great film that I found hard to watch. Two hapless brothers (Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke) hatch an ill-advised crime scheme that results in both their lives getting progressively and excruciately destroyed. Great performances and a good script, a lot of time shifting (which I love), and it was wonderfully directed by the not-dead-yet Sidney Lumet.

Sh*t - I cannot read, obviously, nevermind...

[Ghoulish Delight]

Watched Crank last night. I was prepared for a stupid popcorn movie. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it much more than that.

Someone set out to make a live action video game, and they nailed it. This is an absolutely archetypal video game plot from beginning to end. They committed to it 100%.

Unfortunately it does suffer from a really poorly written love interest with an even worse actress. It wouldn't have been so bad, but there's a huge chunk of movie that gets completely dragged down by her. It definitely hurts the overall movie.

But if you're in the mood for highly stylized, ultra-cartoony action, it's a good ride.

[Alex]

Apparently I mostly agree (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showpost.php?p=95384&postcount=1104). Though two years on all I remember is the premise of the movie and the public sex scene in front of the tour bus.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Apparently I mostly agree (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showpost.php?p=95384&postcount=1104). Though two years on all I remember is the premise of the movie and the public sex scene in front of the tour bux.What's really bizarre is that one of the DVD "extras" is a "Family Friendly Audio" track. :confused: The audio is the most family friendly part of the movie. No amount of bleeping is going to cover the murders, boobs, drug use, consensual public rape, and blatant disregard for the law.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Watched Crank last night. I was prepared for a stupid popcorn movie. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it much more than that.

Someone set out to make a live action video game, and they nailed it. This is an absolutely archetypal video game plot from beginning to end. They committed to it 100%.

Unfortunately it does suffer from a really poorly written love interest with an even worse actress. It wouldn't have been so bad, but there's a huge chunk of movie that gets completely dragged down by her. It definitely hurts the overall movie.

But if you're in the mood for highly stylized, ultra-cartoony action, it's a good ride.

I say it loudly and proudly: I LOVED CRANK! A friend dragged me into the theater practically kicking and screaming. "Really, Colleen? Really?!" I think I laughed the entire movie, not at it...with it. So much fun.

I didn't mind the love interest. I minded even less one of the most balls out hilarious sex scenes I've ever seen on film. Sweet mercy, it was funny.

[innerSpaceman]

Convinced. Queued.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Finally got around to watching Cloverfield. I can say with a certain amount of certainty that I would have hated the movie if I'd seen it in theaters because it would have made me stick to my stomach. I am very glad that I watched it on TV, because I really loved how it was made. A nice contemporary homage to H.P. Lovecraft told from the victims perspective. I was expecting it to be a montage of various video footage taken during the time of the attack, so the continuity was unexpected but not disappointing. It's different but in the same class of film as The Host, I think. And as was the filmmakers' intent, I'm glad we have a monster of our own here in the States. Fun, fun.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I didn't mind the love interest. I minded even less one of the most balls out hilarious sex scenes I've ever seen on film. Sweet mercy, it was funny.

The sex scene certainly helped soften the blow, so to speak, but the first few scenes with her sucked the air right out of the movie. Other than that, I was completely onboard.

[innerSpaceman]

And to bounce back and forth, one of my favorite things about seeing Cloverfield in a theater was the huge, headless Statue of Liberty set up in the Chinese Theater forecourt ... which, from the far northwest corner, you could line-up perfectly with the giant movie billboard atop a building across the street.


TeeHee.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

The funniest sex scene I ever saw was in the Jeff Goldblum movie The Tall Guy (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098436/). He and Emma Thompson wreak havoc on that bedroom!

[flippyshark]

Ah yes, I did love The Tall Guy, and that scene was certainly memorable.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Also watched Gone Baby Gone. Ben Affleck, no more leading roles for you! Either you're behind the camera working hard boiled magic as a director, or you shine briefly like a shooting star in a small supporting role. Continue to let your brother take the lead, because clearly directing is your calling.

Maybe your first attempt at directing a feature length film wouldn't have been as successful if you hadn't starred in all those pieces of poop in which you were also poop. And though I'd like to be a big enough person to forgive you the poop, I cannot. I just cannot forgive you. But I will likely pay to see your next movie in theaters.

About the end of Gone Baby Gone.
If the birth mother is a ****heel, screw her. He should have left that kid with Morgan Freeman. EVERYONE LOVES MORGAN FREEMAN. Every neglected/abused child would want Morgan Freeman for a father, dammit.

[Alex]

Sadly, nobody I knew at the time had seen Gone Baby Gone so I couldn't discuss it the way I wanted to then. So I made Lani listen me take both sides on a long drive (she hadn't seen it).

[Gemini Cricket]

Love Guru - 17% on rottentomatoes.com
Bomb!
But it may be #1 this weekend. They threw a lot of money into advertising.

[mousepod]

from A.O. Scott (my favorite critic):

[When Mike Myers delivers an expected punchline to a running joke] it’s somehow less amusing than it should be. Which might sum up “The Love Guru” in its entirety but only at the risk of grievously understating the movie’s awfulness. A whole new vocabulary seems to be required. To say that the movie is not funny is merely to affirm the obvious. The word “unfunny” surely applies to Mr. Myers’s obnoxious attempts to find mirth in physical and cultural differences but does not quite capture the strenuous unpleasantness of his performance. No, “The Love Guru” is downright antifunny, an experience that makes you wonder if you will ever laugh again.
The full review. (http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/movies/20guru.html)

[Capt Jack]

Love Guru - Bomb!


gee...ya think?


didnt they already do this schtick? (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064606/)

[innerSpaceman]

I hear Get Smart really underwhelms also. Bad weekend for major comedy releases.


Too bad, though. I was looking forward to Get Smart.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Love Guru - 17% on rottentomatoes.com
Bomb!
But it may be #1 this weekend. They threw a lot of money into advertising.
Sadly, he still possesses the ability to be funny. They did a Mike Myers best-of SNL show last weekend which he hosted and did a few new bits. And the new bits were actually funny, I was shocked. It was really sad to see that he can still do actual comedy but chooses instead to pump out his crappy movies.

Although watching the best-of, it's really no surprise that he became completely full of himself. I mean think about it. He had one goal in life, to be cool enough to hang out with Aerosmith. He not only achieved that seemingly ridiculous goal, he exceeded it by actually getting to PLAY with Aerosmith. Oh, and by the way, he also made out with Madonna. If you actually achieved your lifelong childhood fantasy, wouldn't you feel pretty damn full of yourself? Not to say it isn't obnoxious that he's such a douche, but it certainly was pretty understandable how he got there.

[Not Afraid]

If Get Smart isn't funny I'll probably end up loving it. It was my Dad's favorite show and one we always watched together (with popcorn and soda).

[Alex]

Ebert liked Get Smart and hated Love Guru.

These days Ebert seems to be such a softy that I take his 1-star for Love Guru to be at very good sign of just how bad is must be.

[flippyshark]

OMG! The Love God? is must viewing! It's got to be the only Don Knott's sex comedy, though it is pretty chaste, but an amusing satire of the whole Playboy philosophy, and Knotts gets to do some hilarious bird calls. Add it to your queue right away!

[MouseWife]

I hear Get Smart really underwhelms also. Bad weekend for major comedy releases.


Too bad, though. I was looking forward to Get Smart.

I am still looking forward to it. I loved that show, still make references to it. When the kids were little my sis and I used to have to find a 'cone of silence' to talk around them. That meant it was just for us.

I don't know how many times I said 'Would you believe....'


I still haven't taken the Boy to see 'Kung Fu Panda', he really wants to see it. We went to see 'The Incredible Hulk' Fathers Day and 'Iron Man' before that. I liked RDJ more than the Hulk but I think the story with the Hulk was maybe better. I don't know, not really my type of movie but I did enjoy them.

As far as DVD, has it been discussed here, 'There Will Be Blood'?

[innerSpaceman]

Oh yes, we were all over that, Gemini Crickett and I. Alex, too, I think.


I love. They hate.

[MouseWife]

iSm, that would be TWBB?

I just need to understand more about why, why, why?????

My son loved it, said he wants to be just like DDLs' character when he grows up. :eek:

I asked if he was supposed to be the devil, was he supposed to have sold his soul to become this oil 'magnate' ;0) or what?! He was so evil! I did not like him at all. The movie itself was good but his actions sickened me. What did you guys think, sick man or what? That oil men are evil? I mean, there has to be more than just that ending.....

[innerSpaceman]

Well, as I've said before in this thread ... the second time I watched it, the film played more like a comedy to me. So many of the scenes and characters are very broad, and really, really funny.


DDL's character is a complete, soulless, heartless bastard. But a fascinating one. However, if your boy wants to be just like him .... send him to Military School right now.

[MouseWife]

I should search that and read what you all have said...

Yes, the movie was very good. I just couldn't get over that soulless heartless bastard. {a very good description!}

Yeah, I don't know about my son, I don't know if he is messing with me or what. I just told him not to practice such behaviour on his little brother. :mad:

[Alex]

There Will Be Blood is a movie that is settling in memory better than it was experienced.

I believe my comments after initial viewing were that I admired it, loved what he was trying to do, but I thought it went off the rails by the end.

[MouseWife]

The ending did leave me with my jaw dropped. I was a little p'oed that I'd stayed up until midnight to finish it.

I loved the area shots. I loved when they showed the coast. I told my son, when they showed the one young man in the house, I guess it was his grandfather who was gone? I told my son that is exactly how it must have been in the day. That is so interesting to me.

[Ghoulish Delight]

There Will Be Blood is a movie that is settling in memory better than it was experienced.

I believe my comments after initial viewing were that I admired it, loved what he was trying to do, but I thought it went off the rails by the end.Ditto. I was right along with it for a while, and did indeed see the humor through it, but it just never seemed to completely gel into anything more than an interesting concept.

[flippyshark]

Just watched No Country For Old Men, and then rewatched the last half hour or so of it, because it definitely threw me the first time around. I'm sure I saw it discussed here long ago, but the search function won't grab it because so many of the words in that title (no, for, old) are too common. Anyhow, after a day's reflection, I think this one is going to stick with me for a while. Did others here love or hate it?

There Will Be Blood is tonight's viewing for me. (I'm only a year or so behind.)

[innerSpaceman]

I didn't love it ... but I couldn't stop thinking about it for about two weeks ... which led me to consider it a much better film than the one I thought I'd watched.



I thought TWB Blood was a much better movie, but it didn't leave me constantly thinking about it for a fortnight. (Though I would hardly call it a film that left my mind as soon as I left the theater.)

[Alex]

Love it. As a piece of craft the best I saw last year (for simple joy of watching it was surpassed by Once).

[LSPoorEeyorick]

It took me awhile to ponder it, because I so enjoyed it for the majority of the movie, but the end so threw me that I didn't know what I thought about it until I saw TWBB. By comparison I think I loved NCFOM a lot because I disliked TWBB so.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I enjoyed Kung Fu Panda.

[Pirate Bill]

I just watched DOA: Dead or Alive last night.

Lame plot. Terrible script. Bad acting.

Super yummy hot chicks. Very very nice T&A. Lots of fun fight sequences. And the humor is surprisingly funny (considering the bad writing every where else in the movie).

I loved it! :D

[Alex]

sex, lies, and videotape - I put this off for a long time. All because of a misconception about what kind of movie it was. I don't mind movies about sex, but generally I'm bored by movies that contain a lot of it. So it was a surprise to watch it and find that sex is never presented on screen in the entire movie. Also: Andie MacDowell; who the hell goes out of their way to watch a movie with her in it? Anyway, I enjoyed it.

Get Smart - A heat avoidance selection. Didn't hate it. Didn't love it. Will have mostly forgotten it in 2 weeks. Solidly in the I Spy category of not-embarrassing but doesn't add anything TV remakes. It did get off to a slow start until I was able to shake off the "Michael Scott becomes a spy" feeling.

[Gemini Cricket]

I was in the mood to watch musicals so I watched The Sound of Music and West Side Story back to back. Say what you will about the corniness of both (I can't help but chuckle at the dancing scenes at the beginning of WSS), but they are both solid films. There is some really cool cinematography in both. And there are some wonderful performances in both (Andrews and Moreno specifically). And "America" is still one of my very favorite musical numbers on film. The use of full shots were brilliant.
:)

[flippyshark]

Far from chuckling, I find the dancing at the beginning of (and throughout) West Side Story to be thrilling. But, I'm a huge sucker for this kind of thing. I guess the fact that the dancing begins after a very photo-realistic view of the grungy city is kind of a surprising juxtaposition. But, the entire opening is one of my favorites ever.

The hilltop opening of Sound of Music also gives me chills every single time. (I love Sound of Music on the non-ironic, sappiest level. I suppose I should feel kind of goofy about that fact, but I'm unapologetic. It makes me happy.) The only moment in SoM that doesn't work is at the end of "So Long, Farewell," when all the party guests sing 'goodnight." That's a real cringer.

I've been on a Rodgers and Hammerstein kick recently. I watched Carousel, Oklahoma, The King and I and State Fair all in one week. I had never seen State Fair before, and WOW! did I ever fall in love with leading lady Jeanne Craine! And the whole movie is a charmer, as cornpone as it gets, but still more sophisticated than so much of what passes for entertainment these days. (I haven't seen the much-dissed sixties remake of State Fair, but I'm sure to give it a whirl soon.)

[innerSpaceman]

I HATE The Sound of Music, but West Side Story is brilliant. Yeah, um, the juxtaposition of the realistic setting and the impressionistic dance is the point.




But I'm glad GC watched the Bette Davis Special Salute to Robert Wise.




Bette Davis at the 1989 Oscars, just before they killed her mike:And Mr. Wise is the winner of two Oscars himself. The Sooooound of Muusic. West Side Story.

[Pirate Bill]

I watched Carousel...

I was at a meeting a few weeks ago where I just wasn't in a pleasant mood and wasn't about to take any crap from managers who like to give out too much work and not enough time to do it. Anyway, after the meeting someone said, "Ain't nobody pushing around my boy Bill."

I responded, "There's a song about that." Which only got me blank stares. So I said, "Please tell me you've all seen Carousel." More blank stares.

What's wrong with people?

[Alex]

<blank stare>

[innerSpaceman]

I love Carousel.




Then again, I'm gay as a gaytor.

[Pirate Bill]

I grew up with my older siblings constantly listening to the soundtracks from The Sound of Music, West Side Story, Carousel, Oklahoma, The King and I, Brigadoon, South Pacific, etc. So, naturally, I've seen the movies (multiple times).

I wouldn't say I love the movies, but I do like them.

[Capt Jack]

must be time to go home. I swear I read

I threw up on my older siblings constantly listening to the soundtracks from The Sound of Music, West Side Story, Carousel, Oklahoma, The King and I, Brigadoon, South Pacific, etc.

yeah. homeward bound it is

[Gemini Cricket]

Can't stand Carousel (boooring), Oklahoma! (yes, even with cowboys, it stinks) and South Pacific (such horrible color filters throughout - bleh). I thought Brigadoon and the King and I were okay.

I simply love the Sound of Music. I grew up watching it over and over and it is tied to too many good memories to ever hate it. Christopher Plummer was one of my first childhood crushes. He is so very handsome in this film and, might I add imho, very gay. My biggest qualm with the film is something they changed when they translated it from the stage play. At the end of the play, Rolfe saves the day by not letting the family get caught because of his love for Liesel. That plays much better than what happened in the film, but I do understand the director not wanting the audience to have an ounce of love for any Nazi in the film.

Watching the making of West Side Story, I was surprised to find out that Wood and Beymer hated each other. I mean, how could you hate Beymer? He was one hunkadola I tells ya.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/Untitled-2-13.jpg

[Cadaverous Pallor]

What Flippy said. I love both of those musicals. Grew up on them. I don't think they're silly at all. I laugh, I cry, I marvel at the fantastic cinematography and choreography. They're exactly what they need to be.

[innerSpaceman]

Oklahoma is teh awesome.

[Gemini Cricket]

I was noticing the directors' use of color in WSS. Lots of primary colors, lots of red.

Oh and the full shots for the Dance at the Gym scene were primo also.
:)

[Morrigoon]

I love Carousel.




Then again, I'm gay as a gaytor.

Okay, but admit that the ballet in the middle is just a TAD too long, yes?

[mousepod]

Something I loved about Twin Peaks - seeing Tony and Riff singing a duet (albeit a drunken one).

[innerSpaceman]

Yes, middle ballet is too long. It's always too long in just about every film that had the misfortune to include a ballet interlude. Dumb relic of its time.

[JWBear]

Oh goody! Musicals! I just adore a good musical!

Love WSS, Brigadoon, Oklahomo, Sound of Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Raspberries!), Seven Brides for Seven Hunks... er...Brothers, Music Man, King and I...

I also find Carousel boring.

[JWBear]

Oooo... How could I forget Singing in the Rain, American in Paris, and Kiss Me Kate!

[Alex]

Just watched King of Kong, the documentary about the hard-core classic gaming community and a scandal in their midst.

I'd say this is mandatory viewing for anybody who has spent much time in small ultra-niche groups who can find themselves taking things way more seriously than necessary.

Also, while watching things like this (and Hands on the Hard Body and others of the ilk) I can't help but try to imagine something similar being made about MouseAdventure and how everybody would come across.

[Not Afraid]

PUERTO RICO. My HEARTS devotion. Let it Sink BACK in the OCEAN.
Always a hurricane blowing.
Always the pop-u-la-tion growing
And the sunlight streaming
and the natives screaming.......

I like the island Manhattan (I know you do)

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'd say this is mandatory viewing for anybody who has spent much time in small ultra-niche groups who can find themselves taking things way more seriously than necessary.

Damnit, will you stop posting reviews that don't pertain to anyone on this board.

[Gemini Cricket]

PUERTO RICO. My HEARTS devotion. Let it Sink BACK in the OCEAN.
Always a hurricane blowing.
Always the pop-u-la-tion growing
And the sunlight streaming
and the natives screaming.......

I like the island Manhattan (I know you do)
Smoke on your pipe and put THAT in!
:D

[Alex]

Damnit, will you stop posting reviews that don't pertain to anyone on this board.

Why I do declare! I surely have no idea what you're talking about.

[Gemini Cricket]

Seven Brides for Seven Hunks... er...Brothers
It is, of course, imperative that you know your seven brothers:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/seven_l.jpg
from left to right: Frank, Caleb, Gideon, Ephraim, Daniel, Benjamin and then there's Adam (not pictured)

Frank - the funniest one, cute, awesomely hysterical expressions
Caleb - rugged, kept his Van Dyke beard, very good dancer
Gideon - the baby face of the bunch, acrobatic and a hottie
Ephraim - best butt of the bunch, speaking voice was dubbed, but he was the best dancer, imho
Daniel - cutie, too. kept his porn mustache
Benjamin - the hottest of the bunch, has that Lil Abner look to him. Watch the film, he and Adam are the only two who dance very little. In dance scenes, Ben is in the back and hidden. Even though, he's hot hot hot. Julie Newmar was no fool to pick him.
Adam - the big blowhard of the family, knows what he likes and gets it, he can marry me 5 minutes after meeting me too. But he would have to keep his beard or at least a Van Dyke beard...

Yes, I would love to be trapped in his motion picture. 7 brothers... odds are one was a fruit. My money is on Gideon.
:D

[cirquelover]

We watched National Treasure 2 tonight, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The boy liked it a lot, especially the car chases. I think I need to rent a good movie with car chases for him. Any good recommendations?

[MouseWife]

I probably shouldn't but...

Dirty Harry movies? But, they are kind of violent.

Ummm...Steve McQueen and 'Bullit'? And there is another one, maybe 'Vanishing Point'? Or is that just a guy/car flick? Or 'Duel'? Isn't that one about a guy in a truck harrassing a guy in a car? Maybe not a good one.

Smokey and the Bandit? Can't say I've seen them but aren't they car flicks?

We saw 'Get Smart' tonight. I really liked it. Made me really want to watch the old shows and to find out the status of Don Adams.

[Gemini Cricket]

The Italian Job (the remake) had some cool car chase scenes...

[Pirate Bill]

Just watched King of Kong, the documentary about the hard-core classic gaming community and a scandal in their midst.

I'd say this is mandatory viewing for anybody who has spent much time in small ultra-niche groups who can find themselves taking things way more seriously than necessary.

Yes, King of Kong is excellent. I'll add to that same mandatory viewing list Darkon, 2006. Not a great movie, but very interesting in an ultra-niche group sort of way.

[innerSpaceman]

Watch the film, he and Adam are the only two who dance very little.
Yes, the others were all professional dancers, except for Russ Tamblin who it was discovered could dance up a storm with an acrobatic flair. But, being actors, that's why Adam and Benjamin are 10 times hotter than any of the other brothers.


OMG, this is my favorite musical ever. I want to watch it right now.


The DVD has the weirdest extra ever. The film was shot twice ... once in CinemaScope and once in standard aspect ratio. The latter version is on the DVD and it's like watching the same movie, but with the takes that have zero ooomph and would have been rejected. Same movie, shot for shot, but without the zest that makes this film fantastic. So.Frelling.Bizarre.

[mousepod]

I'm pretty sure that Oklahoma was also shot in two different aspect ratios. Without looking it up, I seem to remember that one was the novel "Todd-AO".

[Gemini Cricket]

I'm pretty sure that Oklahoma was also shot in two different aspect ratios. Without looking it up, I seem to remember that one was the novel "Todd-AO".
Yes, I saw a doco where they showed both side by side for a couple of scenes. Now I'm wondering which version of SBFSB I have...

[JWBear]

It is, of course, imperative that you know your seven brothers:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/seven_l.jpg
from left to right: Frank, Caleb, Gideon, Ephraim, Daniel, Benjamin and then there's Adam (not pictured)

Frank - the funniest one, cute, awesomely hysterical expressions
Caleb - rugged, kept his Van Dyke beard, very good dancer
Gideon - the baby face of the bunch, acrobatic and a hottie
Ephraim - best butt of the bunch, speaking voice was dubbed, but he was the best dancer, imho
Daniel - cutie, too. kept his porn mustache
Benjamin - the hottest of the bunch, has that Lil Abner look to him. Watch the film, he and Adam are the only two who dance very little. In dance scenes, Ben is in the back and hidden. Even though, he's hot hot hot. Julie Newmar was no fool to pick him.
Adam - the big blowhard of the family, knows what he likes and gets it, he can marry me 5 minutes after meeting me too. But he would have to keep his beard or at least a Van Dyke beard...

Yes, I would love to be trapped in his motion picture. 7 brothers... odds are one was a fruit. My money is on Gideon.
:D

I don't know if any of the brothers were gay, but one of the dancers is! Tommy Rall, who plays Frank, is openly gay.

Caleb is my favorite. One of little JW's earliest screen crushes. :D He also had a bit part (sans beard) in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. He was one of the shirtless athletes in the “Anyone Here for Love?" number. I have a picture somewhere. I’ll post it when I get home. ;)

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Boy, I just don't like 7 for 7... I can't get through it. But I do enjoy a good production of Oklahoma! - and I can recommend one heartily; the Hugh Jackman version (we saw it through Great Performances on PBS) was full of nuance and complexity. And he was incredible - I knew he started in theater, but I had no idea just how terrific he was. I enjoy the movie well enough, too.

West Side occupies a big squishy area of my heart. It practically wears a bib that says Baby's First Sondheim. Lyrics, at least - and the awesome "Quintet," which, as Sondheim is wont to do, layers the musicality of several perspectives. He did it for "Rose's Turn," too. Which reminds me: I like Gypsy, with the sole exception of "Little Lamb." What a dumb song that is.

I love musicals. During my teenage years I listened to little else. But I was strongly into the modern ones. Sondheim, obviously, but also Michael John LaChiusa, Andrew Lippa, Jonathan Larson, Ahrens/Flaherty... I've recently been getting into them a bit more, so I think I'll have to pull my gigantic box of musical CDs out of storage.

[flippyshark]

Todd-AO was indeed the alternate version on Oklahoma. It is said that the Todd-AO version was shot on all the first takes, and the more widely distributed PanaVision was comprised of later takes, hence the Todd-AO has more vitality of performance, and in some cases, better sunlight.

The Todd-AO process involved shooting at a higher frame rate (30 frames per second instead of 24 fps). This version made its video debut on laserdisc some years back. Because the frame rate is virtually identical to the NTSC 29.97 fps, watching Oklahoma this way, the image sometimes looks more like video than film. This transfer was used for an initial DVD release back the in 90s, but it's a terrible transfer. The frame rate makes certain parts of the image pop, but overall, it is soft, fuzzy and lacking in detail.

There is a much newer two disc DVD release with an awesomely bright and clear remaster of the Panavision release, and on the second disc, the Todd-AO, but it seems to be the same dreadful transfer, or one not very much better. It's a shame, because that would be the version to watch, if it were given a sufficient remaster.

[innerSpaceman]

I don't think I've ever seen the Panavision version of Oklahoma. Now I want to watch both, and see if one suffers from the craptasticness that affects the standard aspect version of 7 Brides.


LSPE ... Oi, I wish I'd never read you can't make it thru Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I'm trying so hard to have you not be dead to me, because I love you so much. ;)


(BTW, Caleb and Daniel were the gay brothers. Pfft, while the others were sleeping with sheep, they had better ideas!)

[mousepod]

Another version of Seven Brides... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eTe5H4AkUA)

NSFNA

[Gemini Cricket]

I also hear that there is a new, hot stage version of 7 Brides that played in Massachusetts. Built guys dancing with their shirts off... Nice. Maybe I moved away too soon!
:D

[Morrigoon]

Umm... this is an original YouTube genre mix:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjkT8zAuVGc&amp;feature=related

[JWBear]

I think someone needs to make a gay version - Seven Guys for Seven Brothers... :D

[Morrigoon]

Dude, yeah.

[Snowflake]

I don't know if any of the brothers were gay, but one of the dancers is! Tommy Rall, who plays Frank, is openly gay.


He is also a helluva dancer. Has a great part in Kiss Me Kate and with Bob Fosse and Bobby Van a great sance number in the middle of the film (with Carol Haney, Jeanne Coyne (both assistants to Gene Kelly) and Ann Miller)

I heart Tommy Rall.

[Gemini Cricket]

I think someone needs to make a gay version - Seven Guys for Seven Brothers... :D
Mmm hmm. I would be there opening night!
:D

[innerSpaceman]

I think too many of the song lyrics would have to be changed.


But the whole concept of kidnapping boys from the town and turning them all gay over the winter would be hot enough to melt the snow before the pass is open.

[JWBear]

... And the ending, with the fathers not knowing who the baby belongs to, would have to go.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Warner Bros. released some new images from Dark Knight.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16959

I'm thinking this one will suck.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Really? Because I'm very much looking forward to it. I loved Batman Begins.

[BarTopDancer]

I'm not looking forward to all the clowns... I don't know why Joker in Batman Returns didn't bother me, but the clowns in this one sure do.

I'm going to see it anyways.

[Chernabog]

NSFNA

Does this mean Not Safe For Not Afraid?

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm not looking forward to all the clowns... I don't know why Joker in Batman Returns didn't bother me, but the clowns in this one sure do.

I'm going to see it anyways.
The Joker was in the original Burton Batman, not Returns. Just to be nitpicky.

[Gemini Cricket]

The Joker was in the original Burton Batman, not Returns. Just to be nitpicky.
GD's pickin' nits.
:D

[BarTopDancer]

The Joker was in the original Burton Batman, not Returns. Just to be nitpicky.


I know nothing about Batman.

There.

[Ghoulish Delight]

To steal my favorite GC-ism: There ya' go not knowing things again.

Riddler was in Forever. Returns was Penguin and Catwoman.

[Gemini Cricket]

As much as I liked Nicholson as the Joker, I sometimes wonder what Jim Carrey would have done with the part. He's got all the wacky faces down and we know he can do drama... combining the two, zipping back and forth between them would have been neat to watch. I thought his Riddler was Joker-eque... at least the way the Joker seems in the comic books...

[BarTopDancer]

Blah blah blah.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I sometimes wonder what Jim Carrey would have done with the part.

Oh, blech! THERE YOU GO NOT KNOWING THINGS AGAIN. In most cases, Carrey is a blight on our celluloid. Unfunny, devoid of cleverness or smarts... and proved so in his Riddler role. (What a stinker of a film that was.) At this point, I consider only one of his films good (Eternal Sunshine) and one passable but shallow (Truman Show) and one amusing if your brain is turned off (Liar, Liar)

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

There have been so many interpitations of the Joker both in comics and on screen now, its tough to know what the real character is. The 60's Batman et al. really skewed the image originated in the comic books to the point that people think that's all it ever was. I think Ledger and his death is going to put a damper on this the more I see of it. I really liked Batman Begins, but I think they should have moved on (in the script stage) to another villian and situation.

IMHO.

[JWBear]

Truman Show is one of the only things I could stand him in. The other was a made for TV movie, made before he became famous, called Doing Time on Maple Drive.

[JWBear]

I almost forgot... He was good as the Grinch.

[innerSpaceman]

You are dead to me.


Ok, he was good as the Grinch, but that was among the most ill-conceived movie projects ever greenlit.


I live some of his doofy comedies. He was great in Eternal Sunshine. Um, that's it, I think.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Ditto that ill-conceived. Fie on all after-the-fact invented backstories for delightfully-evil-for-no-purpose villains (Michael Myers, I'm also talking to you.)

[BarTopDancer]

I suppose I should see Batman Begins.

When Ledger died Jack Nicholson said that to get into the character of Joker you had to go to a dark place. I found that intriguing. I think Jim Carrey could be a good Joker, but I don't think he'd be good in that dark place. Then again it didn't work out so well for Ledger either.

I think Ledgers death will bring a very haunting aura to the film. I don't like the marketing they are doing for it, I'd like to see a good mix. But it is what it is.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'll give him Earth Girls Are Easy, Eternal Sunshine, maybe Truman. I'll even throw in the Grinch (in the "given the abomination he was given to work with he did an admirable job" kinda way) and, yes, even Once Bitten. Still doesn't make up for his overall volume of crapitude.

I have a feeling this is going to be like Returns, very polarizing. People will either love it or hate it.




ETA: Oh yeah, I actually liked Forever. But it came out during an uncharacteristic run of being a functionally social human being during high school where I was making an effort to get off my butt and hang out with people, so my good mood surely has colored my judgment.

[BarTopDancer]

Batman
Batman Returns
Batman Forever
Batman Begins

What other ones have come out in recent years?

[innerSpaceman]

Batman and Robin was the really rat turd one with the Governator as Mr. Freeze (though it did have the hysterical clip of The Cold Meiser song from the weird Rankin-Bass Christmas special ... it's one of my favorite musical numbers ever.)



So what marketing am I missing for The Dark Knight since I don't watch TV? Because the print ads and posters about town seem to be 1/3 about the Joker, and 2/3 about Batman. I don't see how that's inappropriate.

They simply scrapped the entire early promo campaign which was supposed to be ALL JOKER.


I think the studio is being very tasteful. They have a lot to gain by this being Ledger's final appearance, and in a decidely macabre role. You can't expect them to just throw that away, or refuse to promote one of the film's main characters.

[CoasterMatt]

I really enjoy Dumb and Dumber, other than that, I really don't care much for Jim Carrey.

[BarTopDancer]

Batman Begins is on FX. Since I probably won't get around to renting it anytime soon, I'm going to watch the televised version and hope it's not cut to much.

iSm, I think the oversaturation I'm seeing is on MySpace. It's all Joker, all the time.

[LashStoat]

I think Jim Carrey could be a good Joker, but I don't think he'd be good in that dark place. Then again it didn't work out so well for Ledger either.

I have a dark place for Jim Carrey - a peat bog in the north of Ireland.

:cool:

[Not Afraid]

Another version of Seven Brides... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eTe5H4AkUA)

NSFNA


ARGH! I clicked before Chris could warn me!!!!!

[mousepod]

What do you think NSFNA means?

[flippyshark]

last nights' rental - The Bucket List. (Comments not particularly spoiler-y unless you are completely unfamiliar with the premise of the film.)

It was pure enjoyment seeing Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson paired up and playing essentially their own public personas. (Wise everyman sage, cynical (but aging) party animal) and, I'm all about the movies main message - don't put off the things that bring you joy. However, it was a bit depressing to note that nearly all of the "living it up" that these characters do is made possible by one of them being filthy rich. So, the real moral seemed to be, do whatever it takes to make stinking potloads of money, and eventually, you'll be able to really live.

The movie was nothing if not predictable, but in a pleasing way. It's success is all in the casting, though.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Just saw Indy IV. As long as one can suspend any thought of realism, it's a fun movie. I liked the chases, and there was enough humor to keep me laughing.

[Pirate Bill]

Just watched Hot Rod.

The beginning was good. It slowed in the middle and picked back up at the end. Good sophomoric humor throughout. The "punch dancing" scene is so much better in the bonus material where they show the similar scene from Footloose side-by-side. Hilarious!

[€uroMeinke]

Yesterday I saw a billboard for Space Chimps - I figured it couldn't be real since no one's said anything about it here. Then I saw another billboard. So is this the second coming of Lancelot Link Secret Chimp?

[flippyshark]

alas, no link to Lancelot - Space Chimps looks like another generic talking cgi animal comedy. Yawn

I used to have a Lancelot Link lunch box, though.

[flippyshark]

Tonight's movie catch-up rental - Julie Taymor's Across The Universe. I can see why this divided critics and Beatles fans. It's kind of a mess, and its reach exceeds its grasp. But, call me a sucker, I liked it. (It reminded me an awful lot of Milos Forman's Hair, which I adore in spite of its flaws.) I wouldn't want to listen to it as a soundtrack, but in context, I enjoyed many of the visual interpretations of the songs, and even some of the painfully shoehorned numbers struck me as highly enjoyable. The cast were earnest and pleasant to listen to/ look at. I have a feeling I'll be revisiting this soon. I'll see how it holds up over the long haul.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Oooh, that's out? Time to check the queue.

Meanwhile, we followed a Netflix recommendation for a movie called Cashback.

We turned it off. It was unwatchable. Which is too bad because the premise was interesting and there was a good scene or two. But they made the decision to go with a running voice-over monologue through the whole bloody movie which they clearly thought contained brilliant prosaic writing, but was actually hackneyed over dramatic drivel.

It was especially glaringly bad having just seen WALL-E where an entire love story was told with fewer words than this amateur attempt at a movie had in any 2 minute stretch.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

It was especially glaringly bad having just seen WALL-E where an entire love story was told with fewer words than this amateur attempt at a movie had in any 2 minute stretch.This was so horribly bad! You don't even get to meet the original love interest, it's all slow-mo flashback (running through fields, I kid you not) and he blathers on and on about how much he loves her. I didn't believe anything he said, as there was no reason to.

I was practically screaming, don't tell, SHOW! But even when they showed things happening, they also told at the same time, and the redundancy was just as bad. We gave it as long as we could stand it.

It thought it was Garden State, but it was sooooo not. And Garden State wasn't perfect, either.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Man alive - I hated Cashback when it was just 15 minutes long (nominated for best short film live action in 2006, bleah!)

[JWBear]

We watched La Vie en Rose last night. Man, she had a rough life!

[Pirate Bill]

I've been reading The Secret History of Star Wars (http://www.secrethistoryofstarwars.com/book.html) recently. (A free PDF download. Informative book, but very poorly written. 524 pages that could be easily cut in half with better editing.)

Anyway, the book talks about how Hidden Fortress influenced Lucas in the story and style of Star Wars. So I gave it a watch. Pretty good movie. I liked it. According to The Secret History of Star Wars, the plot and storyline of the first draft scripts of the Star Wars were taken directly from Hidden Fortress. The theatrical release of Star Wars doesn't have the same plot, but it has some similar elements that remain. What's interesting though is, from what I saw, there are even elements from Hidden Fortress that seemed to show up in Phantom Menace. The swipe cuts in all the Star Wars movies also seemed to be taken directly from Hidden Fortress.

[Ghoulish Delight]

3PO and R2 are HEAVILY ripped off from influenced by Hidden Fortress, as I recall from my viewing.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Grave of Fireflies.

Wow. That's a powerful movie. I realized that while I've seen countless Japanese movies and tv shows that have had blatant, beyond thinly veiled allegories relating to WWII, I've never seen anything that so directly addressed it. So seeing the war from that perspective for the first time added even more emotion to an already gut-wrenching story.

It is not an easy watch, but it's a stunningly beautiful film.

[innerSpaceman]

I didn't care for it. Yes, very disturbing and haunting for an animated film. But I really found it rather relentlessly depressing for no particularly good cause of cinema.

[Gemini Cricket]

But I really found it rather relentlessly depressing for no particularly good cause of cinema.
Yeah, who would want to immortalize one of the most tragic events in history for? No need to remember all that.
:rolleyes:

[Snowflake]

I watched The Women for the umpteenth time last night, still wonderful, still funny and still makes me laugh and smile. Mary Boland and Roz Russell do steal the picture. That is all.

[Gemini Cricket]

I watched The Women for the umpteenth time last night, still wonderful, still funny and still makes me laugh and smile. Mary Boland and Roz Russell do steal the picture. That is all.
I think one of the reasons I love this film and films like His Girl Friday, The Man Who Came to Dinner, and Stage Door is that the machine gun pace of the dialogue of these films match the way my brain moves: fast and bitchy.
:)

[innerSpaceman]

Yeah, who would want to immortalize one of the most tragic events in history for? No need to remember all that.
:rolleyes:
Oh, were that boy and his sister some sort of legend? Sorry, I never heard about them other than in this film.


If you're talking about the greater situation that provoked their tragic circumstances, I don't see why there couldn't have been 1000 or that there haven't been 1000 other films with that as a background to a far better drama.

I found nothing theatrical, storytellingness, cinematic about the STORY. It was just a series of depressing events. This is just my opinion, but the story was weak. A series of events is not necessarily a story worth telling.

[JWBear]

I watched The Women for the umpteenth time last night, still wonderful, still funny and still makes me laugh and smile. Mary Boland and Roz Russell do steal the picture. That is all.

I think one of the reasons I love this film and films like His Girl Friday, The Man Who Came to Dinner, and Stage Door is that the machine gun pace of the dialogue of these films match the way my brain moves: fast and bitchy.
:)

Has anyone else seen the trailer for the new version of The Women? It really looks bad... :eek:

[Snowflake]

Has anyone else seen the trailer for the new version of The Women? It really looks bad... :eek:

Yes, I posted it here some time back. It made me afraid, very afraid (and made me throw up a little, too)

[Pirate Bill]

3PO and R2 are HEAVILY ripped off from influenced by Hidden Fortress, as I recall from my viewing.

The one bonus feature the disc had was Lucas talking about Hidden Fortress. He pretty much completely admits to using the 2 peasants as "inspiration" for 3PO and R2, but any other similarities are "only coincidence." I call BS. Having now read the synopsis and story of the early drafts of Star Wars, it seems to me that ol' George was having trouble coming up with a story and copied Hidden Fortress. But through a number of rewrites the story changed.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I found nothing theatrical, storytellingness, cinematic about the STORY. It was just a series of depressing events. This is just my opinion, but the story was weak. A series of events is not necessarily a story worth telling.It was based on a semi-autobiographical novel, the author of which did lose a sister to malnutrition during the war and blamed himself.

What I found striking about the movie was how authentic its emotions were, how starkly it portrayed the pride-centric Japanese mentality, how well it depicted the collateral horrors of the war.

It was one of the most tangible and believable cinematic portrayals of grief and loss I've ever seen.

[innerSpaceman]

something about the little girl bugged me so much, i was almost glad she died.


Anyway, different takes on it. I was urged and urged to see it, so obviously many people feel it's good, and powerful and well done. I'm happy to concede that my minority opinion is likely way off base.

[flippyshark]

Not that it might have made any difference, iSm, but did you watch Grave of the Fireflies in a dubbed version, or in its original language? (Just wondering if the little girl's voice was an annoyance factor, or if she bothered you for other reasons.)

As for me, I haven't cried any harder for any other movie, ever. I don't plan to revisit this one anytime at all, but I was sure blown away by its raw emotional power, and startled by the simple beauty of the art and animation. But, a second viewing would either put me through the wringer again, or might not be as effective, in which case, that would kind of suck as well.

[innerSpaceman]

i can't recall if her voice was part of the problem, and frankly i can't recall if i watched it dubbed or not .... but chances are I did.

[lashbear]

Stoat & I are going to see Get Smart tonight... we'll keep you posted :D