Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[innerSpaceman]

How odd ... I just finished watching TransAmerica, too.

Right this minute, in fact. And with 'Travelin' Thru' still playing over the end credits as I type this, I also vow to gravetravel knowing it's better than that lame Pimp song.


I didn't have the baggage of knowing Felicity Huffman from anything else, so I had no problem with her in the role. I know it might have been more "authentic" for a man to be playing the main character ... but only if the man had gone thru the whole sex change thing (short of the oh-so-final dicksideout part). The character was 79.6% woman, so I think Huffman fit the role to a T.


I really liked the movie. And I didn't even have a problem with over-the-top mom, since that was clearly the high-farce portion of the film that was meant to be a break from more serious, more slow-paced fare that characterized the bulk of the movie.

Not that the remainder of the film was humorless. The pic was laced with some pretty funny stuff. Haha, my favorite line was when Toby (Felicity's son in the movie), unexpectedly attending a trannie party, is amazed at the geniuneness of a female-to-male transexual, and the 'guy' says back to him, "We walk among you."



[plot points revealed:]

It was a funny, quirky road trip movie. Felicity Huffman's character, Bri (short for Sabrina) is a week before her final sex change operation when she finds out she has a teenage son, in trouble with the law across the country in New York. Bri goes back east from L.A. to bail him out of jail, and ... they end up driving cross country back to Los Angeles together.

Bri does not come clean with the lad. The kid finds out she's a "he" when Toby glances out the rear view mirror at a roadside pee-stop. Worse, Toby finds out Bri's really his dad, Stanley, when Toby is brazenly coming on to Bri (brazenly as in stark naked) at her/his parents house in Phoenix (where they end up stranded after their car is stolen by a peyote shaman conman hitchhiker).

The movie was very entertaining. It didn't hurt that, due to some people who've come into my life of late, I've had transexualism on my mind a bit.

It didn't hurt that the kid who plays Toby (Kevin Zegers) is an unbelievable HoTTie. (nor that he plays a gay hustler in the film .... hubba hubba)


I can totally see why Huffman was nominated for, and won, so many awards for this performance. And wow, I can even see why a Dolly Parton song was nominated for an Oscar ... and was robbed.




.

[mousepod]

Just finished watching the ADigitalMan versions of the Star Wars saga (all 7 movies, including 'Episode II.V: The Clone Wars') and it occurred to me that I have seen this series more times than I should have. I have a friend on the opposite end of the spectrum who is proud to have never seen a single SW movie. While I find the whole "defining oneself by something you didn't do" a little stupid, I also worry that I notice where all the changes are in this fan-edit series.

Watching the series in Lucas' order (I-VII), I find myself wondering why the worst two movies are the first and last...

[Gemini Cricket]

I just finished watching one of my all time favorite movies on TCM: 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'. Call me a sucker but I love Frank Capra. If you haven't seen this film, rent it. It's so awesome. And surprisingly timely.

Makes me tear up every single freakin' time I watch it.

:)

[Not Afraid]

We watched another Frank Capra film last night - in honor of you, my dear GC. We watched "You Can't Take It WIth You". What character did you play again? Somehow, I decided it was the Russian. I'll have to go look.

[Gemini Cricket]

We watched another Frank Capra film last night - in honor of you, my dear GC. We watched "You Can't Take It WIth You". What character did you play again? Somehow, I decided it was the Russian. I'll have to go look.
Mr. DePinna (the guy in the toga). He was actually split into 2 characters for the movie: Mr. DePinna and Mr. Poppins. For the sake of exposition, they introduced the Poppins character for the movie...
Did you like the movie? I love Capra...
:)

[Not Afraid]

I loved the film! Capra knows how to tell a story.

[scaeagles]

I introduced my 12 year old daughter to Simon Birch tonight. Hadn't watched it in a long, long time.

[wendybeth]

Finally saw 'The Family Stone'. I loved it.:D

[Alex]

I introduced my 12 year old daughter to Simon Birch tonight. Hadn't watched it in a long, long time.

Out of curiosity, have you read the book? It is one of my favorites and as a result I couldn't really stand the movie (I know, I should view them as separate things but it has just enough of the book in it that I couldn't do it).

[BarTopDancer]

Finally saw 'The Family Stone'. I loved it.:D

It was a great movie. Not what I expected. Did you think it was a comedy going into it?

[wendybeth]

It was a great movie. Not what I expected. Did you think it was a comedy going into it?

I had an idea- the casting was a bit of a tipoff, and I read a few things here and there about some of the characters in the film. I loved the Deaf son and his partner, and I appreciated how they used casual pigeon-sign, which is what so many families with Deaf/HOH kids do. They were completely believable, especially in the way they just habitually signed and spoke, even when they weren't addressing him specifically. We have so many of the persons represented in this film within our own family, so it really hit home. The scene at the dinner table, when they were discussing adopting, and Meridith blunders when addressing 'normal' people and such- that was a double whammy, because Deaf people aren't considered 'normal' by so many in society, and the same attitude is directed at gay people as well. Diane Keaton's response was awesome- she was in total mama-bear mode.

[scaeagles]

Out of curiosity, have you read the book?

Have not. Perhaps I should.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

...he claims that China is on the cutting edge of environmentalism.

Here's the thing about juding a film by its reviews instead of seeing it: things are taken out of context.

The context was: compared to the United States, China is on the cutting edge of environmentalism.

Which is true. As it is currently scheduled, by 2011 California emissions standards will have reached what China's emissions standards currently are today. And that's just California. Not the other 49 states. Most or all of them don't even HAVE an emissions policy.

I'm not saying the man is Churchill, but someday when the ignorance-is-bliss crowd is forced to acknowledge the problem, Al Gore will have been on record since the 1970s trying to address it.

[Alex]

Is China on the cutting edge of environmental cleanliness or just on the cutting edge of environmental regulation? They aren't necessarily the same thing and currently 16 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world (by air quality) are in China.

I haven't seen the movie yet (though I will) so I am not trying to rebut any claim. But China is an incredibly dirty country (particularly on water quality) so I'm just wondering on what basis "cutting edge" is designed. They can have all the laws they want but they're meaninless if, like most signatories to Kyoto, they'll never be enforced or observed.

[Not Afraid]

We watched "Laura: last night. Gene Tierney was fantastic as the title character in this wonderful film. I've been in such a Noir mood lately and this film fit the mood perfectly.

Seeing Vincent Price in the "stud" role was fun and different from the Price I was used to. Dana Andrews was great as the brooding detective (even though I couldn't help singing the RHPS tune) and Judith Anderson (who will always be Mrs. Danvers to me) was supurb as Laura's Aunt.

I may be going on an Otto Preminger kick.

[€uroMeinke]

Yeah, Laura definately stands the test of time. this was the first time I saw it and was captivated from the beginning - love the Noir elements as well as all the swanky set decorations.

[scaeagles]

The context was: compared to the United States, China is on the cutting edge of environmentalism.

Which is true.

Ditto to what Alex said. China can say what they want. China can make whatever claims they want. But that does not make it so. It simply is not the case that they have a "cleaner" country than we do, or that they are anywhere close to that.

[Kevy Baby]

I'm not saying the man is Churchill, but someday when the ignorance-is-bliss crowd is forced to acknowledge the problem, Al Gore will have been on record since the 1970s trying to address it.AND he invented the Internet!

[Gemini Cricket]

I just watched 'Gosford Park' on DVD. Love it. It's chock full of Clive Owen goodness. The film's not for everyone but the cast is stellar.
:)

[Freaky Tiki]

I went to a drive in double feature last night and saw X3 and The Sentinel.

X3 I had seen before, but stayed for the whole credits this time. Damn those directors and their teasing.

By the time The Sentinel started I was pretty tired, I liked it, but only thought it was ok.

[Alex]

Assuming that is Kyle Minogue in the video I hav eto say she doesn't do much for me. Her face kind of looks like someone punch Nicole Kidman in the face a few times. Or Conan did an "if they did it" segment with Sheryl Crow and Nicole Kidman.

I still enjoy watching this video (http://blog.warmbrain.com/media/satisfaction.mov) on a loop.

[wendybeth]

Alex, was the above post in response to the video link posted in the 'If I was straight' thread? Just wondering.......

[Alex]

Whoops, yes.

[wendybeth]

Heh heh....I do that all the time.

Btw, no way Eric gets to see your video- we'll end up with all sorts of power tools that he has no clue how to use.:eek:

[Gemini Cricket]

I was surprised that the Aniston/Vaughn movie did better than 'X-3' this weekend. I was thinking X would have done about $40 mil this weekend. Interesting.

[Matterhorn Fan]

I watched The Thin Man last night. It's as good as I remembered it being.

[Kevy Baby]

Saw An American Haunting a couple of weeks ago. Yawn

But Donald Sutherland is still freakin awesome!

[Gemini Cricket]

I watched The Thin Man last night. It's as good as I remembered it being.
"Waiter, will you serve the nuts? I mean, would you serve the guests the nuts?"
Love that movie.
:)

[Matterhorn Fan]

I love Asta.

[Not Afraid]

How many Martinis have you had?
Seven.
Waiter, I'll take 7 Martinis. Just line them up right here.

Or something like that.

That film is one of my favorites. I tried to show it at a New Years Eve party a few years ago, but it just didn't work with a crowd. One would think that a drunk crowd could relate! ;)

[Gemini Cricket]

Nick Charles: Oh, it's alright, Joe. It's alright. It's my dog. And, uh, my wife.
Nora Charles: Well you might have mentioned me first on the billing.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Busy week in the movie viewing department for us. While in Alaska, we saw 4.

First, finally saw 40 Year Old Virgin. As promised, it's a funny movie. Many many laughs, good characters. Steve Carrel always cracks me up.

Also caught Ray. Very well put togethe movie. Jamie Fox definitely did a fine job in the role.

Hero, the Jet Li movie that Quentin Tarantino had a hand in bringing to the US, was absolutely beautiful. A truly entertaining film.

And we did see one actual new movie, X-Men 3. Eh. Pretty bad, if you ask me.

[scaeagles]

Quentin Tarantino

Speaking of Tarantino, I very recently saw Kill Bill Vol. 1. What a completely stupid and ridiculous movie.

[Gemini Cricket]

Loved 'Hero'. I liked it about as much as I liked 'Crouching Tiger'. 'House of Seven Daggers'... meh....

[Matterhorn Fan]

How many Martinis have you had?
Seven.
Waiter, I'll take 7 Martinis. Just line them up right here.

Or something like that.

That film is one of my favorites. I tried to show it at a New Years Eve party a few years ago, but it just didn't work with a crowd. One would think that a drunk crowd could relate! ;)It's 6, and she asks for 5 more.

I can't believe I let my Thin Man boxed set sit on my end table in shrink wrap for so long (I bought it not too long after it came out). But the good thing is that there are 6 more, none of which I've ever seen.

[Gemini Cricket]

The next 2 are good. The rest... well, you'll see.

The next one has Jimmy Stewart in it! :)

[Matterhorn Fan]

I saw that on the box!

I also loved the trailer for The Thin Man: "why are you impersonating a book cover?"

[innerSpaceman]

Um, Kill Bill Vol. 1 is one of the finest pieces of cinema ever made.


(Sigh, I have fond memories of when, once, SCAeeegles and I weren't on polar opposites of something or other.)

[Snowflake]

It's 6, and she asks for 5 more.

I can't believe I let my Thin Man boxed set sit on my end table in shrink wrap for so long (I bought it not too long after it came out). But the good thing is that there are 6 more, none of which I've ever seen.

Have a Thin Man Party, I had two and they were fabulous, I will continue the trend when I return west. Nothing like watching a good deco movie with vintage era cocktails (or in my case, Italian Sodas) and good foodstuffs. Then watch the first movie with a crowd, it's a crowd pleaser!

[mousepod]

Back in my imbibing days, "Drink along with Nick & Nora" was always a fun way to turn a social gathering into a nice swanky drunken mess.... It's the easiest drinking game, just drink when they do...

Tonight I'll be watching the Phantom of the Paradise... just got the special edition DVD from France.

[tracilicious]

Um, Kill Bill Vol. 1 is one of the finest pieces of cinema ever made.



At the risk of agreeing with iSm too much ;), yes it totally freaking rocks. I enjoyed Vol. 2, but it just wasn't the masterpiece that Vol. 1 was.

We saw the first part of Walk the Line last night, and so far it seems pretty good. Joaquin and the chick whose name I can't think of both do a really good job.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Have a Thin Man Party, I had two and they were fabulous, I will continue the trend when I return west. Nothing like watching a good deco movie with vintage era cocktails (or in my case, Italian Sodas) and good foodstuffs. Then watch the first movie with a crowd, it's a crowd pleaser!Well, I'm not a drinker, but perhaps I could declare The Thin Man to be "in" and serve aqueous martinis in the dark?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Kill Bill Vol 1 is a great film.

X3 was fun to watch in the theaters and I enjoyed the stupid moments.

I've decided - I'm going to see Superman. I read an article about it in Wired that pushed me. I'm not forcing GD to come with me but it looks like he doesn't want to get left out. I may have to wear earplugs for the argument after we leave the theater ;)

[scaeagles]

Um, Kill Bill Vol. 1 is one of the finest pieces of cinema ever made.

(Sigh, I have fond memories of when, once, SCAeeegles and I weren't on polar opposites of something or other.)

Blink....blink....blink....to each their own, I suppose. Since you and tracilicious (edited to add - and now apparently CP) enjoyed it so (masterpiece? finest ever made?), I won't go harping on it.

Can I ask what made it so great?

[wendybeth]

Blink....blink....blink....to each their own, I suppose. Since you and tracilicious (edited to add - and now apparently CP) enjoyed it so (masterpiece? finest ever made?), I won't go harping on it.

Can I ask what made it so great?


It certainly wasn't Uma Thurman's feet.

[innerSpaceman]

It was a stylish homage to so many B-movie genres. It transcended everything it saluted.


I've been waiting for freakingever for a DVD box set that might have the international version (some of the violence was watered down for the U.S. release). I'm not bothering to buy Vol. 2 until then. It took a totally different turn, and was also a really good movie ... but not in the same league as Volume 1 (imo). Odd, though, that they were filmed and intented to be released as a single movie. The tone is so completely different between the two.

Volume One is kick-ass, rambunctious, hysterical, sly, lowbrow, highbrow fun galore. Uma Thurman (despite her feet) is a goddess, and Tarantino completely redeemed himself.



(Uma's new movie, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, makes for a funny trailer, but looks to be a stupid film. I hope to get my superhero kicks with Superman Returns on opening night at Grauman's Chinese. Warner Brothers is being very civilized in playing it at ten p.m. instead of making the fans wait until way-past-bedtime midnight.)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Kill Bill Volume 1 was an incredible movie. What made it for me was the Tarantino faithfully created a live action anime. From the cinematography right down to the over-the-top cartoon gore, it was completely faithful to the style, a perfect reproduction. Absolute genius.

[innerSpaceman]

And the actual anime segment was really coolsville, too!

[Alex]

I thought both Volume 1 and Volume 2 were diminished by the separation from the other and that it was a huge mistake to break it into two parts. I'll wait to own it until I can watch both versions in one seamless go (I may already be able to do that, I haven't actually looked at what is available on DVD).

Together they are a kick-ass movie, separately I was underwhelmed by both.

[Gemini Cricket]

Um, Kill Bill Vol. 1 is one of the finest pieces of cinema ever made.
I liked it a lot, but I don't think it was 'one of the finest pieces of cinema ever made'.

I enjoyed the comic book type action in the first film and was completely bored by the second film. My favorite section of the first film was the carnage at Lucy Liu's headquarters. Love it. There's a scene where she walks in with her gang that totally rocks. The music, the editing is phenominal.

I'm not part of the 'Tarantino is God' bandwagon that so many film fans are part of. I think he's an okay director. His films are often too wordy and slow. I think play adaptations for a couple of his films are in order.

I loved 'Resevoir Dogs' and was underwhelmed by 'Pulp Fiction'.

[scaeagles]

Well, I guess I am once again (big shock) in the minority here.

[CoasterMatt]

How about 'Reservoir Dogs - On Ice'? :cool:

[Gemini Cricket]

How about 'Reservoir Dogs - On Ice'? :cool:
I'd go see that. The Resevoir Dogs vs The Ice Capades Skaters! :D

[CoasterMatt]

A kickline of skaters in black and white suits getting picked off during the robbery scene...

Imagine the fun they could have with the officer mutilation scene?

[scaeagles]

I find tha I am introducing my 12 year old to lots of movies lately. We watched "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" last night.

Based on the reaction to my "Kill Bill Vol.1" post, I am certain I am the only one here who loves that movie. I have always loved that movie.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I loved 'Resevoir Dogs' and was underwhelmed by 'Pulp Fiction'.Underwhelmed by Pulp Fiction? Underwhelmed by Pulp Fiction?! But...but...it's Pulp Fiction! Question, did you see it when it first came out, or later?

Bill & Ted's is totally non non non non non non NON heinous.

[innerSpaceman]

Bill and Ted's is most awesome, dude!

(ooooh, and new sig inspiration. Dude, I haven't had a sig in months!)


(And Alex, just so's ya know, it was not Tarantino who decided to split Kill Bill in two ... the studio insisted upon it. 4-hour movie and all. Quentin did not put up a big fight about it, but it was meant to be watched all at once ... and now with the magic of DVD, you can do just that.)

[Gemini Cricket]

Underwhelmed by Pulp Fiction? Underwhelmed by Pulp Fiction?! But...but...it's Pulp Fiction! Question, did you see it when it first came out, or later?
Saw it opening night. In Arizona... of all places! :D

I'm a huge fan of 'Resevoir Dogs' loved all of it. Even the ear scene. The cast was superb.

Now 'Pulp Fiction'...
There are parts I adore in this film. The movie begins with a bang. Love it. It sets up everything well. You know that this isn't going to be a family film. Truly brilliant beginning. The dance scene with Uma and Travolta is hysterical. Loved the cutting up the linear flow of the movie and rearranging the scenes, it was a nice touch. (A fun thing to do is think of the movie in its linear shape. If I remember it correctly, the movie actually ends with Bruce Willis riding off with his motorcycle. I forget where it actually starts, the meeting with Band Aid neck, I think...)
But that's where it ends for me.

I'm not big on films that portray violence in a realistic fashion for a laugh. 'Kill Bill 1' is hysterical. The violence is 'South Park' violence meets bloody Kung Fu movie from the 70's. That's funny. Watching someone with blood spurting out from their shoulder which is obviously coming from a hose is funny. Seeing a kid getting shot in the face in the back seat of a car with John Travolta laughing, isn't. And I do not need to see brains in Sam Jackson's Jeri Curl. Yuk.
The movie makes offing someone look kind of fun.
I found the Pawn Shop scene to be offensive. It hones in on the fears of someone being sodomized by a gay man. Like that happens every day. It portrayed someone gay as being weird with S&M partners in trunks. I thought it was a cheap attempt at freaking out the audience. The end of the scene has you rooting for a despicable mob boss. I don't agree with that. One has to look at the social implications of what they're putting on film and Tarantino didn't. (It's my same beef with Gibson's flaming prince and murder of his partner in 'Braveheart'. It was done for a laugh as was 'getting primeval on your ass', I found it unfunny.)
Not to mention that 2/3 of this film is boring boring boring. Let's talk about pancakes and Burger King and the cost of milkshakes for no apparent reason. The banter at the coffee house with the Resevoir Dogs set up each character as being somewhat likeable. You have no idea what they are capable of until later. It served a purpose. The banter in 'Pulp' often didn't serve a purpose. It was supposed to have come of as cool and, to me, it came off as dull.
The music in 'Pulp' was wonderful. My hat's off to Tarantino for using Dusty Springfield's 'Son of a Preacher Man' in his flick. Nice.
However, Tarantino's uberviolent films strike me as being as unimportant and banal as 'The Simpsons' comic book guy's delusions of grandeur.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

The music in 'Pulp' was wonderful.

Don't forget Dick Dale

[Gemini Cricket]

Don't forget Dick Dale
That beginning was so awesome. Just seeing them frozen with their guns out and then they cut to the Dick Dale song. Nice touch totally.

[Not Afraid]

I got my DVD of "The Mn Who Came to Donner" last night along with 4 Hepburn/Tracy films. I may never leave the house.

[Gemini Cricket]

I got my DVD of "The Mn Who Came to Donner"
This is the Bette Davis movie, right? Not a movie about people eating each other... :D


I can't wait for you to see it. Make sure you put a mini-review somewhere...
:)

[scaeagles]

"The Mn Who Came to Donner"

This is the movie about Hannibal Lecter's ancestors?

[Alex]

(And Alex, just so's ya know, it was not Tarantino who decided to split Kill Bill in two ... the studio insisted upon it. 4-hour movie and all. Quentin did not put up a big fight about it, but it was meant to be watched all at once ... and now with the magic of DVD, you can do just that.)

Yeah, I know it came from the studio. But it was still a mistake that greatly diminished both halves (the first lacked the soul provided by the second and the second lacked the spirit provided by the first). I don't know if Tarantino recut the film to better suit the split but if shown as one film I think the two halves could have been better blended.

And I know four hours is too long but then each half is a little bloated and I think it would have been better to cut it down to 3:15 or so than to break it into two unsatisfying halves. People will go to long movies if they are worth it. The average length of the top ten inflation-adjusted movies is 2 hours, 47 minutes.

Combined the two halves only did $136 million, I think it would have still done that as one long movie and potentially a lot more if people got caught up in the span of it all that was disrupted by waiting for the second half.

[Not Afraid]

As Chris just said, "My keyboard is posessed by the Devil".

[Gemini Cricket]

As Chris just said, "My keyboard is posessed by the Devil".
Good day for it.
:evil:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Totally, totally disagree with GC on Pulp Fiction. Everything he hated, I loved. :)

Bill and Ted's is one of the greatest pieces of cinema ever to grace the screen. Ok, maybe not, but still, it kicks some serious ass and is just as funny today. Still quote it constantly, too.

[Not Afraid]

I enjoyed Pulp Fiction and Resavoir Dogs, but I still haven't seen Kill Bill - either one.

Bill and Ted's doesn't inerest me at all. I watched all of 10 minutes before rolling my eyes and turning it off. Add it to the list of popular films that just don't make it with me.

[Gemini Cricket]

I liked 'Bill and Ted's'. It was funny. The sequel was stink-o. To be honest, I think I've only seen each once.

[scaeagles]

I can quote most of Bill and Ted's. The first one. The second one was just really bad and unfunny.

My 12 year old daughter, though, has decided it is now necessary when she sees me to say "How's it goin' royal ugly dude?".

The whole movie just slays me and is timeless.

[Snowflake]

This is the Bette Davis movie, right? Not a movie about people eating each other... :D


I can't wait for you to see it. Make sure you put a mini-review somewhere...
:)

No, the Monte Wooley character, Sheridan Whiteside, devours people. Some seriously funny lines in this film and watch for Mary Wickes making one of her early film appearences (I can't recall if this or Now Voyager was first).

[Alex]

Lisa and I seem to have similar ideas on what is not funny. We're both right about Monty Python and we're both right about Bill and Ted.

[scaeagles]

we're both right about Bill and Ted.

And your opinion on Bill and Ted?

[Not Afraid]

Lisa and I seem to have similar ideas on what is not funny. We're both right about Monty Python and we're both right about Bill and Ted.

We agree on many things, Alex.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

And your opinion on Bill and Ted?I would assume it's the same as NA's above.

[innerSpaceman]

Yes, and they are in fact the two people on earth who are correct about Monty Python. Decidedly not funny. The other 5 billion 333 million 241 thousand 6 hundred 12 are dead wrong.

[Alex]

Glad you agree. Eventually the world came to understand that Benny Hill was not funny and eventually the world will come to understand that Monty Python was not funny. Yes there were isolated funny bits but as a general rule, they weren't.

Not Afraid and I are the Eratosthenes of the idea that Monty Python is not funny. Hopefully it will take less than 2,000 years to be shown correct. But I'm willing to wait that long for the vindication that I know is inevitable.

[Not Afraid]

And, with Benny Hill, we are three for three. Me, you and Eratosthenes. We should form a secret society. Maybe old E will join us in spirit.

[wendybeth]

Just out of curiosity, Alex- who do you think is funny?

[Alex]

There's a lot I find funny and humorous. But whatever it seems to be in British sketch comedy that Americans seem to love doesn't work for me. Actually I'm not a big fan of sketch comedy in general. It is a format that rarely works for me (SNL, Mad TV, Almost Live, Second City, etc., are all shows I can pass on with no regrets).

Another element to what is funny is that for me it would seem that I have never found something that is funny on re-experience. A joke is only funny the first time, and each retelling just makes it less and less so. So while there may have been things in Monty Python I found funny initially (and now I've forgotten), that has been wiped clean by endless repetition, particularly by people who aren't nearly so talented - such as the geeks in high school you were kind of ashamed to find yourself among. The Knights Who Say Ni may originally have been funny in context (though I would say it wasn't; the movie has other funny parts) but it has been deprived of any oxygen by the people who think simply saying "ni" at an odd moment is reason to have adult diapers on hand.

I'm a big fan of stand-up since I think that it is an environment that removes the need for continuity and context that ruins sketch comedy. I prefer restrained exaggeration and biting sarcasm over pratfalls and poop jokes. P.J. O'Rourke over David Sedaris. Douglas Adams was only funny when he was writing non-fiction.

On television I seem to tend more towards the smart low-brow to the sophisticated highbrow. Everybody Loves Raymond was really very funny. Sports Night wasn't. Arrested Devleopment and Scrubs are both brilliant in different ways. The jokes in Playboy are better than the jokes in The New Yorker but they're all mostly lame. "On the internet, nobody knows you're a dog" was never funny. It may have been telling of a deeper truth but not funny.

However, other than High Anxiety and the "Puttin' on the Ritz" bit in Young Frankenstein, Mel Brooks (low brow) has never been funny but Albert Brooks (high brow) always is, even when the movie itself is crap.

On the AFI list of the top 100 comedies (http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/laughs.aspx), the funniest, in descending order are, are #93, #55, #44, #82, and #34. Half of the movies on that list are not, to me, funny at all. His Girl Friday is a great movie but I don't find it funny, just fun. Same with Harvey, one of my all time favorites.



To wrap it up, I wonder if I pushed the solidarity too far with Not Afraid with my semi-diss of David Sedaris.

[Not Afraid]

Well, other than the dis of David Sedaris, I am completely in agreement with you on type of comedy I respond to. For me, Sedaris has such strange powers of observing the absurd, which is one of the things I find funny. There are times when Woody Allen fits into this broad generalization and I greatly enjoy him at those times as well.

As far as AFI's list, there are films on the list I absolutely LOVE but I don't think of them as "comedies" in the strict sense. My list would include:

The Philadelphia Story
Arsenic and Old Lace
Sullivan's Travels
The Lady Eve (Love Sturges)
The Thin Man
Fargo and
Groundhog Day

When pressed to find other films that make me laugh, Whit Stillman comes to mind (Barcelona has scenes which kill me every time), but I also like Gilliam's Brazil but, again, it is absurdist.

Now, the common argument is that, if I like the absurd, why don't I like Python? I don't know. I find it annoying. I prefer the comedy to sneak into a scene in a subtle way rather than be hit over the head with it.

The comment I always get is that, it is odd that someone who laughes so often is not a fan of comedy.

[CoasterMatt]

Odd is somebody who laughs at anything shoved their way just because somebody else said it's funny.

[BarTopDancer]

I don't find anything even remotely funny about Rodney Dangerfeild.

[Alex]

I never found any of his scripted appearances funny (though the Triple Lindy has a certain genius). But my step father had a couple of his (very) old LPs when I was growing up and there was some very funny stuff on them.

[Gemini Cricket]

I find David Sedaris to be very funny. But some of his material isn't meant to be. Love him.

I don't necessarily classify what's funny and what isn't and then analyze the crud out of it. If I did that, nothing would be funny.

I'm not a big Eddie Murphy fan, but I loved the two table scenes in 'The Nutty Professor'. Completely "low brow" but I loved it all the same.

'Bringing Up Baby' is hysterical. It's all silly and slapstick and I love that. Is it a perfect film, no. Is it repeatable? Yes. Is it fun to watch stuffy Cary Grant slide down a hill on his ass and then fall into a river with Kate Hepburn, totally.

A movie I love is 'Defending Your Life'. Albert Brooks is often funny. I guess it's "high-brow" but who cares. Funny is funny. Shirley McLaine's appearance in that film is classic. Not to mention Meryl Streep, she throws away half of her lines and they're still brilliant.

I find 'Young Frankenstein' to be a great film. It's a homage to old b/w horror films and it's funny in many, many places. Madeline Kahn is extremely funny in that.

[Matterhorn Fan]

I watched "Jersey Girl" last night. It's not funny.

[Stan4dSteph]

I watched "Jersey Girl" last night. It's not funny.I hope you didn't actually pay to see it. Affleck blows!

[Gemini Cricket]

Affleck blows!
Not surprised. That explains that winning smile of Matt Damon's...
:D :evil:

[Alex]

I find David Sedaris funny when he is talking but, for me, all that seems to go away once he has written it down. And his sister is many times more funny than he is.

I also don't tend to analyze what is funny and what is not. It isn't like you can control what you find funny. But I was asked.

[Gemini Cricket]

Sedaris has a great voice. And, of course, when he's impersonating his brother, that's hysterical. I find his writings funny, though.

Amy Sedaris is hysterical. They should cast her in more films.

[scaeagles]

Keeping with the introduction of movies to my 12 year old, she watched Jurassic Park last night. Being the evil dad I am, while the two kids are being stalked by raptors in the kitchen, I snuck up behind her and grabbed her. She screamed and then proceded to slap the snot out of me.

[Gemini Cricket]

Ha ha. She spanked you.
:D

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I enjoyed "40 year old virgin" FAR more than I thought I would. Great characters, great writing, great ensemble cast. I think that movie proves that there's a way to do a sexual humor/visual gag-fest and do it well.

[tracilicious]

We watched A History of Violence last night. Most of the acting sucked, with the exception of Viggo Mortensen (sweet sweet Viggo...mmmmm) and Maria Bello. I really liked the themes of the movie though. The good and bad in all of us. Can a person really change? How much can we forgive of our loved ones? etc. It could have been phenomenal if it were done better.

[Gemini Cricket]

I enjoyed "40 year old virgin" FAR more than I thought I would. Great characters, great writing, great ensemble cast. I think that movie proves that there's a way to do a sexual humor/visual gag-fest and do it well.
There has been sooo much talk about this film that I need to put it in my queue. I'm curious.

I'm halfway through 'Paradise Now'. Can I just say I love this film already? It's shot very well and written just as well too.

[Not Afraid]

We didn't watch anything last night. Chris got me the desired chocolate mal but he got this super-sized one that I felt compelled to drink almost all of it. Then, I didn't feel so good.

[BarTopDancer]

with the exception of Viggo Mortensen (sweet sweet Viggo...mmmmm)

But the important question is this: Was he scruffy Viggo or clean shaven Viggo?

[Stan4dSteph]

We watched A History of Violence last night. Most of the acting sucked, with the exception of Viggo Mortensen (sweet sweet Viggo...mmmmm) and Maria Bello. I really liked the themes of the movie though. The good and bad in all of us. Can a person really change? How much can we forgive of our loved ones? etc. It could have been phenomenal if it were done better.Did you watch the extras? I found them very interesting.

[Alex]

Watched My Dinner with Andre over several sessions yesterday. Several sessions because I kept falling asleep and having to go back.

Can't really say that I enjoyed it. The only film of this type (essentially just characters talking philosophy) that I have enjoyed is Mindwalk. And yet I keep sitting through them. I think it is because I want to be part of the conversation not a spectator to the conversation. Also, Andre is a hippie wacko.

[tracilicious]

Did you watch the extras? I found them very interesting.

I didn't, but I will now. Thanks for the tip. :)

[Ghoulish Delight]

I think it is because I want to be part of the conversation not a spectator to the conversation. I think one of the reasons I enjoyed Waking Life so much is that the three of us watching it actually paused it in the middle and had a half hour long conversation of our own before continuing. So even though I didn't agree with everything the movie said, I appreciated it for touching off a great conversation.

[Not Afraid]

I really liked "Andre" when I first saw it years ago. I was enthralled by the conversation and wished that my own friends would converse in this manner. Since that time, I've gotten a little bored with the "watching people talk" flms. I find that I DO have more interesting conversations with my friends than what's going on in these films. Both Mind Walk and Waking Life both left me rather unfulfilled and I wonder if Andre would be the same for me if I saw it again now.

[Alex]

That was one problem I had, it really isn't a conversation until the last 30 minutes or so. Until then it is just Andre talking while Wally Shawn says "really" and "what happened then" and nervously chuckles. Until then it was a monologue of a hippie's wet dream of adventure travel.

Once Wallace Shawn worked up the gumption to participate I had no problem staying awake but that first 1:15 to 1:30 was where I kept zonking out.

I haven't seen Mindwalk in a decade and the first time I saw it was in a social setting and Fritjof Capra was there to talk about it afterwards (even at the ripe age of 17 I recognized him as a pseudo-intellectual twerp, but the discussion was interesting).

[mousepod]

I liked Andy Kaufman's "My Breakfast With Blassie". I was never a pro-wrestling fan, but I enjoyed it anyway. And it was funnier than "Andre".

[Gemini Cricket]

The big problem I had with 'Waking Life' was the animation. It made me nauseous. I left halfway through it to puke. (No joke.) I thought the movie itself was just okay. I found it to be pretentious.

[mousepod]

Back to Kill Bill for a second:

Nearly two years after the final installment hit theaters, director Quentin Tarantino is finally going back to kill more Bill. Digital Spy reports that QT will release a merged version of both Kill Bill films to cinemas. "I want to cut the whole movie together like one big epic with an intermission in the middle like a 60s film," explained the effusive director. "It'll be coming out in theatres. I've been holding off because I've been working on it for so long that I just wanted a year off from Kill Bill and then I'll do the big supplementary DVD package." Work on the extended cut, tentatively known as Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, is set to begin shortly with a theatrical release through The Weinstein Company in late 2006.

[Alex]

Well good. I'll pay to go see that. Sadly, innerSpaceman will have to pass since he only sees the original theatrical versions of movies and anything else is an abomination (if I'm recalling correctly which I may not be).

[Matterhorn Fan]

Is this why the DVD of Kill Bill 1 was so inexpensive?

(I presume #2 was the same price, but I never watched more than 10 minutes of the first, so never bought #2.)

[BarTopDancer]

It's movie related and 06-06-06 related.

Baby Damien (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17188458&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=born-at-6am-on-06-06-06--his-mum-was-induced-for-6-days--he-weighs-6lbs-6oz-and-he-s-called---d-name_page.html)

[innerSpaceman]

I don't see what about Kill Bill combined is an abomination. It sounds as if it's the two movies run back-to-back, with an intermission in between.

This 'Whole-Bloody-Affair" DVD, on the other hand, sounds like changes afoot. I'm still more excited about that than the cinema re-release of movies I could watch right now if I were so inclined. As I've said above, I'm dying to get my hands on the international verion of KB I, and the expanded DVD may have that as one of the options.

We'll just have to wait and see, but I'm hopeful and optimistic and excited.

Thanks for the news, mousepod.

[Alex]

When Tarantino said he wants to "cut the whole thing together like one big movie" I took that to mean re-editing it. But maybe he did just mean essentially showing one right after the other. But if so that wouldn't take any worth beyond pulling the end credits off of one and the front credits off of the other and picking some music to play during intermission.

[CoasterMatt]

I already saw the two films back to back at the kung fu film festival they held at CityWalk last year

[innerSpaceman]

When Tarantino said he wants to "cut the whole thing together like one big movie" I took that to mean re-editing it.
Hmmm, I suppose it could mean that, though I don't see it in the plain English interpretation.

The film is currently presented out of chronological order ... so any number of re-arrangements is possible. But the current scheme of presentation is hardly random, and I daresay one of the brilliant aspects of Kill Bill is the order of events as presented, not to mention the ways and whens of which the audience discovers the true chronology.

Messing with this structure would do considerable harm to the project, and I would imagine any other structure would be one that Tarantino had already considered ... and rejected.

[€uroMeinke]

I agree that Wally Shawn makes My Dinner with Andre work - you need his exasperation to really bring out the story. I've loved this film through repeated viewings, but that's usually once every 5-years or so, don't think I could see it any more than that.

Mindwalk, I don't think I made it through and all I remember about it, is the setting was cool and I wanted to wear black turtlenecks.

But I do love dialogue, especially fast-paced witty dialogue and the movies that sport it.

[Alex]

I don't know if that is true. When I first saw Kill Bill Vol 2 and saw how it tied in with Vol. 1 I said to Lani that I thought Tarantino had to damage the overall flow to provide standalone parts. So I think recutting them to blend it could be an improvement.

But you're probably right, though I don't know why just reeling them up one after the other would be such an emotional strain that he needed to get away from it all for a while before doing it.

[innerSpaceman]

^ hehe, I think the 'strain' was working on the 'Whole-Bloody-Affair' DVD, which may turn out to have a very differently edited version of the two films.

Bah, I just want the international version of KB V.1 ... and maybe if I wish hard enough and believe strongly enough ...:)

[Gemini Cricket]

I keep reading my own thread as 'Miscellaneous Movie Mushings'. :D

I'd like to reiterate my utter devotion to the film 'The Philadelphia Story'. It is superb. Watched it again last night. Faboo, baby!

Does anyone have a favorite period for movies?

I do. I love the movies of the 30's and 40's. I guess that period was heavy with films based on popular plays, maybe that's the attraction. Something glamorous and ideal about those pics.

[Snowflake]

I keep reading my own thread as 'Miscellaneous Movie Mushings'. :D

I'd like to reiterate my utter devotion to the film 'The Philadelphia Story'. It is superb. Watched it again last night. Faboo, baby!

Does anyone have a favorite period for movies?

I do. I love the movies of the 30's and 40's. I guess that period was heavy with films based on popular plays, maybe that's the attraction. Something glamorous and ideal about those pics.

1920's to 1940's with some great 1950's tossed in. The glamour certainly has appeal, oh those Adrian gowns!

The silent era for me is very special. Not merely the Valentino connection, although that was a major attraction. Some very good films in this period, very effective and very absorbing.

I have to confess, of the studios in this era, my favorite, by leaps and bounds would be Warner Brothers. As much as I love MGM films, there is a level of sheer superficilality and also self-importance to an MGM film that is not found in a WB flick. Let me qualify, MGM post Thalberg was pretty sticky.

Warners had much more snappy dialogue (always a plus to me), sillier plots in the b-pics, but the gritty more realisic world of Warners is more satisfying. Not to mention the Busby Berkely musicals, pre-code and delicious.

Fox runs a real distant third for me, surprising since Zanuck came to fame at WB, but Fox was all fluff. As pretty as Tyrone Power was, very little substance in a Fox flick, unless it was made by John Ford.

Paramount was a giant in the 20s, though they made more than their share of crap. Bigger stars than anyone in the 20s, lost focus in the sound era and relied too heavily on DeMille (a very successful hack). Dietrich and Von Sternberg were just too weird, however marvelous the films look today, he Scarlett Empress and The Devil is a Woman are still total messes of film, but eye candywise, they're great.

RKO was good, too. How can you not love a studio that brings King Kong and Fred & Ginger?

Now, if you ask about favorite directors..... Billy Wilder, George Stevens, John Huston immediately come to mind. Favorite genre, hmm, that is tougher, but I lean toward noir. It's the snappy dialogue that is the hook for me.

Gah! What got me on my soapbox?

To put this back on track, I'm behind the times and all that, so I just saw Transamerica and Brokeback last night. Quite a double feature!

[Prudence]

I don't know if I could pick one period. I love classic musicals. Sappy, silly, sweet, romantic musicals. (Special bonus for tapping.) Whether Fred and Ginger in the 30s or Gene Kelly in the 50s or gosh, Sound of Music, Music Man, and Mary Poppins were all in the 60s I think....

Now I'm in a quandry - should I watch Brigadoon or the Music Man tonight?

[Gemini Cricket]

To put this back on track, I'm behind the times and all that, so I just saw Transamerica and Brokeback last night. Quite a double feature!
And your reviews, m'dear...? :)

[Snowflake]

I don't know if I could pick one period. I love classic musicals. Sappy, silly, sweet, romantic musicals. (Special bonus for tapping.) Whether Fred and Ginger in the 30s or Gene Kelly in the 50s or gosh, Sound of Music, Music Man, and Mary Poppins were all in the 60s I think....

Now I'm in a quandry - should I watch Brigadoon or the Music Man tonight?


Music Man, hands down for me! I've never been able to get through Brigadoon. Not the best Minelli pic, to me anyway! :-)

American in Paris, The Bandwagon (my all time fav of the MGM Freed unit musicals).....I'm nothing if not opinionated :rolleyes:

[Prudence]

I was in a high school production of Brigadoon, so each viewing comes with fun memories. (Even though the film version doesn't include the song I sung.)

[scaeagles]

I was Harry Beaton.

"And I'm leavin' Brigadoon! And 'tis the end of all of ye! The Miracle's over!!!!!!!"

Best last-line-before-intermission ever in a musical.

I much prefered being the bad guy to being the good guy when I was in musicals. More fun. But I don't like the movie adaptation of Brigadoon at all.

[Snowflake]

And your reviews, m'dear...? :)

I very much enjoyed both films.

Brokeback was as lyrical as expected from Ang Lee. Visually langourous, gorgeous exteriors and a very quiet film. While I did not find the film too terribly deep, I think that's because I'm the only person on the planet who has not yet read the original short story.

I enjoyed both performances by Gyllenhall and Ledger, but explain to me why Ledger was nominated for an Academy Award? I missed something extraordinary in his performance, at least nothing struck me. But, that's me and I'm pretty sure the fault is with me and not him. I was annoyed with myself for not turning on the subtitles until late in the film. I laugh thinking people found Tatou unintelliglble in Da Vinco Code, Ledger was very hard to understand (at least to me). Maybe I would have felt more had I the smarts to turn on the subtitles.

It was a very good film and I thought the wigs for (I cannot for the life of me remember her name) were silly. I don't care what you put on her head, she still looked to be 24 yesars old even though the story took you through 20 years. Same thing for the guys, neither one looked any older, mustachio made no difference for Gyllenhall (nice doe eyes on him, though).

I give it a 3 out of 4.

Transamerica was fun and touching. A typical road trip picture in a lot of respects, including the obvious plot holes. I found the whole premiss of the shrink witholding final signature for the operation until Bree went to NY to deal with her newly discovered son a bit of a stretch. I thought Huffman was very good as well. But part of me thinks how much more effective this would have been with a guy playing the part. It's not Victor/Victoria for me, a girl impersonating a man impersonating a woman, know what I mean?

The development of the relationship between Bree & Toby just moved along too fast. Unless they had something really cathartic to bind them, aside from the car being stolen, it seemed pretty superficial. But how much can you explore and how deep can you go in 90 minutes?

In any case, I thought it was enjoyable, not a great film, but a worthy one.

I give it 2 out of 4.

[Not Afraid]

Musical? Cabaret. By FAR my favorite.

[Gemini Cricket]

Musical? Cabaret. By FAR my favorite.
That's a good one. Love it.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Musical....West Side Story or Sound of Music. Hmm, gotta give it to West Side I think, the dancing puts it over the top. Love everything about that movie.

[Prudence]

gah - could I choose my favorite musical?! I'd have to separate filmed versions of stage musicals from film-only musicals. And I don't think there's a movie version of my favorite stage musical...hmmm.....

Probably Music Man for movie version of stage musical.

I don't even think I could decide on a movie-only musical favorite. Top Hat? Swing Time? On the Town?

[mistyisjafo]

I'm not a big fan of musicals! I worked a summer theater as spotlight for "Little Shop of Horrors" years ago and I'm still tramatized. Probably my only favorite musical would be "Hair". I love the music!

[Ponine]

I was in a high school production of Brigadoon, so each viewing comes with fun memories. (Even though the film version doesn't include the song I sung.)
Ooooohhh!!! Does that mean you were Meg?? You've got the attitude for it.
I wanted that role... Got that damn soprano Fiona. :P

I was Harry Beaton.

"And I'm leavin' Brigadoon! And 'tis the end of all of ye! The Miracle's over!!!!!!!"
Yeah I can see that... Now that I've seen a pic. You must have been an impressive Harry.

[Prudence]

Ooooohhh!!! Does that mean you were Meg?? You've got the attitude for it.
I wanted that role... Got that damn soprano Fiona. :P
.

Sort of. At the time I was boob-less and the director thought it vital that Meg have huge tracts of land. So, someone else was Meg, and I got to sing "My Mother's Wedding Day" because it makes total sense to have some random (and uncredited, by the way) chorus member spontaneously burst into song. My I got my moments in the spotlight, and I think I was pretty damn good.

[Not Afraid]

Boobless Pru.

Inconceivable!

[Prudence]

'Tis true. I "developed" suddenly when a freshman in college, when I seriously started asking people "do these look bigger to you?" The boob fairy apparently got lost on the way to my place and thought she'd give me a complimentary upgrade.

[Prudence]

Meanwhile, in movieland, one local paper gave Cars an "A". However, I frequently disagree with his assessment, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to see what the Seattle Times reviewer says.

[€uroMeinke]

Cabaret is definately my favorite - especially after a night of heavy drinking and the butchering of the French Language - More so, if an Octopus happend to devour my sister.

[innerSpaceman]

I tend to like filmed Broadway musicals less than original movie musicals.

Singin' in the Rain is tops of the tops in this category. Most people don't think of The Wizard of Oz as a musical, but it is ... and obviously one of the most beloved movies of all time. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is also one of the top three movie musicals, in my book.

Most other movie musicals, alas, have great song and dance ... but are otherwise crappy films. This applies to most from the classic age of movie musicals.

In the last few decades, however, there have been some better ones ... among them, Victor/Victoria and (though it features only one original song) - Moulin Rouge.


Of the Broadway adaptations, my faves are West Side Story, Chicago, and - odd as it may seem - 1776. (ooooh, and July 4th is coming up soon, and with it my annual screening of this underappreciated gem!)

[mousepod]

Singin In the Rain only features one original song, too.

[innerSpaceman]

Wow, mousepod ... you are correct. I hadn't thought of that, and it never occurred to me when I first fell in love with Singin' in the Rain as a child. But it would have been obvious to anyone seeing it in 1952 that the songs were all real tunes from the period portrayed in the film (i.e., the late 1920's.)


Not all of those songs were big hits of their day (though two or three were certainly well-known). Moulin Rouge went for very popular songs, not selected for the vanity of its producer (Arthur Freed used a bunch of his own songs from the '20s when he produced 'Singin' in the Rain' in the 50's).


But what a cool pedigree these two movies share. Just shy of fifty years apart, and two of the Best Movie Musicals of All Time!

[Motorboat Cruiser]

and - odd as it may seem - 1776. (ooooh, and July 4th is coming up soon, and with it my annual screening of this underappreciated gem!)

I have fond memories of this film, for when I was a mere 10 yr. old, we actually took a school field trip to the theater to see it. Seems nobody had screened it first for potential bad language and we were all delighted to have a school trip in which we got to see a movie where people cussed.

Good times, that was. :)

[Alex]

Saw Cars last Monday. Liked it a lot so once again the advertising was, for me, misleadingly blah.

[Prudence]

I forgot about The Wizard of Oz. I used to really really love it, and I suppose I do a bit, but I seriously overdid it some years ago and don't feel the need to see it again for another, oh 20 years or so.

Although I would love to read the books again. I wonder if they're still in my parents' attic?

Allegedly the hotel we'll be at tomorrow night has movies to rent. Perhaps I will have new thoughts after.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Cabaret is definately my favorite - especially after a night of heavy drinking and the butchering of the French Language - More so, if an Octopus happend to devour my sister.I really should watch that movie sometime when I'm not asleep.

The same goes for "O Brother Where Art Thou."

[tracilicious]

We watched The Crossing last night. While it was good, I felt unfulfilled by a movie only about crossing the Delaware to battle at Trenton. I would have liked a George Washington movie that was longer and broader historically. I love history movies, I'm going to have to seek out some others.

[scaeagles]

Going to take the kids to see Cars tomorrow. Rotten Tomatoes has it at 74% at present.

I read through some of the clips of reviews, and one reviewer who hated it was talking about how it failed to even improve upon the horrible Incredibles. WHAT????? I loved The Incredibles.

[tracilicious]

We're seeing Cars today. It will be the first movie that Indi will (hopefully) sit through. I hope it's good.

[Gemini Cricket]

I've decided to give less credence to movie reviewers from now on. They blasted 'Da Vinci' and although it wasn't great, it wasn't that bad. I also felt they were off on 'X3' as well. Again, not perfect but not horrible either.
I'm going to see 'Cars' this weekend. :)

[innerSpaceman]

I'm going to see Cars tonight, and going to start a new thread about it (if someone hasn't already by then).

Otherwise, if we don't even discuss new releases there - - the Beatnik forum for entertainment discussion is going to end up devoid of all movie talk.




Oh, and for mousepod and Motorboat Cruiser ... and any other closet or out there fans of 1776 - - I hope you will (if you haven't already) check out the Director's Cut DVD released a couple years ago. It's like a totally different movie! The song "Cool Considerate Men" was removed from the theatrical release at the last minute, at the behest of none other than Richard Nixon. That number alone is worth the price of admission.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I also felt they were off on 'X3' as well. Again, not perfect but not horrible either.Feh, X3 was terrible.

[Gemini Cricket]

Feh, X3 was terrible.
Meh, I didn't think it was that bad.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Meh, I didn't think it was that bad.Nothing happens for 90% of the movie, everything leads up to a single anticlimactic battle...a battle, mind you, where we learn that aparantly mutants are unable to use their mutant powers in a large fight as scores of mutants charged at Wolverine, aparantly planning to get in a fist fight with him only to get skewered. Lame.

And, "I'm the Juggernaut, bitch!"???? 'nuff said.

[Gemini Cricket]

Nothing happens for 90% of the movie, everything leads up to a single anticlimactic battle...a battle, mind you, where we learn that aparantly mutants are unable to use their mutant powers in a large fight as scores of mutants charged at Wolverine, aparantly planning to get in a fist fight with him only to get skewered. Lame.

And, "I'm the Juggernaut, bitch!"???? 'nuff said.
In that 90% of the movie, Cyclops dies, Professor X dies, we get introduced to Juggernaut, Leech, Callisto, spikey face, Angel, Beast etc. That's not nothing.
"I'm the Juggernaut, bitch!" was hysterical. It's totally appropriate for his character. (You know, from the comic book.)
The fight wasn't the best, I'll give you that.

[Snowflake]

Cars for me on Sunday and looking forward to it. :cool:

[scaeagles]

Alex gave Cars 9/10. I read his review this morning.

He points out that the theming of the movie is common. This made me think....

I recall I once took a theatre course in college where we discussed George Polti and his 36 plots. For those unfamiliar with Polti (not that I am an expert in the least), he was a Frenchman who in the 19th century (18th? Can't recall) hypothesized that there are really only 36 plots (and lists them) or minor variations thereof for a dramatic situation. Therefore, there is nothing new that can be done, so the beauty of dramatic work is the way in which the story is told.

Are we at an end to creativity in dramatic situations? I wonder. I recall reading about how the US Patent office was going to be closed in the late 1800s/early 1900s because there was "nothing new to invent". Ridiculous, certainly, but Polti's work seems to have some credibility.

[Gemini Cricket]

Are we at an end to creativity in dramatic situations?

I don't know much about Polti, but I'm interested now after reading what you said.

But I do think there is a huge lack of creativity in Hollywood. Absolutely. This is what it seems like to me: the people in charge are out of touch with what their audiences want to see and they are greenlighting films to untalented cronies. If they actually gave someone new and actual creative people a chance, there would be more to see out there. Until then, they'll feed us 'Charlie's Angels 3' and we're supposed to sit and like it. Yeah, right.

[Ghoulish Delight]

The strength of Cars, according to the review I heard this morning, is the same strength that every other Pixar project has had...characters. I happen to agree with Polti. As plots go, we're limited (I don't know that I'd quantize it down to exactly 36 as he did, but I do believe there's a finite space of plots that's relatively small). Quality storytelling can't be focused on the plots, it's gotta focused on the characters. Creativity comes from the exponentially large space that is the combination of plot and characters. A story shouldn't tell what happened. A story should tell what the characters do when stuff happens.

[scaeagles]

I have always tended to agree with him as well. This is why I've never understood why critics are overly critical (not to say Alex was in his review in the least. Not at all. He just go me thinking.) of "the same old story" getting told. Well, there just aren't that many different stories to tell, so reviewers, who watch lots of movies by default, are of course going to tire of them.

[Not Afraid]

It's not about the story so much as it is about the telling. There are a great many "classic" stories that have been told and retold many times over with varying results. I have always loved a good retelling of a story, but nothing can be worse than a bad retelling of a good story.

[Gemini Cricket]

The 36 Situations

1. Supplication
a Persecutor; a Supplicant; a Power in authority, whose decision is doubtful.

2. Deliverance
an Unfortunate; a Threatener; a Rescuer

3. Crime pursued by vengeance
an Avenger; a Criminal

4. Vengeance taken for kin upon kin
an Avenging Kinsman; Guilty Kinsman; remembrance of the Victim, a relative of both

5. Pursuit
Punishment; a Fugitive

6. Disaster
a Vanquished Power; a Victorious Enemy or a Messenger

7. Falling prey to cruelty/misfortune
an Unfortunate; a Master or a Misfortune

8. Revolt
a Tyrant; a Conspirator

9. Daring enterprise
a Bold Leader; an Object; an Adversary

10. Abduction
an Abductor; the Abducted; a Guardian

11. The enigma
an Interrogator; a Seeker; a Problem

12. Obtaining
(a Solicitor & an Adversary who is refusing) or (an Arbitrator & Opposing Parties)

13. Enmity of kin
a Malevolent Kinsman; a Hatred or a reciprocally-hating Kinsman

14. Rivalry of kin
the Preferred Kinsman; the Rejected Kinsman; the Object of Rivalry

15. Murderous adultery
two Adulterers; a Betrayed Spouse

16. Madness
a Madman; a Victim

17.Fatal imprudence
the Imprudent; a Victim or an Object Lost

18. Involuntary crimes of love
a Lover; a Beloved; a Revealer

19. Slaying of kin unrecognized
the Slayer; an Unrecognized Victim

20. Self-sacrifice for an ideal
a Hero; an Ideal; a Creditor or a Person/Thing sacrificed

21. Self-sacrifice for kin
a Hero; a Kinsman; a Creditor or a Person/Thing sacrificed

22. All sacrificed for passion
a Lover; an Object of fatal Passion; the Person/Thing sacrificed

23. Necessity of sacrificing loved ones
a Hero; a Beloved Victim; the Necessity for the Sacrifice

24. Rivalry of superior v. inferior
a Superior Rival; an Inferior Rival; the Object of Rivalry

25. Adultery
two Adulterers; a Deceived Spouse

26. Crimes of love
a Lover; the Beloved

27. Discovery of the dishonour of a loved one
a Discoverer; the Guilty One

28. Obstacles to love
two Lovers; an Obstacle

29. An enemy loved
a Lover; the Beloved Enemy; the Hater

30.Ambition
an Ambitious Person; a Thing Coveted; an Adversary

31. Conflict with a god
a Mortal; an Immortal

32. Mistaken jealousy
a Jealous One; an Object of whose Possession He is Jealous; a Supposed 33. Accomplice; a Cause or an Author of the Mistake

33.Erroneous judgement
a Mistaken One; a Victim of the Mistake; a Cause or Author of the Mistake; the Guilty One

34.Remorse
a Culprit; a Victim or the Sin; an Interrogator

35. Recovery of a lost one
a Seeker; the One Found

36. Loss of loved ones
a Kinsman Slain; a Kinsman Spectator; an Executioner

--------------------------

Boy this is really interesting to me. I think I should start another thread where we name of some films for each. Cool stuff, Leo.

[Alex]

I think there are many, many plots. Probably an infinite amount. What there is in limited quantity is motivation that we find interesting. But even if there are only 36 plots there is still a lot of leeway in presenting those plots in interesting ways.

What I think gets me is if you are going to cover very well-trod territory with a story, you should provide some reason for it to be worth revisiting since the last time someone did. I don't really have a problem with a remake of Psycho (it could be good and if it isn't oh well) but I do have a problem with a shot-for-shot remake as it seems to have no point except to say that a modern audience can't properly appreciate it unless you replace Janet Leigh with Anne Heche and Anthony Perkins with Vince Vaughn (remember when he did dramatic work too?).

Essentially I'm looking for some originality in a movie. If it isn't in plot, hopefully it is in character, or in mood, or in some interesting interpretation of the standard plot, or in the style of filmmaking. Plot is huge, so if you go with a very worn chestnut then you are at a bit of a disadvantage in finding room for creative expansion but it isn't impossible. As I said in the review, Cars is almost exactly, plot point for plot point, the same story as Doc Hollywood. And yet it is much better because it creates more interesting characters. But if it hadn't done that or found some other area for growth then simply being a knock-off of a B movie would have been a problem.

[Alex]

The problem with those 36 plots is that they are abstracted to such a high level that it doesn't really reveal much. To me it is kind of like saying there are only 26 letters in the alphabet so you can't easily write something original.

[scaeagles]

But how many different ways can you tell a story about, say, abduction? There can be hundreds of different reasons why someone was abducted, and the same number of ways to try to rescue someone who was abducted, and those can make the story more interesting, but the key is development of characters that you care about within that story of abduction.

I think this is why Hollywood is focusing more and more on special effect movies. The plots are pretty much the same, so they try to cover for that with bigger special effects to make it more visually interesting.

[Gemini Cricket]

The plots are pretty much the same, so they try to cover for that with bigger special effects to make it more visually interesting.
What's that saying? "You can put lipstick on a pig..."
:D

[Cadaverous Pallor]

To me it is kind of like saying there are only 26 letters in the alphabet so you can't easily write something original.Exactly. Most movies have multiple plots tied together. It's not like there's only 36 kinds of movies - there are near-infinite combinations of the 36 building blocks.

We're seeing Cars tonight. I'm excited. :)

[innerSpaceman]

Abduction was one of the 36 was was least astract. I have to agree with Alex; most on the list are too abstract to provide any meaning whatsoever to the thesis that the number of possible plots is maddeningly finite.

[scaeagles]

It's difficult for me, then, to understand the general lack of creativity from movie makers. I don't even see that many and the plot devices used and stories being told all seem too familiar.

I would suppose that Polti is more about plot devices than about plots themselves. But one would think that these plot devices could be used in some unique ways.

[Alex]

Also I don't think you'd find many critics complaining simply because a movie was made that centered around "abduction."

If a movie was made in which a child is abducted for ransom and a parent decides that the only hope is to defy the abductors by screwing with their plans, since they probably plan to kill the child no matter what, then the movie better have something unique to offer that wasn't provided by Ransom.

I think for most critics it is ok to cover the same ground but the filmmaker has to provide a reason why, given the choice between A and the new B, you should choose B. Simply being more recent is not enough reason.

[Alex]

scaeagles, do you try to find creative movies or do you generally end up at whatever the top three movies at the box office are? Tentpole movies aren't trying to be creative. Creativity is risky and people don't like to spend $120 million on risk.

I see creative original movies all the time but they're not so often playing at the 10-screen multiplex.

[scaeagles]

Honestly, I rarely make going to see a movie a priority, with the exception of kid friendly fare (such as Over the Hedge or Cars, which we will be seeing tomorrow).

I will go see the "big" ones, but recently that only applies to X-3, and I only went to that because it was late, I was bored, and I couldn't sleep. I never saw King Kong, haven't seen The Da Vinci Code, and before X-3 and Over the Hedge, I think the only other movies I've seen this year are Flight 93 and MI:III. I don't know of any other movie I'm planning on seeing this summer.

So, I guess I do only see the movies that are the top at the box office, but that isn't by design. I suppose if I knew of the less publicized films and had any inkling to go see them, I would. But like I said, I don't see very many.

[tracilicious]

I see creative original movies all the time but they're not so often playing at the 10-screen multiplex.


This reminds me of You, Me, and Everyone We Know. Very creative and original. Nothing much happens plot wise, but it's a great film.
.

[€uroMeinke]

Pffffft - 36 Plots - there really is but one - Conflict, followed by conflict resolution, with of course the alternate unresolved resolution conclusion.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Pffffft - 36 Plots - there really is but one - Conflict, followed by conflict resolution, with of course the alternate unresolved resolution conclusion.This is why it's hard for me to write true full stories, such as a novel or screenplay. I dislike conflict. :) No, seriously, I've found that my favorite parts of movies and books are the harmonious parts, or perhaps the triumphant endings, but the real conflicts make me squirm.

Most of my "big" story ideas are simply the first acts.

Oh wait this is the movie thread :p

[Prudence]

You know, the biggest reason I don't see smaller arty films is parking. Apparently all small theaters in the Seattle area must be located such that the only parking available is highly competative street parking.

Of course, now that I think about it, we now have a central garage permit, so we could always park there and walk to the u-district theaters.

[Moonliner]

Well I finally took my boy to see X-Men III today. Yea I know, I'm a bit behind the curve.

Anywho... One the way home we came up with a fun game.

Pick a mutant power and then come up with a way to use that power to make a living in an honest, legal and ethical way.

For example: Magneto in building construction (or destruction)

It's harder than you might think for some of them.. Like the porcupine kid.

[Gemini Cricket]

Although I love a lot of CG movies, I'm getting sort of tired of the CG look. I don't know, maybe I prefer a CG/2D blend. I love the Pixar stuff, but I'm getting bored of that glossy, rounded look. :shrug:

[Alex]

Like the porcupine kid.

Litter collection.

[cirquelover]

That's a good one. Thanks for the laugh!

What was the blue guys power? If my kid was awake I'm sure he'd know his name and power. It sucks getting older.

[Gemini Cricket]

What was the blue guys power? If my kid was awake I'm sure he'd know his name and power. It sucks getting older.
Beast. He's super stong, fast and acrobatic. He's a super smart scientitst but I guess that's not necessarily a mutant ability. He also has claws but I don't think they are as useful as Wolverine's.

I'm an X-Men nerd. :D

[Ghoulish Delight]

It's harder than you might think for some of them.. Like the porcupine kid.Acupuncture

[Moonliner]

Acupuncture

Unless he can control those quills on an individual basis, you would tend to lose repeat buisness.

[Prudence]

So I was having a fan girl moment and cruising Alan Cumming's profile on imdb, when I see this:

Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll (http://imdb.com/title/tt0758775/)

Proposed cast is a big yay. Subject matter obviously a yay. But director, actor, composer, producer - Marilyn Manson?! I'm so terrified.

[innerSpaceman]

Well, I finally saw Capote and I was not particularly impressed. I suppose all the fuss and the long Netflix wait had me expecting something more.

I could barely discern a performance behind Phillip Seymour Hoffman's wonderful impersonation. And I was disappointed that Truman Capote seemed to travel zero character arc in the film, albeit going from manipulative effite snob to obsessive manipulative effite snob.

At one point he is pitching his book to a publisher and he says that the events he has researched (infamous murders in 1959 Kansas) have changed his outlook on everything, and he feels it will have the same effect on his readers. It's a wonderful line, but I got the distinct impression it was simply another of Truman's constant lies. He didn't seem changed by his experience at all. He didn't seem to have grown or have become more serious a person or to have much of any metamorphosis via his delving so deeply into the dark underbelly of human conduct.


A disappointment, I'm afraid. Too bad.

[Gemini Cricket]

I was underwhelmed by 'Sarah Silverman's Jesus is Magic'. I watched it the other day and just thought, 'Meh.' I like her, she's often funny but this one wasn't funny enough for me. Featured in the right movie, Silverman could really, really rock.

I watched 'Unzipped', too. The doco about Isaac Mizrahi. I just thought that was okay, too.

[Gemini Cricket]

I had 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' on as background noise as I worked on my tank.
Two things:

1. Sometimes I hate the way the movie version of this story skirts the whole gay issue. Brick is gay, Maggie, he loved Skipper... move on. Urgggh.

2. Often Liz Taylor is wonderful. But often her voice bugs and she overacts. I love my Liz, but sometimes her characters need to be forcefed valium.

:D

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll (http://imdb.com/title/tt0758775/)Status Updated: 31 January 2006No update in 6 months means this project is stillborn. It would have been interesting...

[Not Afraid]

We've watched a few things lately (besides Miazaki).

We watched The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari again the other night. This is such a GREAT film! I am always amazed by the sets, the make up, the overall design and look of this film. It is one of those films that any person who apperciated film should see.

Last night, because we missed it at the cemetery, we saw A Place in the Sun. First of all, I can name 3 films where Shelly Winters has a encounter with too much water. How odd is that? Montgomery Cliff is such a babe and Liz looks amazing in this film. She was at her prime. It has been ages since I've seen this film and I was foggy on the plot and ending. It was great to see it again and remember why I loved it so much the first time.

We also saw The Man Who Came To Dinner (a GC recommendation). I had no familiarity with this film before seeing and and was very pleased with the great ensemble of character actors playing such unique and colorful characters. What a fun play this must be to do live. Betty Davis was wonderful as usual. Great fun!

I think that's been all. Still need to see Cars.

[Gemini Cricket]

We also saw The Man Who Came To Dinner (a GC recommendation). I had no familiarity with this film before seeing and and was very pleased with the great ensemble of character actors playing such unique and colorful characters. What a fun play this must be to do live. Betty Davis was wonderful as usual. Great fun!
I'm glad you liked it. It's one of my favs. I watch it every Christmas.

"Nurse, will you take your clammy hands off my chair. You have the touch of a love-starved cobra."

[Cadaverous Pallor]

My family really enjoyed Crash. This means I'll probably hate it. I'll have to see it so they'll stop bugging me, but I really don't want to.

[Gemini Cricket]

There's not a whole lot in the theatres that I want to see... Kind of a boring summer for movies...

[Ghoulish Delight]

Returning to ancient history...So we saw Castaway last night.

I'll give it "not bad", with some problems. Overall, I enjoyed it. I didn't find it to be cinematic brilliance, though it contained some small nuggets of brilliance. The plane going down was fantabulous. A lot of the island stuff was cool.


But, I had a hard time forgiving the fact that he walked away from that crash completely unscathed. Not even a freaking limp?! Worse than that, they not only had him unhurt, they showed him willfully dodging flying debris in the cabin as the plane slammed into the water at 400 miles per hour. I mean, go ahead and have the boat inflate accidentally, coushoing him on impact, and having one of the shipping crates wedge in a way that protectd him from debris. But just kinda dodging out of the way? Totally out of the scale of believability of the rest of the film. And at least give him SOME injury. Sprained ankle, hurt wrist. Something.

And I know it's nitpicky, but I felt beaten over the head with the hanging thing. I mean, I got the picture when he dragged the log up and it had a noose tied. Instantly obvious what happened...there was zero need for the following expository conversation with Wilson. Anything that might have been unclear would have been resolved by the conversation at the end where he retells the hanging story to his friend. As a matter of fact, I felt the impact of that scene was completely lost as it was now the 3rd time we as an audience were being told the story (once visually, twice verbally).

Other than that, I enjoyed the time on the island, save a minor nit here and there. But I'm in the GC camp when it comes to the story wrapper. I did not buy their relationship at all. Don't know what it was, but it just had zero substance. No sense of what made their relationship tick.

And of course, I now have to weigh in on the FedEx thing. Eh, could have done without it. I can't say it affected me as much as it did GC, but I don't think the movie needed it...and the opening sequence was totally a FedEx commercial. It was filmed in the exact style of one of their commercials, following that path of delivery of a package. That bugged a little, but it faded for me as the movie went. But the fact that it was FedEx, vs. any other global shipping company added nothing for me.

[Gemini Cricket]

I can't say it affected me as much as it did GC...

I'm not a stark raving mad lunatic about product placement. I'm just passionate about movies that's all... I consider film to be an art and you wouldn't want to see the Mona Lisa holding a Diet Dr. Pepper can would you? :) :D

[Snowflake]

I'm not a stark raving mad lunatic about product placement. I'm just passionate about movies that's all... I consider film to be an art and you wouldn't want to see the Mona Lisa holding a Diet Dr. Pepper can would you? :) :D

No, not Dr. Pepper. But perhaps because of her junoesque figure, methinks a chocolate dipped Mickey ice cream would be more appropriate. See, I think the Da Vinci code missed, they should have done some hiding at Disneyland Paris! That I would have enjoyed!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'm not a stark raving mad lunatic about product placement. I'm just passionate about movies that's all... I consider film to be an art and you wouldn't want to see the Mona Lisa holding a Diet Dr. Pepper can would you? :) :DMona Lisa couldn't have had a Dr. Pepper, you stark raving mad lunatic. ;)

I am glad they used Fed Ex instead of Brand X, but since they used it, they shouldn't have gone so heavy on the opening. Overkill. They should have let the name speak for itself. That intro stuff could have been a third the length and the point would have been gotten, not shoved down our throats.

The love story was good in the beginning. I did get their relationship and I found it real. But the ending was quite a let down. I know it'd be very hard to end this film at all, but this seemed especially poor.

The rest of it - incredible, amazing cinema, touching and thought-provoking and visceral. I found myself turning away due to the absolute harsh reality of many scenes. The plane crash and all the troubles he goes through were tough to watch - and that's a good thing. Like everyone else I've read and seen a million stranded-type stories, but this telling trumps them all in many ways. My empathy for this scenario was a 10 plus.

It's a real shame about the ending being so crappy - I'd love to watch this again. If I caught it on TV I'd totally watch it again, until he leaves the island.

[Gemini Cricket]

Mona Lisa couldn't have had a Dr. Pepper, you stark raving mad lunatic. ;)
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/monapepper.gif
:p

[Cadaverous Pallor]

DIET??? Now I'm offended.

[Snowflake]

You must spread some Diet Dr. Pepper around before giving it to Gemini Cricket again.

Too funny, GC

[Alex]

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:Q6o_iaeeeKSgGM:http://www.theindyexperience.com/image/dr_pepper_indy.jpg (http://www.theindyexperience.com/image/dr_pepper_indy.jpg)

Didn't even have to make that one, it already existed on the interwebs.

I could live with that Mona Lisa, and it might have helped make The Da Vinci Code a more interesting movie.

This might be going too far though:

http://static.flickr.com/62/171608503_cbb0ef7d3a_o.jpg

[Gemini Cricket]

Yes, sir. I like it. I really do.
:D

[innerSpaceman]

Unbelievably (to me) The DaVinci Code is closing in on Titanic as the No. 1 grossing film ever (not that Titanic deserves that spot either).

[BarTopDancer]

No, not Dr. Pepper. But perhaps because of her junoesque figure, methinks a chocolate dipped Mickey ice cream would be more appropriate. See, I think the Da Vinci code missed, they should have done some hiding at Disneyland Paris! That I would have enjoyed!

DaVinci Code Spoiler It bugged me that they left out all the Disney references.

We saw The Lake House on Friday. It was interesting. Not terrible, not something I'll buy. Keanu is very nice to look at.

[CoasterMatt]

The Lake House itself is a better actor than Keanu Reeves...

[Matterhorn Fan]

Keanu Reeves: The worst actor dead or alive--or not yet conceivedThat was an interesting class.

[scaeagles]

Keanu was good in Bill and Ted's. Other than that, not a Keanu fan.

[Prudence]

Keanu nearly ruined Much Ado About Nothing.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Keanu nearly ruined Much Ado About Nothing.Yep. The actual ruining was done by Kenneth Brannaugh.

What a whiny twirp. :rolleyes:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Keanu nearly ruined Much Ado About Nothing.Hear, hear. Although it was too good for him to ruin.
Yep. The actual ruining was done by Kenneth Brannaugh.

What a whiny twirp. :rolleyes:Hey! I liked him! :p

[Prudence]

Yep. The actual ruining was done by Kenneth Brannaugh.

What a whiny twirp. :rolleyes:

Hey - I thought ol' Kenny wasn't so bad there. Oh, he was definitely stuck on himself, but it was nothing compared to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which was a true abomination.

[Alex]

I've like Keanu Reeves in certain situations and I think he is unfairly maligned. But the man has three movies that are pop cultural landmarks (Bill and Ted, Speed, and The Matrix) which isn't a horrible career by any means.

I would rather watch him than Ethan Hawke who, technically, is probably twice the actor of Reeves (and for some reason I always pair them up in my mind).

I've actually gone more than a week now without watching a movie. It is kind of weird. I did see a screening of The Heart of the Game as my last movie but I was so blah about I couldn't bring myself to review it for MousePlanet. I've got a 1981 French movie called Diva in the DVD player. It is half watched and has been in the DVD player since Thursday. I just don't want to watch it but haven't found the energy to put something else in.

I blame the heat.

[Prudence]

I haven't watched Diva in ages. I was actually trying to remember the name of that movie last week.

[innerSpaceman]

[droooool] Ethan Hawke [drooool]

[Alex]

According to people I know who have been in the same room with him more than once, Ethan Hawke is apparently not a man fond of soap.

[innerSpaceman]

Hmmmm, yes that's disturbing. But since he'll likely always be on the far side of the screen from me, and 20 years younger than his soapless self to boot, my schoolboy crush will continue unabated.

[Gemini Cricket]

Ralphie watched 'New World' last night and was bored to tears. He haaated it. I knew it was going to be bad, so I didn't watch. I didn't have it in me to sit through a movie last night...

[Gemini Cricket]

We watched 'Sin City' last night and really really liked it. I was impressed by how good it was. Robert Rodriguez is good director, I like his stuff. I have always been a big Frank Miller fan since childhood. Love his art. The movie was classic film noir combined with a comic book. Loved it. This mega green screen special effects fest had me thrilled compared to the horrible 'Sky Captain' fiasco. Bleh. I even liked Brittany Murphy. And Clive Owen... wow. And all the way through I kept thinking who Mickey Rourke was going to play not realizing that he was Marv. Nicely done, imho.
:)

[Gemini Cricket]

Re: An Inconvenient Truth

I saw this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BjrOi4vF24&feature=Views&page=1&t=t&f=b) and thought it was funny. :)

Damn you, GD for showing me youtube.com...
:D

[CoasterMatt]

I watched Scanners last night for the first time in years - They showed it on HDMovies - Head 'splodin' goodness in HD!!

(here's a clip from the movie, in case you haven't seen it)
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/coastermatt/images/exploding-head.gif

[Gemini Cricket]

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/coastermatt/images/exploding-head.gif
Everytime I accidentally turn it to Fox"News" I keep hoping this will happen to either O'Reilly or Hannity...
:D :evil:

[Not Afraid]

I watched Scanners last night for the first time in years

I don't remember anything about his movie except the Hispanic family who was sitting behind us and talked throughout the entire movie - ABOUT THE MOVIE! It sounded like this: Yada yada yada yada Scanners. Yada yada yada yada Scanners.Yada yada yada yada Scanners.Yada yada yada yada Scanners.Yada yada yada yada Scanners.Yada yada yada yada Scanners.Yada yada yada yada Scanners.Yada yada yada yada Scanners.Yada yada yada yada Scanners.Yada yada yada yada Scanners.Yada yada yada yada Scanners.:mad:

[CoasterMatt]

Scanners is another movie I saw as a VERY young lad that altered my life :)

[blueerica]

Snakes on a Plane: Early Auditions (http://www.alldumb.com/item/30995/)

[Gemini Cricket]

It's been an hour since I finished 'Syriana' and I'm still trying to sort out the plot...
:D

I liked it, I think.

[innerSpaceman]

Nope, I thought it was admirable - but ultimately 'meh'

I just finished watching a french film called 'Garcon Stupide.' In light of recent personal events, too close for comfort.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Saw Requiem for a Dream last night. Despite the DVD jacket's protests, I neither loved it nor hated it. There were some fantastically cool parts,but also there were a lot of gimicky bits, and overall it was heavy handed in its approach. But the cool parts were cool enough to make it enjoyable.

[Prudence]

Snakes on a Plane: Early Auditions (http://www.alldumb.com/item/30995/)

Beaker!

[tracilicious]

Watched Spiderman 2 again tonight. God I love that movie.

[Gemini Cricket]

Watched Spiderman 2 again tonight. God I love that movie.
I'm going to have to agree with Ebert on this one and say that Spiderman 2 is the best superhero movie out there. :)

[scaeagles]

I'm going to have to agree with Ebert on this one and say that Spiderman 2 is the best superhero movie out there. :)

I like Batman Begins better. Spiderman II is second place for me.

[Gemini Cricket]

I like Batman Begins better. Spiderman II is second place for me.
I would agree with you, but I didn't care for Bale when he was in the costume. Something didn't seem right there. I liked the build up to becoming Batman, but his version of the dark knight seemed lacking. Maybe it was his voice when he was Batman... I don't know.
Michael Caine was a brilliant casting choice, though. :)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Continuing the theme of "stealing from mom", we followed Requiem with Bottle Rocket. That leaves just Life Aquatic in the Wes Anderson canon to view. Bottle Rocket was good. Rushmore's still my favorite.

[Alex]

Rushmore will still be your favorite after Life Aquatic (not that it isn't worth seeing).

I saw Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest yesterday. I have musing about it, but I'm not going to share them.

[Gemini Cricket]

Love 'Rushmore' and 'Bottle Rocket'. I think 'Rushmore' is also my fav.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

While watching Bottle Rocket I wanted Owen Wilson to say "Kachow!"

I loved the dated mid-90's hairstyles. Luke Wilson's hair and clothes made him look exactly like my eldest brother did back then. Especially when he was far off or had his back to the camera.

There's something about Wes Anderson's films that makes me feel that I'm missing something. I think they're entertaining but I think I'm not "getting" the whole thing. I like the films but don't love them. Rushmore was the only film of his I'd like to see again.

[innerSpaceman]

Just thought I'd throw in that I loved (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showthread.php?t=3841)"Superman Returns."






(but, yeah, "Spider-Man 2" is the cream of that crop.)

[innerSpaceman]

Does anybody know whatever happened to the release of the Johnny Depp film The Libertine? I kept seeing trailers for it, even on TV for a while ... but, as far as I know, the movie was never released.

I would think Depp could be counted on nowadays for a decent opening weekend at least. Did this film come and go without a murmur, or did it get shelved at the last minute after a bunch was spent on TV advertising?

[Gemini Cricket]

Does anybody know whatever happened to the release of the Johnny Depp film The Libertine?
I'm not sure what happened, but I am seeing this film on Netflix. It's available to rent...




We just got back from seeing 'Prairie Home Companion'. I liked it a lot. Love Meryl Streep in this one, she's hysterical. I loved the zen nature of Garrison Keillor (sp?). It's a fun film. Woody Harrelson and John C Reilly are funny as heck. :)

[innerSpaceman]

Maybe I'll try and catch a Streep double-feature in the theaters by seeing both "Prairie" and "Devil Wears Prada" on the same day!

[Gemini Cricket]

I really want to see 'Prada', too. She's so wonderful in the previews. She's so Cruella meets Edith Head... :D

[Alex]

Libertine was released to horrible reviews and worse box office. It quickly disappeared.

[Gemini Cricket]

I watched one of the most horrible films ever this morning. I couldn't sleep and watched about an hour of Gargantua (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156554/). It's lame lame lame.
If you get a chance to see this film, don't.
:D

[scaeagles]

I watched Mansquito on the Sci Fi Channel.

[€uroMeinke]

I watched one of the most horrible films ever this morning. I couldn't sleep and watched about an hour of Gargantua (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156554/). It's lame lame lame.
If you get a chance to see this film, don't.
:D

Aw, ar first I thought this was the Japanese monster flick, but I see this is some sort of misguided remake or something.

[Snowflake]

Today is Olivia deHavilland's birthday, time to break out The Heiress (but I know me, it'll be Adventures of Robin Hood) since I'm not up for going out for a movie, I'm pooped and still packing with days to go!

[Gemini Cricket]

Aw, ar first I thought this was the Japanese monster flick, but I see this is some sort of misguided remake or something.
I'm not sure if it has anything to do with one of the Japanese "Monstah!" flicks, but you'll want to spray your eyes with acid after seeing this one.
:D

[BarTopDancer]

I just re-upped my Netflix. I now have about 140 movies in my queue.

Just saw Rumor Has It. I really enjoyed it.

Next up: Wedding Crashers and Hitch.

Supersize Me will be arriving early next week. I'm looking forward to seeing it and losing my craving for McDonalds and fast food in general once and for all.

[Not Afraid]

My Neighbours The Yamadas was this afternoon's feature. We still have a few Ghibli we haven't seen. I wasn't as thrilled with this one as I have been with most of the others.

[BarTopDancer]

Watching Deep Blue Sea on TNT. What a cheestastic movie.

[Alex]

The Devil Wears Prada has great performances from Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci and a pretty good one from Anne Hathaway.

But unfortunately the general story has been done to death and the movie doesn't offer any original point of view. Swimming With Sharks remains my favorite for this general storyline.

[Gemini Cricket]

In celebration of Olivia deHavilland's birthday, I watched 'Gone With the Wind' last night. I remember watching this film when I was younger and kind of feeling sorry for Scarlett O'Hara. Unrequited love thing and all. Lately, I've been watching it and thinking how evil she AND Rhett Butler are. Makes me feel sorry for her in a whole different way.

Although some of it drags, there are some really fine moments in this epic. Love the Belle Watling character. I always get misty eyed in the carriage scene with her and Melanie. "When you see me in town, you don't have to say hi to me, I'll understand." (Or something like that...) Gets me every time.

Love the scene where Scarlett shows up to Ashley's birthday party 'dressed for the part' as Rhett says. It's a lovely full shot of Leigh that's a dream shot for any actress.

And Mammy steals each and every scene she's in...
"It ain't fittin'. It ain't fittin'. It jes' ain't fittin'! ...It ain't fittin'."

[Snowflake]

In celebration of Olivia deHavilland's birthday, I watched 'Gone With the Wind' last night. And Mammy steals each and every scene she's in...
"It ain't fittin'. It ain't fittin'. It jes' ain't fittin'! ...It ain't fittin'."

I caught big bleeding chunks of this on Saturday night (it was a TCM "Essential") I agree with you whole-heartedly on your commentary on Hattie McDaniel, she was simply marvelous in every scene. Richly deserved her Academy Award.

Ernie Haller gets the real props on this film for me, it was stunningly photographed. I need to see this in the theater again sometime, it really needs a big screen.

True to form, on Olivia's birthday on Saturday, I enjoyed Adventures of Robin Hood. Pure fluff, but one of the best of the adventure/swashbuckler films of that or any period if you ask me. Flynn was never more handsome, deHavilland never more lovely, Rathbone and Rains, never more evil. Lots of good sword fighting, loads of lovely scenary all in glorious technicolor. Sadly the parkland in Pasadena they filmed in, plowed over now. :(

[Ghoulish Delight]

We watched Philladelphia Story last night (one of the items on our queue that I'm sure shocked GC). Actually, believe it or not, that may have been the first Hepburn movie I've seen in whole, unless something's slipped my mind. Not that I've been avoiding them, but with 50 or so years of movie history happening before my birth, it takes a fella a while to get to everything. But I did enjoy PS.

[Gemini Cricket]

(one of the items on our queue that I'm sure shocked GC).

That one and 'Citizen Kane'. :)

I'm glad you liked 'Philadelphia Story'. It's a fun film.

There are a ton of Kate Hepburn movies that I like. Not all of her films are good, but there are some really classic moments in a lot of them.

If you haven't seen 'Lion in Winter', see it. It's heavy in places but there are so many great one liners in it. Another I recommend is 'Stage Door' (not to be confused with 'Stage Door Canteen') this has a stellar cast and Hepburn does her classic 'the callalilies are in bloom' line in it. There are many, many more... :)