Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[Gemini Cricket]

Did you just watch a cool flick? Did you just jab your eyes out with an ice pick because of the stinkified movie you just viewed? Any Netflix queue recommendations?

Post 'em here.


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

I did an everyone email at work to ask people what their favorite movies were. One person who I consider to be ultra-cool said that 'The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys' was her favorite flick of all time. So I watched it. I loved it. I recommend it. Jodie Foster is wonderful in it. Not to mention, part of it is animated. Cool movie.
:)

'The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys' ~ :) :) :) 1/2 happy faces out of 5

[CoasterMatt]

Dead Alive - My favorite Peter Jackson film EVER! (I even like it more than Meet the Feebles)

[Prudence]

So far I've only seen the edited for airline travel version, but Night Watch was pretty spiff for a vampire movie. I think I'll have to check out the "real" version.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Watched North by Northwest last night (finally). Realized that there's a whole genre of "hapless guy lands in a dangerous situation of misunderstandings" that I've never really seen before. Just like Strangers on a Train and Detour...

[Matterhorn Fan]

I've seen two Barbara Streisand movies in the last week. What's up with that?

[Not Afraid]

No no no. What's Up Doc?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I've seen two Barbara Streisand movies in the last week. What's up with that?I've never seen a Barbra Streisand movie all the way through. Just a few minutes of Yentl while walking through my parent's living room. They always watched that one when it was on.
No no no. What's Up Doc?What's new pussycat, whoa-whoa-whoaaaaa

[wendybeth]

Tori and I snuggled up on the couch and watched 'Zathura' last night. I really liked it- the sci-fi stuff was so retro, and the Astronaut was, in Tori's words a 'hottie'. We also watched the extras, and it turns out little Peter Billingsley- aka Ralphie in 'A Christmas Story'- is a producer of this movie. He still looks a little bit like his old self, but with stubble.

[Matterhorn Fan]

What's Up Doc?That was one of them.

[BarTopDancer]

I watched the earthquake movie last night. I'd like those 2 hours of my life back please.

[scaeagles]

I've seen two Barbara Streisand movies in the last week. What's up with that?

My condolences (shudder).

I watched The Count of Monte Christo (most recent version) with my daughter over the weekend. Liked the movie, but it always bugs me when a Hollywood ending replaces the original ending of a classic.

I also took the family to see "Over the Hedge" Friday. Much better than the other animated drivel that has been put out recently.

[Stan4dSteph]

Philip Seymour Hoffman makes an excellent villain. I loved watching him kick Tom Cruise's ass. :D

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Philip Seymour Hoffman makes an excellent villain. I loved watching him kick Tom Cruise's ass. :DTotally. GD and I couldn't resist doing Hoffman imitations afterwards.
"I'm gonna find her. I'm gonna find her, and I'm gonna hurt her."
:D

[Mousey Girl]

We watched King Kong Saturday night. Just when we were laughing at how bad it was it got WORSE!!!

[Gemini Cricket]

We watched King Kong Saturday night. Just when we were laughing at how bad it was it got WORSE!!!
The ice skating scene where King Kong scoots around the ice on his butt is hysterical.
:D

[CoasterMatt]

The ice skating scene where King Kong scoots around the ice on his butt is hysterical.
:D
It would make a killer ad for Preparation H or Tuck's, though :D

[Gemini Cricket]

It would make a killer ad for Preparation H or Tuck's, though :D
Imagine the size of that Tuck's pad. It would be the size of round area rug.
:D

[Freaky Tiki]

Just like Strangers on a Train.

Sorry, I wish I could not say this, but I have to.


Is that the prequel to Snakes on a Plane?


Oh Damn Me!

[Mousey Girl]

Imagine the size of that Tuck's pad. It would be the size of round area rug.
:D

We laughed at the absurdity of the entire movie. Even the kids thought it was stupid. Nickolas was the only one who watched more than 10 minutes of it.

[innerSpaceman]

Teehee, I'm gonna watch King Kong tonight.


Last night, tho, in prep for DaVinci Code tomorrow, I watched my favorite Tom Hanks movie. Quickly rising up the list to one of my favorites of all movies ever made. Cast Away. There is only one moment of the film that isn't where Tom Hanks' character is, and it's a very telling one. The movie has a deep spiritual subtext that I love. There's a whale at sea that's constantly doing Hanks big favors. There's Wilson the ball who is either a puka spirit or a saving-grace figment of Hanks' imagination - or both. There's the hangman's totem suspended from a broken tree-limb on a mountain top ... until a certain turning point.

There's an ultra-romantic text and subtext that I love. I dig watching this movie alone, because I cry like a madman during the scene when Hanks visits his now-married girlfriend after the rescue. Every line, every look, ever gesture in that scene is a tearjerker. From the subtlety of the pocket knife keychain to the over-topness of their empassioned kiss in the pouring rain, that scene is a gusher of good writing, fine acting, culmination of drama, and tears galore.

I love the structure of this film. A first third where there's near constant music ... none of it score. Elvis tunes, Christmas tunes, Russian songs, music fills the first third. The middle third has none. No score, no music. The constant sound of surf and nary a sound that's not natural. There are maybe 10 lines of dialogue in this hour's worth of film. The final third has musical score for the first time. A single coda, repeated four times at four dramatic moments, exactly the same each time - and each time stirring the soul.

I love the task it took to make this movie. They had to appease a mystic tribal culture to film upon their sacred island, boat a movie crew and all equipment out to the site each and every day, film the better part of a movie there without leaving so much as a footprint that might be caught on film, later dub in every sound of the waves to match what was caught on film, then break for the better part of year (keeping the crew together to make a far inferior film) while Tom Hanks turned paunchy fat to lean muscle and grew a RipVanWinkle beard.

I love Tom Hanks in this movie. He carries an entire film. Much of the time without speaking a word.


One of the best movies of all time, without a doubt in my mind.




Tomorrow ... the DaVinci Code. Hmmmmm.

[Freaky Tiki]

We studied Cast Away in my psycology class last term. It was actually a really good movie to study for that class, so many good examples of stuff.

Good movie.

[Gemini Cricket]

Boy, iSm and I have such differing tastes in movies. I don't have the energy to get into it tonight but I really, really hated 'Cast Away'. Now, I know iSm is going to give me a lashing for it, but the truth must be told.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Watched North by Northwest last night (finally). Realized that there's a whole genre of "hapless guy lands in a dangerous situation of misunderstandings" that I've never really seen before. Just like Strangers on a Train and Detour...

Yep. It's called Film Noir! :D

[Matterhorn Fan]

Sorry, I wish I could not say this, but I have to.


Is that the prequel to Snakes on a Plane?


Oh Damn Me!Hooray for Snakes on a Plane!

[innerSpaceman]

GC, you'll get no lashing from me ... (well, not for your poor movie taste anyway) :D


A lot of people have trouble with Cast Away. It's too slow for some. It comes off crass and cumbersome to others. It's got a weird structure and an unusual tone that many people don't take to.

I am at a personal loss to see where anyone could not find at least the surface story compelling - - the classic tale of man on desert island told more truly and stylishly than any previous attempt. Yet many people don't even find it a good adventure film, much less chock full of psychological, spiritual and emotional resonance.


The film is sublime. I feel nothing but sadness for those who just don't get it.

[Freaky Tiki]

Hooray for Snakes on a Plane!


Hazzah!

[Matterhorn Fan]

We interrupt this serious debate about the merits of a serious film to bring you mindless woo-hooing about what is surely a stupid movie with an even stupider name.

[Not Afraid]

So, before I decided what I was going to watch tonight, I turned on the TV while I was eating dinner. I'm watching Big.

It's a Tom Hanks kind-of week.

However, my fav is Philadelphia.

[Stan4dSteph]

We interrupt this serious debate about the merits of a serious film to bring you mindless woo-hooing about what is surely a stupid movie with an even stupider name.It's motherfckin' snakes on a plane!

[Matterhorn Fan]

OMG Have you guys seen the website??? (http://snakesonaplane.com/)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Wait a minute...you guys were serious all this time?? I thought this was a joke!

I hope this thing tanks really, really hard. Then I'll watch it on late-night cable and giggle.

[Matterhorn Fan]

It'll be terrible. But it's not out yet and it seems to already have a cult following.

[Mousey Girl]

I have never seen Castaway. I am not a big fan of movies that I know (ahead of time) are going to make me cry. I never used to cry during movies. I blame it on being forced to stay up till 1am watching Romeo & Juliet with my older sister who had to watch it for her English class. I was only in 8th or 9th grade, but ever since then I try to avoid tearjerker movies.

I did catch the end of Freaks. That movie just fascinates me.

[wendybeth]

It'll be terrible. But it's not out yet and it seems to already have a cult following.

It's the merging of two of the most phobia inducing things around- it's still gonna suck, but it will be a great cult movie.

Now, if they threw in some tarantulas on that plane.......

[Gemini Cricket]

'Cast Away'
Where to begin...
First off, I must say that I like Tom Hanks. I was completely impressed by his weight gain and then almost complete weight loss for this film. The man was a skeleton for parts of this film. It's not easy to do this so I give him mucho kudos for doing that. People don't realize how thin you actually have to be to come off as thin on film. To come off as a skeleton on film... that must be torture...
However, the film was too slow for me and had one of the worst payoffs in a movie ever. He doesn't get back together with his girlfriend and never opens those boxes. C'mon, you're on an island with nothing to do. One of the first things you'd do would be to open those boxes to see if there was food in there.
I loved the idea of the 'character' of Wilson in the film. He is a major player in the film. It's a tough element to pull off and Zemeckis tried. But too often during that film did I think 'he's talking to a volleyball'. The audience should buy into it completely and I didn't. ie. The dummy in 'Magic' was a character. A freakin' creepy ass character. I bought it. A lot of it was the way that director portrayed him. I didn't buy Wilson...
Another huge thing that bothered me was not seeing much of a transition from skinny, dirty island Tom Hanks to back to the real world Tom Hanks. Suddenly, he's rescued and the next time we see him he's on a plane all perfectly groomed and somehow with all of his weight back. To see him transitioning back into 'normal' life would have been great.
As far as emotional themes in this film, I can see how one would tear up at the end of this film. IF one actually bought the characters and didn't resent Helen Hunt for seeming to quick to move on I could see crying at that part. (I know a lot of time passed, but to hook up with someone and then marry him while Hanks is on the island... It seems kind of fast to me.) What almost slammed me emotionally was the plane crash itself. (Too bad it was one big ad for Fed Ex...)
In order to love a film, I must buy into the credibility that the film is trying to sell us on. I didn't buy the Hanks/Hunt relationship, I didn't buy Wilson, I didn't buy the ending, I didn't see enough of a transition for Hanks coming back to life...
I felt cast off by this film.
My 2 cents.

[CoasterMatt]

It's the merging of two of the most phobia inducing things around-
The Olsen Twins?!? :eek:

[innerSpaceman]

I can't wait for Snakes on a Plane. OMG, re-writes done to cater to the burgeoning internet fan base! That's a first! Not necessarily a bad thing either.



As for Cast Away, I appreciate G.C.'s comments, and won't belabor the film's merits. I will just correct two innaccuracies:


Hanks' character does open all the FedEx packages on the island, save one. He finds such useful items as ice skates with blades, and a dress with netting. He leaves one package purposefully unopened - - to retain his hope that he will be someday able to deliver it. He's a FedEx man, and that's what he does. Saving your sanity, your sense of self, and keeping hope alive are very important aspects of survival.


The film was not a FedEx commercial. It was simply filmed in the real world, as the real world actually appears. It was phenomenal that FedEx agreed to be featured. It was vital to the story that the main character work for a major worldwide delivery organization. Someone's logo was going to be featured everywhere, and it was fortunate that it was FedEx's (though UPS would have worked).

What would not have worked was a fake delivery company like "TransGlobal Express." It was a valid choice of the filmmaker to make a fantastical, almost fairy tale story, against an absolutely real-world backdrop. Calling it a commercial for FedEx simply denies how our world really appears.


(BTW, when your plane is shown crashing into the ocean and killing many aboard, it's not a commercial.)



And now back to your regulary scheduled Movie Musings thread. My musings about King Kong will have to wait .... I'm off to see Madonna tonight. :p

[Gemini Cricket]

I would have opened all packages. Angel wings or not...

They could have come up with a generic name for the company. But they didn't. Product placement lasting for more than seconds turns movie into commercial. This movie is pre-9/11. The plane crash wasn't the company's fault, it just happened. Therefore, FedEx had to pay Zemeckis huge amounts of money to feature their logo. Bleh.


As for Madonna, I love her. I hope they keep the crucifiction part in for tonight's show.
:)

[Gemini Cricket]

I did catch the end of Freaks. That movie just fascinates me.
That's a great film. Love it.
:)

[Snowflake]

Teehee, I'm gonna watch King Kong tonight.


Last night, tho, in prep for DaVinci Code tomorrow, I watched my favorite Tom Hanks movie. Quickly rising up the list to one of my favorites of all movies ever made. Cast Away.

<snip snipe>
One of the best movies of all time, without a doubt in my mind.


Tomorrow ... the DaVinci Code. Hmmmmm.

I will have to rent this, I've not seen it and this sounds very good, thanks!
:iSm:

[innerSpaceman]

They could have come up with a generic name for the company. But they didn't.
Um, no. The movie takes place on earth. Real earth. Today. Sorry you disagree with that choice, but don't assume that you get to make that choice for the filmmakers.

(Heheh, I used "TransGlobal" as my example above - because it was the fake airline used in the Airport movies, to illustrate how fake names stand out like a sore thumb. Real names just stick out like a thumb.)

[Gemini Cricket]

Um, no. The movie takes place on earth. Real earth. Today. Sorry you disagree with that choice, but don't assume that you get to make that choice for the filmmakers.

Filmmakers do it all the time. Even though the film takes place in the real world, they don't necessarily have to have real world company names. If I were a filmmmaker I would use made up names. Nothing dates a movie like having someone in it singing a McDonald's jingle that isn't around anymore (ie. 'Ordinary People') or referencing a company that no longer exists...

C'mon, how much of a sore thumb was McDonald's in 'Fifth Element'? Huge sore thumb.

You can't say he was trying to be realistic. Pshaw, he had dollar signs in his eyes.

Zemeckis didn't have money in mind when he put Fed Ex in his movie? He most certainly did. ie. The California Raisin Company paid millions of dollars to feature a bus bench with their ad on it in 'Back to the Future' (another Zemeckis film).

FedEx stuck out like an sore advertisement.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I agree with iSm when it comes to real world products in film. BRAND X takes me out of the movie as much as "my phone number is 555-5555".

[Moonliner]

Hanks' character does open all the FedEx packages on the island, save one.


:p

There was an Email cartoon that made the rounds back then.. It showed him delivering that last package only to find out it had a brand new satellite phone and solar charger.

[Gemini Cricket]

I agree with iSm when it comes to real world products in film. BRAND X takes me out of the movie as much as "my phone number is 555-5555".
The 555 thing is annoying, but I understand why they do it. Brand X doesn't bother me, though. In fact, I prefer it. Any mention of a real product or any visual ad in a film takes me out of the reality that the film is trying to sell us. It's like McDonald's in Disneyland. Annoying.
:D

[scaeagles]

Perhaps I don't see enough films, but nothing like product placement or brand-x vs. the real thing bugs me. People drink Coke, so who cares if there's a Coke on the table? Why should I care if it is FedEx or Transglobal Express?

Just doesn't make a difference to me.

[Gemini Cricket]

Just doesn't make a difference to me.
Would it make a difference if you found out that they put that can of Coke in their film just so that they could score 8 million dollars from Coke for advertising it?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

It's an interesting question - how much reality do you want in your storytelling? Should the president's name be correct or fictional? Which movie stars "exist" and which don't due to acting in the film itself? I love when movies play with that and have the actor exist anyway, so you have an actor saying that he hates himself or whatever. I can't think of an example off the top of my head.

More on realism:
On Family Guy, Stewie travels to the future.
Stewie: "Everything looks the same!"
Future Stewie: "What did you expect, it's only been thirty years."

[Moonliner]

The 555 thing is annoying, but I understand why they do it. Brand X doesn't bother me, though. In fact, I prefer it. Any mention of a real product or any visual ad in a film takes me out of the reality that the film is trying to sell us. It's like McDonald's in Disneyland. Annoying.
:D

Like most things in life, it depends on how it's done. The FedEx placement in Castaway made it a better movie. Looking for the travelocity roaming gnome in the amazing race is a distration.

[scaeagles]

Would it make a difference if you found out that they put that can of Coke in their film just so that they could score 8 million dollars from Coke for advertising it?

Not in the least. Capitalism at its best. And if I am so weak minded that I go purchase a coke because I saw Harrison Ford drinking one then I deserve whatever the death-in-a-can soda does to me.

If I recall correctly.....I think it was the movie The Firm (Tom Cruise as a lawyer who ends up unwittingly going to work for a mob law firm). In the book, he gets a new Mercedes as a signing bonus. In the movie, it's a BMW. Why? Because BMW paid for it. Who the hell cares? He's got to drive something. Why not let him drive the car of the biggest bidder?

So no.....it doesn't bother me at all.

[Gemini Cricket]

It's an interesting question - how much reality do you want in your storytelling?
I think it depends on the story. If it a brand name pertains to something specific in the story itself and is vital to tell the story, then it should exist. It is not vital to the story to have Hanks work at FedEx. The story would not lose anything if he worked for a company by another name.
Should the president's name be correct or fictional?
I think it also depends on the story. Is it a movie that is impacted by the Watergate scandal? If so, Nixon should be president. If the president's identity or political party is irrelevant, then a generic president should be featured. If 'The Day After Tomorrow' featured George Bush 2, then the movie would be seen as a jab at Bush and Republicans. It makes a total statement to have the president be an actual president.
Which movie stars "exist" and which don't due to acting in the film itself? I love when movies play with that and have the actor exist anyway, so you have an actor saying that he hates himself or whatever. I can't think of an example off the top of my head.
This was a funny thing I noticed in 'Beverly Hills Cop 2'. The villain in that was Bridget Nielsen. At one point, someone interacts with a poster for the film 'Cobra' (the Stallone vehicle). At the time the movie came out, Nielsen and Stallone were together. So, who was Stallone married to in the reality of 'BHC2'? It's a good question isn't it. Does the villain just look like her?
:shruggage:

[Gemini Cricket]

The FedEx placement in Castaway made it a better movie.
How?
Not in the least. Capitalism at its best. And if I am so weak minded that I go purchase a coke because I saw Harrison Ford drinking one then I deserve whatever the death-in-a-can soda does to me.
That is how we differ. I see it as selling out. And anyone who buys a Coke because Harrison Ford (which he wouldn't by the way, maybe in Japan but not here) told them to is a lemming.
:D

[Not Afraid]

Perhaps I don't see enough films, but nothing like product placement or brand-x vs. the real thing bugs me. People drink Coke, so who cares if there's a Coke on the table? Why should I care if it is FedEx or Transglobal Express?

Just doesn't make a difference to me.

I completely agreee with you. I could care less if a person is drinking Coke, Pepsi, Shasta or Colamonger Cola. If a story is compelling enough, I don't even notice beyond having a mental placeholder for what the company means. However, if an incorrect concept was used, I would find it really disturbing.

[Gemini Cricket]

To me, commercials have no place in films nor movie theatres. Bleh and double bleh.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I agree with scaeagles on paid advertisements - as long as they don't take me out of the movie. It's all about keeping me within the story.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I see it as selling out. I don't see how a multi-million dollar budget film can be accused of selling out any further than it already does.

If I wrote a screenplay and Coke wanted my characters to drink Coke in it, I'd happily take whatever they offered as long as the script and direction aren't affected by the transaction. I'd be especially inclined to take it if it meant I'd have just that much more budget for my film - better equipment, more time, etc. I don't see that as "selling out" my script or concept.

[scaeagles]

I certainly don't want a Truman Story thing going on (you know - with the wife telling Truman what she got at the store in tremendous detail).

Seeing a billboard for Coke or a McDonald's golden arches while someone is driving down the road in a movie only makes sense, because I pass those things all the time. Now if someone passes the golden arches 12 times while driving a mile.....that gets a bit silly.

[Not Afraid]

It's an interesting question - how much reality do you want in your storytelling?

Chris and I were just discussing this question the other day. I think what brought it up was his recent Inspiration story and the "meaning" or "possible meanings" for the Crow and Charlie. Maybe it's because some of my favorite authors are "magical realists" and blur the lines of reality, but I LIKE to have my lines blurred. I like to have more questions to ponder than difinitive answers. I like a good mix of both reality and un-reality.

This can easily carry over to my feelings - or lack thereof - on product placement. Murakami regularly mentions Disney-realted things as well as pop-culture icons in ways that are jarring, but meant to be so. His reality references seem to punch out the magical realism of the story for a moment which is wonderfully jolting for the reader.

I have a strong desire to re-warch I <3 Huckabees or Adaptation again. I'm in a mood to ponder some more and those two films do a great job of questioning "reality". ;)

[Not Afraid]

To me, commercials have no place in films nor movie theatres. Bleh and double bleh.

But, is it a commercial or is it just something the character would do? If every product in a film was "fabricated" I would think the character and, possibly the film, would seem disingenious.

[Gemini Cricket]

I don't see how a multi-million dollar budget film can be accused of selling out any further than it already does.
...
I don't see that as "selling out" my script or concept.
I can accuse it of selling out. If the message is important enough, despite how much money it has to tell the story, I can still be art. If they pimp the movie by putting blatant ads in it, then I can call it selling out.
It's as simple as that. (And it doesn't stop at ad placements. Placing a popular recording artist into a leading role in a movie, because they know people will watch the film just to see her, is selling out too.)

Shirley McLaine and Debra Winger are sitting on the bed talking about their love lives. Then suddenly, one says 'Let's go to KFC' or better yet Winger pulls out a bucket of KFC hotwings to go with her tea. Ugh, how horrible would that be?

An ad for General Electric in 'Capote'. Yeah, that's great.

I know I'm getting absurd about my examples, but I mean what I say. There is film that is art and then there are movies that are commercial infested nonsense.
But, is it a commercial or is it just something the character would do? If every product in a film was "fabricated" I would think the character and, possibly the film, would seem disingenious.
Driving down a street and they pass by a McDonalds is fine. Dwelling on the McDonalds for 15 seconds showing someone eating a Big Mac isn't.

Kahuna Burger. There's an example, CP. Why talk about made up Kahuna Burger in 'Pulp Fiction' and then talk about McDonalds in France in another scene?

If a man has a burger in his fist, NA, that had a crumpled up wrapper that we don't see, that doesn't distract from anything. A wrapper that says 'Quarter Pounder' that is deliberately placed to be seen by the camera totally bugs. The blatant product placement makes things more disingenuous to me.
I certainly don't want a Truman Story thing going on (you know - with the wife telling Truman what she got at the store in tremendous detail).
To me, that's exactly what it feels like.

[scaeagles]

Making movies is a business. To make money. Some may say they are making art, but if they are losing money on it, they aren't going to be making art for very long. If big studios find they can entertain me with big budget films, and to help recover some of the costs of making the films they have a coke can on the counter, it only helps them make more big budget films to entertain me.

Of course, the key is that they have to entertain me.

[Gemini Cricket]

Making movies is a business. To make money.
But one can make money without product placements. I will say that if it can be done in a subtle way, I have no huge problem with it. But my eye is completely trained to see it in any way, shape or form.

[scaeagles]

So not only are you an elitist pizza snob, you are an elitist movie snob.:)

But I can see what you are saying. Different people are bugged by different things related to what they know well. I have things that bug the hell out of me that I presume you wouldn't notice.

[Gemini Cricket]

So not only are you an elitist pizza snob, you are an elitist movie snob.:)
Snob is the word. When I went to see 'Da Vinci Code', the sound was bad during the previews. No one could hear a thing. Everyone was whining about it, but in this sold out theatre the only one to complain about it was me. Me me me. Then the theatre employees told me they couldn't do anything about it until they received 3 complaints first. So I went to three different ushers... They fixed the sound.
:)

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm with GC on this. Pulp Fiction really is a great example. If the cultural significance of the specific brand name is important to the scene, then it's gotta be the brand name. So since the "Le BigMac" conversation specifically had to do with the ubiquitousness of McDonalds, then it certainly mattered that it was McDonalds. But when a guy was just eating a burger, it was just a burger. I'm cool with that.

I'm prehaps a bit more forgiving. I don't get annoyed at every single product placement. But when it becomes obvious that a shot is framed to draw your eye to the product, bleh.

Having never seen Castaway, I can't comment on what I think of the use of FedEx.

[katiesue]

I'm prehaps a bit more forgiving. I don't get annoyed at every single product placement. But when it becomes obvious that a shot is framed to draw your eye to the product, bleh.


It only bothers me when it seems totally blatent. I was watching some tv show recently and there were Chili's take out bags everywhere with their logo on it, it became distracting to me. The scene really had nothing to do with food or where it came from.

Lately I have for some reason really been noticing cell phones in movies and tv. I dont' know if it's just because the current razr's and such look different so I notice them more or what.

[Gemini Cricket]

I think the worst product placement I've seen in a TV show was on 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy'. They were talking about what they were going to do to their victim's apartment when all of a sudden Carson or someone says, 'Let's go get something to eat at Burger King.' They all cheered and ran across the street to Burger King. Then the next five minutes they were featured with different BK items in their hands. Ugh.
:D

[innerSpaceman]

. It is not vital to the story to have Hanks work at FedEx. The story would not lose anything if he worked for a company by another name.
I cannot even read the rest of the thread, or even this post, before commenting.

You, Sir, are a fraud. You have never seen Cast Away. :rolleyes:

[innerSpaceman]

But, is it a commercial or is it just something the character would do?
Exactly the point.

Tom Hanks character in Cast Away is a high level manager with a world-wide delivery company who lives his life by the seconds of the clock. It is endemic to the story being told, both to his situation and his character. Working for FedEx is simply something his character would do. And a fictional company would just have taken everybody right out of the reality of the film.

At least, Robert Zemeckis thought so, and that's his perrogative. Since he has made quite a few of the best movies of all time, how 'bout we assume he just may have something there.


We'll have to just agree to disagree. But phone number 555-5555 bugs the crap out of me. It pulls me right out of the story being told. It's noticeable by its obvious artificiality.

[innerSpaceman]

When I went to see 'Da Vinci Code', the sound was bad during the previews.
And me? I couldn't even enjoy the DaVinci Code. Right away, there was the real Louvre! I mean, c'mon, couldn't they have made up some fictional museum??? Totally wrecked it for me. God knows how much The Louvre paid for that product placement. It was all over the film. Gak, the movie started there, ended there. Bleh.

Why did they have to use the actual Westminster Abbey? Totally took me out of the story.

And what's up with using "Catholicism?" A made-up religion would have been much better. How much do you suppose The Pope paid for that?!?!

[Snowflake]

And me? I couldn't even enjoy the DaVinci Code. Right away, there was the real Louvre! I mean, c'mon, couldn't they have made up some fictional museum??? Totally wrecked it for me. God knows how much The Louvre paid for that product placement. It was all over the film. Gak, the movie started there, ended there. Bleh.

Why did they have to use the actual Westminster Abbey? Totally took me out of the story.

And what's up with using "Catholicism?" A made-up religion would have been much better. How much do you suppose The Pope paid for that?!?!

Bwahahahaha :cheers: :iSm:

[Ghoulish Delight]

Again, I haven't seen the movie, so I can't be authoritative...but iSm, what is unique about FedEx that requires it to specifically be FedEx? What does it add to know that his characted is a manager at FedEx rather than another worldwide shipping company? What does "Manager at FedEx" connotate to a viewer that "manager at a worldwide shipping company" does not?

The Louvre, Westminster Abbey, Catholocism are unique entities. There is no generic for those. Saying "The Louvre" brings up specific information in a viewer's mind that "A museum" or even "A major museum" cannot. FedEx? vs. UPS vs. DHL? I'm not seeing it. A wordlwide shipping company is a worldwide shipping company is a worldwide shipping company.

[Isaac]

I think his point was not that it could not be UPS or DHL instead of Fed Ex, but rather why use a made up company.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I think his point was not that it could not be UPS or DHL instead of Fed Ex, but rather why use a made up company. His point is that since it could be UPS or DHL or whatever, then using FedEx jumps out at him as "FedEx offered the most money", NOT "Using FedEx was a creative decission".

[Isaac]

Steve says ( and I quote as he talks while I type )

" They paid Fed Ex. Fed Ex did not pay them. "

[Stan4dSteph]

Why did they have to use the actual Westminster Abbey? Totally took me out of the story.Actually, they were forbidden from filming at Westminster Abbey. Another location was substituted. Link (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffilm.guardian.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fstor y%2F0%2C%2C1496710%2C00.html&ei=NYhzRM-0DsaaaLHp0bQG&sig2=7AM1oJyjmxhtU1Gi718BXg).

[innerSpaceman]

Well, I just checked the running commentary for Cast Away, and no one paid anyone else in connection with FedEx being chosen as the real delivery company. The filmmakers wanted a real company, they asked FedEx, and FedEx said 'yes.'

(heheh, in discussing why he wanted a real company, Zemeckis also uses the laughably bad example of TransGlobal Airlines. Great minds think alike.)



And yes, the DaVinci Code used only the exterior of the real Westminster Abbey. Apparently, the Abbey didn't mean Ron Howard's price for featuring the inside. :D

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I can accuse it of selling out.Then I'm a sell out. I'd rather have more money to put quality workmanship on the screen by allowing coke cans to be seen as props. :confused:

The odd thing is that we basically agree. If the camera is FOCUSED on the product, blatantly showing it off, then yes, that is selling out, taking me out of the movie, and wrecking the story/art in order to make money.

What GD said about Pulp Fiction. Although I wouldn't have had a problem with Kahuna being McDonalds. Who cares? What if there was coincidentally a "Kahuna Burger" somewhere in the world (which there probably is), and they actually get amazing business due to that? So what? It's not about the name, it's about the acting/writing/directing/staging.

If a man has a burger in his fist, NA, that had a crumpled up wrapper that we don't see, that doesn't distract from anything. A wrapper that says 'Quarter Pounder' that is deliberately placed to be seen by the camera totally bugs. The blatant product placement makes things more disingenuous to me.See, we do agree. You used the words "blatant" and "deliberately".

[BarTopDancer]

Now if someone passes the golden arches 12 times while driving a mile.....that gets a bit silly.

But if someone passes one Starbucks they better go past 4 or 5 more in that mile ;)

[Prudence]

DC apparently has more Starbucks per capita than Washington State does. I blame the eastern half of the state. Wendybeth isn't drinking her share.

None of which has anything to do with movies.

um....

Oh! I'd better see the second X-Men movie (which BT took his siblings to and not me!) before number three comes out. Yay summer popcorn flicks!

[Isaac]

Now if someone passes the golden arches 12 times while driving a mile.....that gets a bit silly.
Maybe they were filming in Paris.

;)

[BarTopDancer]

Oh! I'd better see the second X-Men movie (which BT took his siblings to and not me!) before number three comes out. Yay summer popcorn flicks!

Which will probably have product placement for Baskin Robbins like the other 2 did.

[Gemini Cricket]

Well, I just checked the running commentary for Cast Away, and no one paid anyone else...
Ho ho. They sure did. FedEx had to supply the production with a crew that insured that FedEx was portrayed accurately. They supplied the logos, uniforms, boxes... That's a form of payment.

And if it was soooo important for things to be realistic, the beginning of the movie was set in 1995. FedEx was known as FDX Corp in 1995. The name FedEx didn't come to be until 2000.

What GD said about your 'Da Vinci' comparison. You can't compare the two.

CP ~ I'm thinking we agree.
:)

[CoasterMatt]

DC apparently has more Starbucks per capita than Washington State does.
DC also has more violent crime - those damned lattes and frappucinos are laced with PCP!

[Isaac]

Ho ho. They sure did. FedEx had to supply the production with a crew that insured that FedEx was portrayed accurately. They supplied the logos, uniforms, boxes... That's a form of payment.

And if it was soooo important for things to be realistic, the beginning of the movie was set in 1995. FedEx was known as FDX Corp in 1995. The name FedEx didn't come to be until 2000.:).

I know this sounds totally geeky of me, but, Space Mountain in Disneyland was sponsored by "Fed Ex" as of 1995. I think the name Fed Ex has been around longer than 6 years.

Where's Ubergeek42 ?

Um, as for supplying logos, they didn't. Fed Ex only gave permission to use the logo. None were supplied by them for the film. They did allow usage of a real Fed Ex airplane but that's it. Loaning someone a vehicle is hardly payment. By that same principle, €uroMeinke is paying me to post on LoT.

[Gemini Cricket]

They shot the last scenes on FedEx property for free. There was huge support from FedEx during the film. Charging them nothing for filming on their site is in essence paying to have them use the logo.

They may not have given them the logos but someone was on set at all time insuring that the logo look right and was portrayed in a correct manner.

I say it again, they did not need to have FedEx all over this film. Nor the brand Wilson.

[Alex]

Putting it in a real company immediately creates a connection with the character and exactly what world he lives in (and that it is ours). If he worked at a fake name company is it of the monumental logistical proportions as FedEx? Is it something smaller and more fly-by-night? Is it whatever? Using FedEx creates an immediate shorthand and has a historic well-known slogan that emphasizes the importance of time and efficiency (which is the basis on which the character structures his life).

I think a lot is added by using the real FedEx that wouldn't even have been added by DHL or UPS or "Hanks Cash and Carry."

According to Wikipedia, while the term FedEx was a common usage (like KFC) it wasn't officially used by the company until, so apparently it was valid for the timeframe of the movie.

Do you find it equally obnoxious that many times when you see a movie that could be filmed in any city without affecting the story that the actual city selected is based on a bidding process by which city film offices offer discounts, tax refunds, and other services to attract the film?

I personally don't mind product placement as long as it isn't fetishistic. I don't care if the computer on a desk is an Apple or a Dell or a Sony. I care if for no apparent reason the camera lingers on the logo.

Out of curiosity, do you read Stephen King? He was famous for using real brand names in his novels to add realism to the books and keep them firmly planted in our real world. Quentin Tarantino is famous for his "hip" dialogue that was well known for referencing actual brands and other commercial products thus firmly grounding the story in the real world.

As I said, so long as it isn't fetishistic I don't really care if money changed hands. Just like I don't care that the only reason Harrison Ford agrees to present himself in a movie is if money changes hands.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

CP ~ I'm thinking we agree.
:)I'd mojo you if I could :)

It seems the part we seem to disagree on is regarding CastAway - which I have not seen and can't comment on.

I do agree with Alex for the most part.

[innerSpaceman]

Oh I wish Alex would tolerate my mojo for that concise presentation of the freaking point.


GC, I hope you are getting a good night's sleep as I type this. Your crankiness about FedEx appearing on film and wanting their logo to appear correctly is just about the worst whining I've seen in a while.


(And I've seen some pretty damn fine whining in the mirror, quite often ... so I recognize it, pal.)

[Gemini Cricket]

GC, I hope you are getting a good night's sleep as I type this. Your crankiness about FedEx appearing on film and wanting their logo to appear correctly is just about the worst whining I've seen in a while.


(And I've seen some pretty damn fine whining in the mirror, quite often ... so I recognize it, pal.)

It isn't whining. It's fact.

I'd also like to hear you address the huge problems the movie had with its storytelling. We can stray from product placement for a moment.

What is the moral of the story? Love doesn't last? Love doesn't wait for you? There are worse things than being stuck on an island, you could find out that the love of your life forgot you and got married to someone else?
What great messages!

I find it interesting that my comments are directed at the film. Yours turned into name calling somewhere along the line after I disagreed with you. That's nice...

[Gemini Cricket]

Putting it in a real company immediately creates a connection with the character and exactly what world he lives in (and that it is ours). If he worked at a fake name company is it of the monumental logistical proportions as FedEx? Is it something smaller and more fly-by-night? Is it whatever? Using FedEx creates an immediate shorthand and has a historic well-known slogan that emphasizes the importance of time and efficiency (which is the basis on which the character structures his life).
I disagree. These questions you pose can be answered in the script. A truly good writer and director could pull of that. For example, some films feature made up countries for crying out loud. The whole movie is about a war with 'Country X'. The movie is still believable. It is possible to do. Although I do not hold much faith in filmmakers these days, I think it is something that has been done in the past and done effectively and creatively. To say that people must rely on real businesses is not giving the creative mind much credit.
According to Wikipedia, while the term FedEx was a common usage (like KFC) it wasn't officially used by the company until, so apparently it was valid for the timeframe of the movie.
The argument that was placed in this thread is that it was done to add credibility to the film. Credibility and accuracy go hand in hand.
Do you find it equally obnoxious that many times when you see a movie that could be filmed in any city without affecting the story that the actual city selected is based on a bidding process by which city film offices offer discounts, tax refunds, and other services to attract the film?
If the city isn't vital to the story, then it doesn't bother me. If there's posters all over the film saying 'Come Visit Beautiful Tehachapi', then that would bother me.
Out of curiosity, do you read Stephen King? He was famous for using real brand names in his novels to add realism to the books and keep them firmly planted in our real world. Quentin Tarantino is famous for his "hip" dialogue that was well known for referencing actual brands and other commercial products thus firmly grounding the story in the real world.
I don't know if authors get paid for doing that. (One of my favorite books is the unabridged 'The Stand'.)
As was said before, Tarantino made up 'Kahuna Burger'. So it can be done and done well.
As I said, so long as it isn't fetishistic I don't really care if money changed hands. Just like I don't care that the only reason Harrison Ford agrees to present himself in a movie is if money changes hands.
Yes, but there are a lot of great low budget films out there where very little money changes hands, which doesn't star major actors and where no ads pop up. I'd rather watch ten of those than Ford's last film once.

[Stan4dSteph]

What about the films that have a character who smokes? I have more of an issue with that than with product placement.

I disagree. These questions you pose can be answered in the script.Sure, but why waste the time when you have something that is so ingrained in our culture that we immediately know what it is and what it represents? I'd rather get more into the meat of the story than have several pages of contextualization of Company X.

[Gemini Cricket]

What about the films that have a character who smokes? I have more of an issue with that than with product placement.
I have issues with that, too. I don't agree with glamorizing smoking in films. I mean the films in the 30's, 40's and 50's... wow! That's a lot of smoking going on. Not to mention the numerous takes from shot to shot. Yikes. But at the same time, they aren't wearing Marlboro t-shirts while they do it.
Sure, but why waste the time when you have something that is so ingrained in our culture that we immediately know what it is and what it represents? I'd rather get more into the meat of the story than have several pages of contextualization of Company X.
There are worse things that they spend time on. You could explain a company that someone works for in a sentence or two. If you show someone working in their environment, based on how frantic they are working you could convey the message that this is a big, successful monster of a company. Think about sci-fi movies, they have to explain a planet, a culture, just about everything. But let's not waste time on that? Let them just work on Earth, in America, at Walmart but have them carry laser guns. (I'm being silly, I know, but I think you get my point?)

[innerSpaceman]

Yes, your point seems to be that showing the real world as it is, chock full of logos everywhere, is a bother to you. That's fine.

Many other people, me included, say it conveys a sense of reality, and can serve as a shorthand of visual communication which is appropriate for a visual art form. Round and round, and this is where I get off.

I'm not gonna top my post about The Louvre. I wish I could have kept the light touch, and I apologize for getting touchy. But The DaVinci Code could have used a lot less talk. I'm really glad they didn't bother to take even four lines to explain some made-up museum with the great art works of history and a painting that was somehow the most famous work of art on an entire planet.

I'm just gonna leave it at that, and hope the thread veers back to musing about other movies. I have no intentions of singing any more praises about freaking Cast Away. The tangent about product placement vs. filmic reality was very interesting. I've got nothing more to say about either subject.


Hopefully, some people will be curious enough about the FedEx controversy to screen Cast Away, and they'll either love it or hate it.

[scaeagles]

I liked Cast Away.

Reality in a movie is not necessary to me. If it were, I'd not watch any movies. However, the more a movie seems realistic or plausible to me, the more I typically like it. Batman Begins is my favorite superhero type movie because, as far as superhero movies go, it was plausible that someone could really be Batman. Superman, Spiderman....they all take some incredible premise to build their movies.

[Gemini Cricket]

I think the 'Da Vinci Code' was a tad too talky myself. The pacing of the book was much faster than the pacing of the movie. (I'm not sure if that makes any sense, but that's what it felt like anyway.)

I'm bummed that I read 'DVC' after the trip we took to Scotland, London and Paris. It was a coincidence that the places were the same...

[mousepod]

Man... I came into this thread waaaay too late. I was gonna talk about how I just watched the Hammer flick "Rasputin, the Mad Monk" starring Christopher Lee in the title role.

Anyway, now that we're talking about product placement, I'm surprised that nobody mentioned Zemeckis' mentor, Spielberg. Minority Report is quite possibly the most shameless example of product placement I've ever seen in a movie.

As far as Castaway is concerned, I would have chosen FedEx, too, if only for their super-cool logo. Once someone pointed out the subliminal arrow in the name, I can't look at the logo and not see it. Keen.

[Gemini Cricket]

Minority Report is quite possibly the most shameless example of product placement I've ever seen in a movie.
Totally. Although, despite that, I liked 'Minority Report'.

The worst was Taco Bell in 'Demolition Man'. And all those ads in 'Fantastic Four'.

[Ghoulish Delight]

The product placement was the least of my problems with Minority Report. Writing, acting, directing, and cinematography all trumped it.

For the record, the logo was designed in 1994.

http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000273.php

[tracilicious]

I'd also like to hear you address the huge problems the movie had with its storytelling. We can stray from product placement for a moment.

What is the moral of the story? Love doesn't last? Love doesn't wait for you? There are worse things than being stuck on an island, you could find out that the love of your life forgot you and got married to someone else?
What great messages!



I really love Cast Away. I won't address product placement (though for me it was very necessary in this story), but I will address the above.

I don't think a story necessarily needs a moral, but for me Cast Away's moral is triumph of the human spirit. He clings to hope by not opening the angel wings package, he creates comradery with an ordinary object to help him survive the constant isolation, he takes his one chance at freedom from the island with bravery and adventure, then in the end even when all seems lost he delivers his package and journeys into the unknown. Life really sucks sometimes but it doesn't end. Even when the most crippling of blows are dealt the indefeatable human spirit survives. He takes his map and goes off to find out what else life has to offer. You don't get a better ending than that, IMO.

I will say though, that one thing really annoyed me about Cast Away. He's gone for four years, in that time she marries and has a two or three year old child. So basically, she would have married within the year he died and got pregnant right away. It seemed a bit rushed to me in that respect. One of my favorite movies ever though, for precisely the reasons iSm described in his original post.

[Not Afraid]

You know.......if I was a moderator........I'd move all of the product placements discussions to a seperate thread and let this thread get back to the miscellaneous movie musings. ;)

[Gemini Cricket]

I was thinking that product placement is as miscellaneous as it gets when it comes to movies...
:D

[Ghoulish Delight]

Hmm, is it a thread of miscellaneous musings about movies, or a thread of musings about miscellaneous movies?

[Gemini Cricket]

Hmm, is it a thread of miscellaneous musings about movies, or a thread of musings about miscellaneous movies?
Both. It can be whatever we want it to be. I just thought we should have a Soooo...-esque thread for movies.
:)

[Ghoulish Delight]

So while doing my usual aimless wandering about the internet yesterday, I discovered that in 2004, WETA (effects shop of Lord of the Rings fame) put together some concept art for a live action/cgi movie version of Neon Genesis: Evangelion.

NG:E is one of the most beautifully animated anime series ever, not to mention having a fabulous story.

Here's (http://www.northarc.com/images/eva/) some series art.

Here's (http://www.wetaworkshop.co.nz/projects/filmography/galleries/neon_genesis) the WETA concept art.

Unfortunately, the project is currently on hold, but the site says they hope to resume production. I hope they do. In the meantime, I've added the series to our Netflix queue because it's been about 8 eyars since I've seen it.

[Prudence]

The worst was Taco Bell in 'Demolition Man'.

Actually, I thought that was pretty funny. Taco Bell is so craptacular - I can't think of a chain lower down on the quality scale. I'm sure they paid for their mention, but I took it as more of a dig against them - the irony that the worst fast food chain ever would win the restaurant wars. It fit in with the idea that ad jingles rise to top 40 status. I don't think it's funny unless you know how awful the source material is.

[Gemini Cricket]

Back to miscellaneousness...

I thought more people would turn out to see 'United 93'. Especially after it got solid reviews. Too soon?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Back to miscellaneousness...

I thought more people would turn out to see 'United 93'. Especially after it got solid reviews. Too soon?
Too lame. I think this county has, thankfully, had its fill of rah-rah patriotism for a while. Everything I've seen of that screams TV movie, not big screen material.

[Gemini Cricket]

I see. I haven't seen it. I actually don't know anyone who has. I bought '9/11' a long time ago on DVD. Haven't watched it...

[scaeagles]

Too lame. I think this county has, thankfully, had its fill of rah-rah patriotism for a while. Everything I've seen of that screams TV movie, not big screen material.

Interesting. I've seen it, and what I think makes the movie so good is that it does no politicizing whatsoever. It doesn't portray the Islamic terrorists as madmen, it doesn't portray the people on the flight as overly heroic....it is simply a film about what happened with no slant at all.

If simply telling the story in an extremely well done movie is rah-rah patriotism, then I guess we have a differing opinion on what rah-rah patriotism is.

As far as why people aren't seeing it....it hurts. It's emotional. It isn't for everyone. I never saw The Passion of the Christ. I am well aware of what happened in that story, and I don't object to the material. I just really didn't want to see it.

[AllyOops!]

Back to miscellaneousness...

I thought more people would turn out to see 'United 93'. Especially after it got solid reviews. Too soon?

United 93 was absolutely amazing and I'd recommend everybody view it. I don't believe in "too soon". It's heartwrenching to watch, and believe me, it will take you right back to that day. I thought about it all night. In fact, I had a lot of difficulty sleeping. However, it was no ooh rah salute to patriotism. It played much more like a documentary. No filler story-lines or added faux relationship stories ala' Pearl Harbor & Titanic.

I loved the usage of unknown actors. For me, there was no distraction and you felt as though you were right there on the plane with them. Had Tom Cruise or Bruce Willis stormed the cockpit, I wouldn't have even watched it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

If simply telling the story in an extremely well done movie is rah-rah patriotism, then I guess we have a differing opinion on what rah-rah patriotism is.Having not seen it, I can only go by the advertising and general publicity. I've heard too much "You're not an American if you don't see this" to particularly want to see it. And the scenes I've seen make it look like it has the production values of a made for TV movie.

I've seen documentaries on the timeline of flight 93. I've heard the cell phone calls. I know the facts of the event. I'm not compelled to see a dramatization of it.

[Not Afraid]

Back to miscellaneousness...

I thought more people would turn out to see 'United 93'. Especially after it got solid reviews. Too soon?
I'm sure it is a very good movie, but, while I appreciate that some people may want to see an excellent film about the horrors of this event, I really don't want or need to experience it. I guess I've had enough personal tragedy in my own life that I rarely will subject myself willingly to difficult situations. For me, it is a challenge to stay positive and happy (and sober) on my own. I don't need help being depressed or upset.

Sorry, I take care of myyself first and the world is a better - and safer - place for it.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Actually, I thought that was pretty funny. Taco Bell is so craptacular - I can't think of a chain lower down on the quality scale. I'm sure they paid for their mention, but I took it as more of a dig against them - the irony that the worst fast food chain ever would win the restaurant wars. It fit in with the idea that ad jingles rise to top 40 status. I don't think it's funny unless you know how awful the source material is.
Definitely agree with this - the joke was "Everyone knows Taco Bell sucks, how did they win the fast food wars?" That wouldn't have been communicated with Brand X.

I kinda wanted to see United 93 but I knew I'd never drag GD with me. Same goes for CastAway and King Kong, actually...

We added CastAway to our Netflix list and bumped it.

[scaeagles]

I've seen documentaries on the timeline of flight 93. I've heard the cell phone calls. I know the facts of the event. I'm not compelled to see a dramatization of it.

I can understand that. That's exactly why I posted a similarity between that and me not seeing the Passion of the Christ. I completely understand what NA has said as well. It isn't for everyone.

As far as "you're not an American if you don't see it", fortunately I have heard none of that. It isn't about being an American. As Ally pointed out, it's more like a documentary.

[Alex]

1) I left out a word. FedEx officially began using the FedEx name in 1994 (though the FDX Co. was the owner of it all until changing that name in 2000). So the name and logos were accurate for 1995.

2) On the Stephen King thing, if it only bothers you if the "author" was paid for the placement, when you see products in a movie do you have to wait until you get home to see if money changed hands before you decide whether it was annoying?

3) Even in low budget movies pretty much everything and everybody involved is only there because money is changing hands. Hardly any of it is not-for-profit, just-for-the-hell-of-it community theater.

4) But it is ok, we can disagree. I just don't understand how or where you draw the line. Does it bother you that pretty much all of the cars in movies are real-world cars and generally identifiable as such? I just watched Last American Hero (one of the only truly good redneck movies to come out of the '70s) and they actually mentioned Ford and Chevy by name. And NASCAR (as does the upcoming Cars). It would have been easy to create a fictional stock car racing circuit but the shorthand is certainly more convenient and effective, even if it was paid for in the case of Cars (and I'm sure permission was at least given for logo use in Last American Hero).

5) There isn't a bit of "rah-rah patriotism" in United 93. It is a barebones attempt at recreating the events of that morning. Causes, reasons, and results aren't mentioned. The movie literally begins with the hijackers leaving their hotel room, ends with the last plane hitting the ground and never wanders into any side discussion. It is one of the most impactful films I've seen in a long time and nothing about it sinks to the quality of a TV movie.

6) I think it didn't do well because most people aren't really interested in seeing the story recreated, no matter how well it is done. For most people older than 15 when 9/11 happened they'll probably never be quite ready but for younger people it will just be an incident in history or a dimly held memory from their childhood. I think the movie will go down as one of the great reportorial pieces of moviemaking ever but it will have to wait for that next generation to do so.

[BarTopDancer]

They're releasing one about the towers now. It is starring Nicolas Cage.

[Ghoulish Delight]

*shrug* I guess I've just caught the wrong end of the publicity about it.

Even so, a reenactment movie doesn't particularly interest me.

[scaeagles]

Alex, couldn't agree more with your numbers 5 and 6. Well said, as usual. Not that 1 through 4 aren't, but I haven't really involved myself in that whole conversation.

[Scrooge McSam]

As far as "you're not an American if you don't see it", fortunately I have heard none of that.

I'm glad that's something you've not had to deal with. Working within a government organization, my experience has been a bit different.

Around here, they still pester us every Friday to wear red to show our support for the war. I usually wear black.

[scaeagles]

Around here, they still pester us every Friday to wear red

Just pretend it's a weekly gay day.

[Scrooge McSam]

Just pretend it's a weekly gay day.

Somehow, I can't see myself in an "I got rear-ended on the Jadwin" tshirt.

[Not Afraid]

As far as "you're not an American if you don't see it".....

I was wondering how I could get ride of 300+ years of American heritage. I'll just not see this film. Poof, you're French!:p

[Gemini Cricket]

While researching the Sámi for my 'Helmet' commercail, I thought back to the movie 'The Cuckoo'. It's an interesting Finnish film. If you want a quiet random film to rent, rent that one. It's all about the ways people communicate and don't communicate. It's a gem.

[Gemini Cricket]

I just got 'Transamerica' in the mail today. We'll be watching it soon.

[Not Afraid]

goddamnyouGC. You want me to ruin my new Mac?

[Gemini Cricket]

goddamnyouGC. You want me to ruin my new Mac?
What did I do now? :D

[Not Afraid]

You know very well what you did Mr. Cricket.

[innerSpaceman]

United 93 was about as non-political, non-patriotic as you can get. It was a thrilling, true-life, uber-danger adventure told in real time ... amazingly without jingoism or cheerleading or condemnation.

I think the hijackers were shown to be confused, bad men. But there was no judgment on Islam. The military was shown to be hamstrung and incompetent, but they somehow resisted putting the blame on anyone militarily or politically. (Though I don't see how any reasonable person could not have pictured George Bush sitting in a classroom as the military guys in the movie scrambled in vain to get the presidential authority needed to shoot down civilian aircraft).

As for too soon .... well, this movie played almost like a docudrama. And it was unique for having just about every character who lived through the day played in the movie by the actual person who was that character. This lent a credence to this movie that could never have been achieved otherwise ... and is certainly a good reason for producing the film close in time to the actual events portrayed.



And now, to go back on my word, I will say one more thing about Cast Away...
I don't think a story necessarily needs a moral, but for me Cast Away's moral is triumph of the human spirit.
Another very good moral of the story is personal responsibility. Early in the film, Hanks is shown shying away from any emotional connection to his best friend vis-a-vis the pal's wife's battle with cancer. Upon return from a major survival experience four years later, a changed man, Hanks apologizes to his friend for not being there for him when his wife died. Hanks then apologizes to his remarried girlfriend for being absent for four years. He does not play the victim, but rather accepts personal responsibility for the events of his life and their oft-tragic consequences. He has grown as a man, and his exceptional level of personal responsibility is an uplifting inspiration.



I'll stop gushing about this film now. But the fact that mousepod has bumped it up his Netflix queue makes it all worthwhile, tee hee. :blush:

[innerSpaceman]

Oh, and I think someone should check the temperature in Hell, because Gemini Cricket and I both like 'Minority Report.'


( And I think it's just the two of us who do.)

[Not Afraid]

I didn't mind Minority Report. It was a Phillip K Dick novella first you know. That has to count for something.

[mousepod]

Just because I called it "shameless" doesn't mean I didn't like it. Count me in, too.

[innerSpaceman]

^ OMG, the fan base for Minority Report just doubled!


It (United 93) isn't for everyone. As far as "you're not an American if you don't see it", fortunately I have heard none of that.
Yeah, I never heard any of that about this film either. Though there are many people who are still 9/11 overloaded. And it's certainly a gut-wrenching film that may be too sad or emotional for some people at some times.

Many of you here might know that zapppop has a phonographic memory. He remembers with uncanny precision everything he hears. What is less well known is that he has a photographic memory as well. I took him to see United 93, and that was a terrible mistake. He cannot shake disturbing imagery. It won't go away from his consciousness, and it will disturb his dreams tremendously.



I happen to like true life stories of fantastical happenings. Truth is almost always stranger, and better, than fiction. And since I can barely remember where I put my keys, any emotional damage is quickly forgotten. :)

[Alex]

I was moderately approving of Minority Report and Rotten Tomatoes shows a 92% rating for it so you can't be all that alone.

[Gemini Cricket]

Yay, iSm and I agree on 'MR'. But there have been films we've agreed upon in the past. :)

Speaking of disturbing imagery, the 'eye scene' in 'Minority Report' is hard to shake. Eww. It reminded me of a clip from the 'Andalusian (sp?) Dog' that is also hard to shake. Very disturbing.

I noticed that Spielberg has some shocking imagery in his films. The eye scene in 'MR', the slaves being dragged off the boat in 'Amistad', the heart in 'Temple of Doom', 9/11 references in 'War of the Worlds' etc.

[Mousey Girl]

ISM, I am wondering what your thoughts are after seeing King Kong.

[innerSpaceman]

Well, it could have been ok with a little trimming of the horrific over-the-top stuff. Cut away before the brontosaurisi all tumble over each other in a rolling ball of dino feet and tails. Cut away before T-Rexes are swinging on vines. Leave giant bugs menacingly approaching, but cut stuff where they suck human heads or where the boy who's never held a rifle manages to shoot insects off people's bodies without hitting men. That would be a start.


I love every moment in New York City during the Great Depression. There's something about the way it was filmed ... the comedic style, the art direction, the color timing that I found simply perfect.

(Ok, maybe the ice dancing part could go.)


I like how Ann Darrow manages to "tame" Kong and eventually come to feel affection for him. I like that Carl Denham is a madman moviemaker on the lam. I actually didn't hate Jack Black in the role, and I even sorta bought Adrien Brody as the quirky romantic lead, Jack Driscoll. Certainly, the re-enactment aboard ship of the old King Kong scene between Darrow and Driscoll illustrated how stilted the characters and performances were in the original movie.


But somehow the performance of Kong seemed better in the old one. Though technically superb and very expressionfull, I didn't really warm to this Kong like I did the little puppet with the constantly shifting rabbit fur at the hands of Willis O'Brien. This Kong seemed too much like a merely giant gorilla instead of some kind of, i dunno, tortured, quasi-human soul. Oh, I felt some pathos for him, and the Empire State Building scene was magnificently realized. But the character of Kong, and ultimately this film of Kong, fell flat for me.

I just don't understand the why of it. Technically subperb, visually gorgeous, but ... other than to prohibit the Jeff Bridges / Jessica Lange / Dino DeLaurentis travesty from being the last word on the subject ... I don't really see any compelling reason for this film to have been remade.


But, a few cuts of the absurdly silly stuff, and it's a downright ok movie. Certainly a better remake than Poseidon. This one did try to expand on the story's characters ... and that's gotta count for something..

[Gemini Cricket]

Wow. I was just looking at that top 10 moneymakers (domestic) at boxofficemojo.com:

1 Titanic Par. $600,788,188 --1997
2 Star Wars Fox $460,998,007 --1977
3 Shrek 2 DW $441,226,247 --2004
4 E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Uni. $435,110,554 --1982
5 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Fox $431,088,301 --1999
6 Spider-Man Sony $403,706,375 --2002
7 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Fox $380,270,577 --2005
8 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King NL $377,027,325 --2003
9 Spider-Man 2 Sony $373,585,825 --2004
10 The Passion of the Christ NM $370,782,930 --2004

Wow. Nothing's going to touch 'Titanic' for awhile, eh? I remember it being successful but not that successful. Amazing.

[scaeagles]

I thought Titanic sucked. Hated everything about it.

Hated The Phantom Menace. (I didn't hate Revenge of the Sith....wasn't great, but I didn't hate it.)

Everything else on there I enjoyed, with the exception of Passion, which I have never seen.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I can't believe Revenge of the Sith beat out Return of the King - and where are the other LotR films?

[Not Afraid]

Soooooo, you wonder why Hollywood lives sequels? Half of thosse on the list are sequels.

[katiesue]

I thought Titanic sucked. Hated everything about it.


I thought I was the only one who hated Titanic. I thought the whole thing was just horrible, and endless.

[Not Afraid]

Another Titanic hater here. Dullsville.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I thought I was the only one who hated Titanic. I thought the whole thing was just horrible, and endless.
Same here. Big yawner.

We watched Ghost World last night. Not a bad little movie. Kinda Daria meets Harold and Maude. Definitely aimed directly at teenages, it could have gone a little deeper than it did. But enjoyable none-the-less.

[Alex]

Two Towers is 12 and Fellowship is 17.

Here's the list if you adjust for inflation:

1. Gone with the Wind - $1,293,085,600
2. Star Wars - $1,139,965,400
3. The Sound of Music - $911,458,400
4. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial - $907,867,700
5. The Ten Commandments - $838,400,000
6. Titanic - $821,413,700
7. Jaws - $810,704,400
8. Doctor Zhivago - $794,466,900
9. The Exorcist - $707,639,500
10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - $639,470,400


Saw The Da Vinci Code last night. It does a lot to mask the terrible writing of the novel but not nearly enough and is about 40 minutes too long. The movie (and the book) should have ended when a certain person is arrested as the rantings of that arrestee create seeds of doubt that would make for an interesting "Lady or the Tiger" debate if the movie ended there. The final revelations are just stupid so they can be easily cut.

I actually enjoyed the movie pretty much from the time they left the Louvre to that arrest. One big question though that I wonder about:

For a man that apparently knew pretty much everything about the Priory of Sion from their historical origins, there administrative structure, their membership, their artifacts, and so on how did it escape his notice that most of them live within five minutes of a particular church?

Also, how would a DNA test proving relation to a woman in a French sarcophogus (with an unsupported claim she is Mary Magdalene) prove descendency from Christ?

[Alex]

Soooooo, you wonder why Hollywood lives sequels? Half of thosse on the list are sequels.

And the number is 7 if you could movies that are sequels or produced sequels.


I liked Titanic (though I have seen it since I saw it in the theater). My dislikes on the list are Episode 1 and Episode 3 which I despise. I'm all not a big fan of Return of the King and thought it a mess of the movie displaying the uncontrolled extravagance that Jackson would put on full display in King Kong.

On the inflation adjusted list the only movie I don't like are Gone with the Wind and Snow White. I find The Exorcist suspensfully made but since I never found it remotely scary it loses something for me.

[mousepod]

I'm waiting for Titanic II

[Not Afraid]

While waiting for Chris' plane to arrive so I could go to the airport, I watched a portion of "Guess Who's Comming to Dinner" on TCM. I forgot how much I LOVE that film. Lucky for me, I have a $50 Amazon credit so I bouth a copy of it today - along with a few other classecs, including the Film Noir box set that includes Detour.

[Alex]

I'm waiting for Titanic II

You're in luck (http://youtube.com/watch?v=vD4OnHCRd_4&feature=MostReferred&page=2&t=t&f=b).

[scaeagles]

Why is it not so hard for me to imagine that movie could be made?

[Gemini Cricket]

Hated 'Titanic'. Loved the sinking scene.

Love 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner', hated 'Guess Who?'. Bleh. (Watched it on a flight from MA to CA. Bleh.)

'Ghost World' is a cool movie. I liked it. I loved the song at the beginning 'Jaan Pechann Ho'. I have it on my iPod.

I loved 'Spiderman 2', 'SW:ANH" and 'Return of the King'. I can't watch 'ET' anymore - burnout. I loved Jennifer Saunders in 'Shrek 2'.
:)

[tracilicious]

We watched Shopgirl a few nights ago. I liked it. I'm a big Jason Schwartzman fan, but I've liked him better in other movies. Claire Danes was fine and I've always had a soft spot for Steve Martin. I enjoyed the sparcity of the film. Not spectacular, but good enough.

[Ghoulish Delight]

'Ghost World' is a cool movie. I liked it. I loved the song at the beginning 'Jaan Pechann Ho'. I have it on my iPod.Yeah, that opening scene was great.

[Gemini Cricket]

Yeah, that opening scene was great.
Except I can't do that head shaking dance thing she does. When I break into her dance moves, I get dizzy spells. :D


Oh, I love 'Rushmore'. That movie is so much fun. That was Jason Schwartzman, right?

[Prudence]

I've never seen Titanic. I have seen Ghost World 'cause I dig Thora Birch.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Ghost World was mostly great. I had a particular interest in how they portrayed her, as I also didn't go to college after high school, didn't get a job right away, and felt rather disaffected for a while. Not to mention feeling completely seperated from the interests of the stupid sheep around me. Spot on.

The relationship was awesome. Buschemi is amazing. I can't imagine making money off of being creepy and not killing myself, but he pulls it off, and well. I love him but I'd never touch him ;)

It was a bit slow in parts but I'd totally recommend it as a great offbeat movie.

[innerSpaceman]

I love how the taste of the movie-going public gets so much better if we account for the fact that movies cost $12.50 now vs. $0.50 then. I don't love every movie on the adjusted-for-inflation list, but note how there's not a single sequel or remake in the top ten.


I'm not a hater of Titanic. The story is cornball melodrama, but I just take it as a story in the style of the era being portrayed. I'm too big a Titanic geek to not appreciate the faithful recreation of the ship and the astounding way in which the sinking was portrayed. I've come to love the film more since the recent DVD release, which has some deleted scenes (one big action scene in particular) which I think actually make the film better ... albeit a bit longer.


As bad as Phantom Menace was (and it stank like last year's fish), it was Citizen Kane compared to the horror of Revenge of the Sith.

And Return of the King was a freaking mess. That series let me down so much. If only Fellowship of the Ring would have been the travesty that I expected of it. But, no. It had to go and be the most frelling awesome adaptation of LotR I could conceive. And the films went downhill from there. By the time of the last one, which made the most money and won all the awards, the series had devolved into trash. This might have been expected if the films were lensed consecutively. But bits and pieces of all the films were shot concurrently, and it's a mystery why the first one was so great, the middle was pretty bad, and the third one sucked curdled beans.



My movie pick of the week: A History of Violence. Sheer brilliance.

[BarTopDancer]

Sitting in my entertainment center, unopened are:

The Usual Suspects
Office Space
The Virgin Suicides
Garden State

And did you know they are making yet another Fast and the Furious? None of the original. And notice how very little of the cast has names while much of the cast is credited as "cheerleaders" or something similar.

Nick Barcelona .... Raver on the Street
April Betts .... Cheerleader
Lucas Black .... Sean Boswell
Daniel Booko .... Clay's buddy
Brandon Brendel .... Clay's Buddy #1
Zachery Ty Bryan .... Clay
Stefanie Budiman .... Cowgirl
Max Charles .... Stilts
Greg D'Agostino
Caroline de Souza Correa .... Isabella
Drew Michael Gallagher .... Student
Ashika Gogna .... Cheerleader
Nikki Griffin .... Cindy
Henry Jaderlund .... Jacob
Sung Kang
Masa Kanome .... Tea-Hair Gang
Nathalie Kelley
Keiko Kitagawa .... Reiko
Jamie D. Knee .... Cheerleader
Branden Weslee Kong .... Skateboarder
Masami Kosaka .... Announcer
Collin Leonard .... Blackie
Tara Louise .... Cheerleader
Joan May .... Blonde Ghetto Girl
Sandra McCurdy .... Model
Danny Ray McDonald II .... Bully #3
Leonardo Nam
Tyler Nelson .... Mascot
Eriq F. Prince .... Navy Working Class Officer
Trey Sanford .... Bully
Lindzi Scharf .... Cheerleader
Amber Stevens
Don Tai .... Basher
Brian Tee .... D.K.
David V. Thomas .... Clay's Buddy D
Dennis P. Thomas .... Egghead
Jason J. Tobin
Satoshi Tsumabuki
Bow Wow .... Twinkie
Jade Wu .... Tea-Hair Gang
Stuart W. Yee
Leila Zia .... Cheerleader

[innerSpaceman]

Oooooh, The Usual Suspects was my movie pick-of-the-week three weeks ago. Love it.

[Alex]

A History of Violence was pretty good but only because of Maria Bello. Take out her character and I don't know that I would have been much interested. A couple months later and I'm still working it out in my head what was going on with her.

[Not Afraid]

The upcoming film on my "want to see" list is the Al Gore doc. Freaking tree hugger I am.

[Scrooge McSam]

The upcoming film on my "want to see" list is the Al Gore doc. Freaking tree hugger I am.

I'm thinking of easing over to Phoenix and taking Leo. You should come. :D

[Not Afraid]

I'm thinking of easing over to Phoenix and taking Leo. You should come. :D


Now THAT would be a good time!

[scaeagles]

Hey - we could even invite Al Gore! I'm sure he'd hop right on a fuel guzzling carbon buring plane to get here and then take a multi car entourage from the airport to the theatre, and then do the same thing going back to where he started.

[Scrooge McSam]

Moan moan moan and you shouldn't be so mean to Al Gore.

If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be able to talk like this.

[scaeagles]

Al Gore reminds me of George Orwell's Animal Farm.

[Not Afraid]

This guy was being interviewed today on some NPR show (don't ask me whih one) and he kept using the word "Authentic" over and over to describe Al Gore. I was trying to WILL him to shut up. If you have to call someone authentic over and over they are not very authentic. Authenticity should be self evident, don't you think?

[tracilicious]

I'm thinking of easing over to Phoenix and taking Leo. You should come. :D

What am I, chopped liver? I live in Phoenix (ok, Phoenix metro). :p

[Alex]

If you do watch it, be aware that apparently he presents a completely out-of-leftfield figure for how much the sea level is calculated to rise by 2100 (20 feet when the consensus worst-case estimate is 35 inches).

Otherwise the skeptical environment scientist (in the "global warming is happening, but he's skeptical as to how much it is a result of human activity" camp) I know felt the numbers presented were reasonably accurate even if he differed in the final conclusions.

[scaeagles]

I just have this picture of "The Day After Tomorrow" in my head when thinking about the Gore flick.

[Scrooge McSam]

What am I, chopped liver? I live in Phoenix (ok, Phoenix metro). :p

Oooooo This is turning into a real party. Should we swing by with the motorcade or do you just wanna meet us?;)

[Not Afraid]

I'll be waiting for my motoercade Mr. McSam.

[innerSpaceman]

I'm most certainly going to see the Gore flick this weekend. I won't shoot the messenger, so he can motorcade all he wants. I drive around alone in my SUV ... it doesn't mean I have no authority to say the sky is falling.

Being a campmate of Alex, I want to see what the film has to say about what level of global warming is the result of human activity, and what is simply a natural cycle. Either way, I'm also curious to find out - - especially if (as I suspect) it's mostly nature ... what the frell we can do about it.


Besides I need a little gravitas after seeing X-3 last night. The social commentary was played in a lower key than in the other films in this comic book series. It was a fun movie, but likely my least favorite X film. That said, I enjoyed it more than other big summer fare so far, such as Poseidon or The DaVinci Code (neither of which I hated).

[Matterhorn Fan]

I still haven't seen Titanic. :D

[scaeagles]

Besides I need a little gravitas after seeing X-3 last night.

Apparently a lot of people will need gravitas. I read today that X-3 is now the second highest opening day ever with about $45 million on Friday, behind only Revenge of the Sith.

[Prudence]

I saw X3 tonight. I thought it was fun. Not super great cinema, and considerably less finesse than the other two, but there were some cool moments.

[NickO'Time]

I have lived a pretty sheltered life. I just saw Treasures of the Sierra Madre, Godfather 2, and 3. Also I'm working on seeing many others. I sometimes wonder if my parents should have introduced them to me. I don't want to blame them because they always worked long hours. I saw Over the Hedge on Tuesday with my wife and loved it.

[Mousey Girl]

We saw Over the Hedge last night. It was cute. I did realize why I prefer matinees, between the ticket prices and the crowded theater...

There were 4 people "holding" 2 entire rows of prime seating. It was a very full theater. I found this incredibly rude. It is one thing to hold a seat while someone hits the concession stand, but don't hold 2 rows of seats on a Saturday night. The majority of the group didn't even show up!!

[xharryb]

Saw X-3 over the weekend. I enjoyed it as a fun action flick that just happened to feature comic characters, but as an overall film not so much. There was just something missing, and I can't fully put my finger on what that something was. Most conversations I've seen about the film have been dominated by the uber comic book geeks whining about all the inconsistencies between the film and the comics, but that wasn't what was wrong for me. In general I felt like they were trying a little bit too hard to "end" the franchise. Of course now that the film has made so much money, they'll be coming up with same lame ways to undo some of what they did in this one.

[scaeagles]

I was sitting at home bored last night with the kids in bed and the wife reading a book, so I decided to split and see X-Men 3.

Enjoyed it, and it is my favorite of the three installments.

What I couldn't figure out, if they found all those cure weapon rounds, is why Logan didn't use one of those when he went to kill Jean.

I really liked the social commentary involved....how some thought their mutant status was a disease and did want to be cured; how others found it to be offensive; how Magneto didn't care about...crud...drawing a blank on the name....the blue girl once she was cured.

[Alex]

Out of curiosity, did everybody who saw X3 stick around after the credits for the big reveal at the end of them?

What was missing for me is that most of the participants of the last battle were characters that had absolutely no back story or involvement. I've never read the comic books so I don't really know anything about Collosus, Kitty, or Beast. And yet these were half of the good-guy team saving our asses. Same on the bad side, were names even provided for half of the lead bad guys?

[scaeagles]

I did stick around, but only because I heard someone next to me before it started talking about how they had to stick around.

As far as ending the franchise, I think prior to the movie premiering they had alluded to this being the last X-Men movie with those lead characters.

With the post credits scene, it seems as if they have set it up pretty well for a different Charles Xavier to be running the school should they want to continue. Making 107 million in the first weekend would make it seem like they will want to continue.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Here's my miscellaneous movie musing: I hate how the battalion of teenagers with brooms invades the theater before the credits are over. Some of us want to sit there and watch the credits! And no, you are not excused for sweeping behind my feet.

I do like DVDs.

[Gemini Cricket]

I loved X-3. It is my favorite of the three. I was a huge fan of the comic books and was delighted by a lot of things they got right.
I liked the Fastball Special. Fans of the comic will know what that is.
I thought it was bold to 'kill off' Jean Grey, Xavier and Cyclops.
Loved Juggernaut.
There needed to be more Colossus and more ass kicking by Beast.
Kitty was a little weak. I mean she and Colossus are supposed to hook up.
Loved all the Golden Gate Bridge/Alcatraz stuff. Wonderfully done.
I found it curious (although it is consistent with the comic books, I think) that all of the X-men except Storm are white and all of the bad mutants were mutants of color. I think almost every race was represented by the bad mutants. I found that amusing...
Loved the CG work at the beginning that made McKellan and Stewart 20 years younger. Nicely done. They looked fab.
I'm glad the cure doesn't work all that well...
Loved all the gayness that were in the first two as well...
And, yes, stick around for the bit after the credits...

[Freaky Tiki]

This isn't a spoiler, but did anyone else think that the guy with the sharp things coming out of his face has the worse mutant power ever?

I kept getting reminded of that Family Guy episode where Meg had the power to make her fingernails grow.

[Alex]

As opposed to the giant mob of mutants whose only mutant powers seemed to be the ability to run really fast into Wolverines blades?

But I was thinking that was probably the primary motivation for those mutants willing to be cured. "Hey, might as well be normal so that they'll stop making fun of the suckiness of my power.

For me the award goes to Storm who seems to do the least with a very strong power.

[scaeagles]

Wolverine isn't even a mutant, is he? He was a military experiment, right? Or is his healing power the mutant thing?

[Freaky Tiki]

Wolverine isn't even a mutant, is he? He was a military experiment, right? Or is his healing power the mutant thing?

His healing power makes him the mutant, which is why they did the experiments

[innerSpaceman]

This was the weakest of the three to me (of three not particularly strong, but enjoyable films). I, too, cannot quite put my finger on what I felt was "missing," but it just seemed lacking a certain something. They did the requisite mutant-to-homosexuality comparisions, they killed off or power-neutered most of the characters, and yet it just seemed to lack a certain indefinable thing.

I found it enjoyable though. I really like the bookend elements with the first film, such as Magneto's plot involving the Statue of Liberty, iconic guardian of the east coast, in the first film ... and his plot this time involving the Golden Gate bridge, yada yada yada of the west coast. Also both films ending with Magneto playing chess ... this time, all meloncholy without Charles and sapped of power to move the metalic pieces (heheh, they were plastic pieces in the first film that he likewise lacked the power to move).

[BarTopDancer]

The Usual Suspects is slowing rising to the top of my favorite movies list.

[innerSpaceman]

Having been reminded of the point of the day by G.C.'s memoriam thread (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showthread.php?t=3615), I have switched tonight's DVD menu to feature Saving Private Ryan, one of the few war movies I admire.

[Prudence]

My movie companion dragged me out the second the credits started. Can someone fill me in on the post-credit X3 scene?

[Alex]

Having been reminded of the point of the day by G.C.'s memoriam thread (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showthread.php?t=3615), I have switched tonight's DVD menu to feature Saving Private Ryan, one of the few war movies I admire.


I have never much cared for Saving Private Ryan. There are a lot of reasons but way up on the list is the fact that the whole movie is a flashback by a person who wasn't there.

[Gemini Cricket]

I loved the storming the beach sequence in 'Saving Private Ryan'. It is superbly done.

A couple of my favorite WWII dramas are 'The Longest Day' and 'Band of Brothers'. I consider 'BoB' to be one long awesomely made film. (Although certain parts are better than others.)
My movie companion dragged me out the second the credits started. Can someone fill me in on the post-credit X3 scene?
Early in the film, Professor X talked about whether it was ethical to inhabit a comatose man's body. If you remember, Moira McTaggert was the doctor in that quick scene. At the end of the film, we see Moira at the man's bedside and the man says, 'Moira?' and we hear Patrick Stewart's voice. She then says, 'Charles?' and then it cuts to black.
X-3: I think a big thing that was missing from this film was one main story. It seemed like several stories all patched together. The other two films main focus was Wolverine, this one centered in on several issues throughout. There's the Jean Grey 'Dark Phoenix' storyline, the Magneto 'fight the cure' storyline, the Storm 'takes over the school' storyline, the Rogue/Iceman/Kitty Pride love triangle, the Angel and jerky father storyline, the Leech 'I want to be free' thing... But being such a huge fan of the X-men since I was a kid, I liked what they did. It played like a comic book. And that's fine, I guess.

I don't know if it's just me, but I cringe when they off characters in the X-Men movies. Even the bad guys...

[innerSpaceman]

Yeah, X-3 was a proverbial blood-bath, wasn't it? But I appreciate that it goes very far towards a guarantee that this will be the last X-Men film, despite the great box office and the tag at the end ... which I will put in spoiler tags for no particular reason:

Prof. X appears to have taken over the body of that Terry Scheivo-esque "vegetative state" patient he earliler showed to his students in class. Dr. Moira is seen attending the patient, who suddenly turns to her and, in Patrick Stewart's voice says, "Moira." She looks at him astonished and gasps, "Charles?!" Cut to Black.


As for Private Ryan, I'm sorry Alex did not appreciate the twist of a seeming flash-back not being a flash-back. I think it was a brilliant device to fool the audience into believing that the main character lives through his harrowing war experiences. In such a literally blood-bath movie, I believe the audience would have otherwise been more than half expecting Tom Hanks' to buy the farm. Since he is such an appealing character, I think his death as a surprise and shock was a worthy goal, completely justifying a bit of cinematic trickery with hokey film conventions of "the flashback."

It is noteworthy that the film did not cut from the Matt Damon's character's present-day close up to a shot of Tom Hanks. There were six or seven shots before Hanks was revealed. And since 'old man Damon' was shown staring at a tombstone when the cut to the past happened, a "flashback" of the person who died is, I believe, quite legitimate.



In light of a certain film currently out in theaters, it was bittersweet to watch yet another movie where Tom Hanks really enlivens an entire picture with his considerable presence.

[Gemini Cricket]

My eyes are crossed. Following link to link across internetdom, I found a wikipedia summary of everything having to do with the X-Men. It's quite a tome. A lot has happened since I stopped reading the comic around the Secret Wars era... I was delighted to find out that Colossus is no longer dead. But maybe we should leave that for the Miscellaneous Comic Book Musings thread.
:D

[Gemini Cricket]

By the way, did anyone catch the CG facelifts that Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart got? 20 years younger. Wow. Pretty amazing, almost flawless. I bet Warren Beatty will want that sort of treatment in his next film. :D

[Alex]

They ended up looking like Odo from Deep Space Nine (particularly Stewart).

[Gemini Cricket]

They ended up looking like Odo from Deep Space Nine (particularly Stewart).
lol! :D
They didn't look thaaat bad. But, yeah, something wasn't quite right. Too shiny? I don't know...

[LSPoorEeyorick]

We saw An Inconvenient Truth this weekend, and it was the most upsetting film and well-composed argument I've witnessed in a long time.

Put it this way: the impending future made the snot- and tear-stains on my sleeve more voluminous than "The Notebook," and I took the bus to work this morning.

It needs to be played in every single school from coast to coast-- really, from latitude to latitude. If the older generation of Americans refuse to listen and change, it is completely up to us to change this Earth before we destroy it.

The most important message within the film is that the concept is not an exaggeration of doomsday. It's plain scientific fact. We are already seeing the consequences of our mistakes (especially the rising drought and flooding, and more like Katrina is coming.) But we can change it for the future! We can reduce our CO2 like we reduced chlorofluorocarbins. We are completely capable-- and have the technology in place-- to reverse this problem. The government and the car companies MUST address it or we're screwed. And not long-term screwed, people... within our lifetime.

Please. Los Angelenos, go see this film. Everybody, when it comes to your area, go out of your way to listen. Gore may not be your favorite free-wheelin' public speaker, but he has a very sincere message and I was wholly moved by it. I think you will be, too.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

By the way, they present a fair amount of scientific evidence that the cyclical weather fluctuation is much, much smaller than the pollution-caused weather fluctuation. Yes, ice ages and thaws happen naturally, but the C02 causes it to be much, much worse.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

drawing a blank on the name....the blue girlMystique, aka Raven Darkholme

[scaeagles]

Oh....forgot to mention that I saw the Snakes on a Plane trailer when I went to X-3. Feaky Tiki's avatar reminded me. Looks perfect for all the aerophidiophobics out there.:)

I also saw a trailer for a kind of funny looking movie called "My Super Ex Girlfriend".

[Freaky Tiki]

Oh....forgot to mention that I saw the Snakes on a Plane trailer when I went to X-3. Feaky Tiki's avatar reminded me. Looks perfect for all the areophidiophobics out there.:)

I swear, I'm almost more excited for Snakes on a Plane, than I am for Dead Man's Chest.

Its going to be wicked awesome

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I also saw a trailer for a kind of funny looking movie called "My Super Ex Girlfriend".

I hear from an unnamed source that it is, in fact, not very good at all.

[Gemini Cricket]

I hear from an unnamed source that it is, in fact, not very good at all.
I'm not surprised.

Have you ever noticed how a movie trailer is an artform all by itself? Movie trailers can make any movie look like it's going to be great. Often a highlight for me at the movies is seeing some great trailers. Love it.

[scaeagles]

I hear from an unnamed source that it is, in fact, not very good at all.

Not surprising. It just looked like a pretty funny premise, and almost any movie can look good in a trailer.

[innerSpaceman]

Conversely, any movie can look bad in a trailer.

I don't think any of the Pixar trailers have been too inviting, but the films have been great. The Cars trailers actually repluse me, but the buzz on the film is excellent.

[tracilicious]

We watched the BBC masterpiece theater production of David Copperfield last night, the one with Daniel Radcliffe and the woman that plays Prof. McGonagal. It was pretty darn good. I haven't watched the ending yet, so don't tell me what happens.

[Snowflake]

We watched the BBC masterpiece theater production of David Copperfield last night, the one with Daniel Radcliffe and the woman that plays Prof. McGonagal. It was pretty darn good. I haven't watched the ending yet, so don't tell me what happens.

Dame Maggie Smith

And David Copperfield ends this way

And now, as I close my task, subduing my desire to linger yet, these faces fade away. But one face, shining on me like a Heavenly light by which I see all other objects, is above them and beyond them all. And that remains.

I turn my head, and see it, in its beautiful serenity, beside me.

My lamp burns low, and I have written far into the night; but the dear presence, without which I were nothing, bears me company.

O Agnes, O my soul, so may thy face be by me when I close my life indeed; so may I, when realities are melting from me, like the shadows which I now dismiss, still find thee near me, pointing upward!

[tracilicious]

NO!!!!! Why did I open the spoiler?! Now I know he ends up with Agnes. Or she dies. That's what I get for not reading the book. :p

[tracilicious]

And is Dame a title? How does one get that title?

[Snowflake]

And is Dame a title? How does one get that title?

Well, you gotta be British, for starters, so that let's me out. In America, you can be a dame, There is nothing like a dame, nothing in the world, there is nothing you can name that is anything like a dame.....yada yada yada

[Snowflake]

NO!!!!! Why did I open the spoiler?! Now I know he ends up with Agnes. Or she dies. That's what I get for not reading the book. :p


Ha! I was hoping you'd resist the spoiler and you MUST read the book, it's wonderful! ;)

[Freaky Tiki]

Well, you gotta be British, for starters, so that let's me out. In America, you can be a dame, There is nothing like a dame, nothing in the world, there is nothing you can name that is anything like a dame.....yada yada yada

I was totally in that musical....

[Gemini Cricket]

As far as I'm concerned, there are only 2 dames in the world. Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith. So there.
:D

[Alex]

I love it when it turns out I had absolutely no idea what a movie was about. I just watched American Gigolo. The only thing I knew about it was that scene of Gere picking out his clothes while singing with the radio. Somehow I formed a childhood preconceived notion of it from just that and never any interest.

It's not exactly a good movie but it was more interesting than I expected. I'm still confused as to why Lauren Hutton is considered attractive, though.

[tracilicious]

I just watched American Gigolo.

As in Deuce Bigolow: American Gigolo? :confused:

[Freaky Tiki]

As in Deuce Bigolow: American Gigolo? :confused:


Just don't bring up European Gigolo, I think Disney should get the rights to that, just to lock it into the Disney Vault forever.

[tracilicious]

As far as I'm concerned, there are only 2 dames in the world. Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith. So there.
:D


You guys are all captains on the team of talking about the subject of a question and not answering it. What the heck is a Dame? Is it the female version of a sir?

[Freaky Tiki]

You guys are all captains on the team of talking about the subject of a question and not answering it. What the heck is a Dame? Is it the female version of a sir?

I believe that is correct.

[Freaky Tiki]

from wikipedia, because you know how accurate it is.

Dame is the female equivalent of address to Sir for a British knighthood. Female "knights" are referred to as "dames" in the UK

[tracilicious]

Just don't bring up European Gigolo, I think Disney should get the rights to that, just to lock it into the Disney Vault forever.

Oh yes, that's the one. European Gigolo.

I've been meaning to add my review of the move Elizabethtown. I was lured in by Orlando Bloom's hotness, but alas, he did not deliver as far as acting goes. Or perhaps he did, and the movie just sucked. I felt tricked. Bad boy, Orlando.

[Snowflake]

As far as I'm concerned, there are only 2 dames in the world. Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith. So there.
:D

Dame Diana Rigg, Dame Joan Sutherland and Dame Elizabeth Taylor, dameit!;)

[Alex]

As in Deuce Bigolow: American Gigolo? :confused:

Just in case that was a serious question, no (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080365/).

[Gemini Cricket]

Dame Diana Rigg, Dame Joan Sutherland and Dame Elizabeth Taylor, dameit!;)
Alright, add them to the list.

[Alex]

Don't forget Dame Elton John.

[Gemini Cricket]

Don't forget Dame Elton John.
Love her.

[Snowflake]

Don't forget Dame Elton John.

OMG, I did! Love Reggie Dwight

[Snowflake]

Alright, add them to the list.

Thanks for the validation GC ;)

[Freaky Tiki]

GC is the final authority on Knighthoods.

The Queen of England herself considers GC to be a top advisor, and "too good" to be a knight himself.

[BarTopDancer]

I'm going to find myself with some time tomorrow. Do I see The DaVinci Code or Thank you for smoking.

And can anyone talk me out of getting Netflix again?

[Prudence]

See Thank You for Smoking.

[Alex]

Neither one is a particularly strong movie but Thank You For Smoking is by far the better of the two.

[innerSpaceman]

I was lured in by Orlando Bloom's hotness, but alas, he did not deliver as far as acting goes.
Alas, that seems to have been the problem with the Director's Cut of Kingdom of Heaven, which I had been soooo looking forward to. The theatrical version seemed choppy, and was infamous for its Director (Ridley Scott) being very unhappy with the studio version that was released.

The expanded cut just released on DVD is indeed a lot better, but the movie just fails to gel ... and it's all because of Orlando Bloom. Or rather, his character, Balian, and the fact that he is both written and played so wanly, so understated, and so low key that Barry White cannot hit that note ... the movie just never sparks.

It's a fascinating look at a pivot point in The Crusades, expertly mounted. But it revolves around a character who never generates much interest or momentum. Too bad.

Hottie is not enough.

[Gemini Cricket]

As much as I love Mel Brooks and Nathan Lane, I barely got through 'The Producers: The Musical' movie. It was horrible. The play was good (one of my faves), but the director of this film didn't know how to translate this story to film. She even had the original to work from, but it didn't work. Nathan Lane is hysterical in places, but not enough to save the film. If you do see it, watch the bit at end of the credits. In fact, the couple of songs during the credits are pretty good. The outtakes on the DVD made me laugh harder than the film itself did.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I'm going to find myself with some time tomorrow. Do I see The DaVinci Code or Thank you for smoking.

And can anyone talk me out of getting Netflix again?

See An Inconvenient Truth.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Kingdom of Heaven... revolves around a character who never generates much interest or momentum. Too bad.

I'd see a whole movie revolving around the Leper King. Edward Norton is effective even if you never see his face.

[Gemini Cricket]

See An Inconvenient Truth.
I'd go see it if I wasn't in such a blah mood lately. I've been looking for escapist type movies to distract me. I may have to wait for this one until DVD. I hear it's awesome, though.

[Not Afraid]

I watched "Guess Who's Comming to Dinner" last night. I saw the middle portioon while I was waiting for Chris' plane to land and just had to see the entire thing again. I love Kate!

I had to look up Katherine Houghton who played the daughter in the film. She was Katherine Hepburn's niece in reality. She hasn't had much of a film presence through the years but she was "Mrs. Spaulding" in Kinsey. If only I could remember who Mrs. Spaulding was.

[BarTopDancer]

See An Inconvenient Truth.

Curses! I narrowed it down to two and you have to go throw a kink in the mix. :p

I'll check the playing times and whatever one starts first I'll go see.

[Scrooge McSam]

I watched "Guess Who's Comming to Dinner" last night.

:) I watched that the other night too. I just love Spencer's monologue at the end. I hadn't seen that film in years.

[Gemini Cricket]

Spencer Tracy was a pro. I love a lot of his movies. I just saw 'Judgement of Nuremberg' the other day. Wow, he was great in that.
:)

[Not Afraid]

I ordered a film that GC recommended today and added the Tracy/Hepburn collection to the order. Gotta get that Super Saver Shipping!

[xharryb]

As much as I love Mel Brooks and Nathan Lane, I barely got through 'The Producers: The Musical' movie. It was horrible. The play was good (one of my faves), but the director of this film didn't know how to translate this story to film. She even had the original to work from, but it didn't work. Nathan Lane is hysterical in places, but not enough to save the film. If you do see it, watch the bit at end of the credits. In fact, the couple of songs during the credits are pretty good. The outtakes on the DVD made me laugh harder than the film itself did.

Well it was the same direc tor from the stage version making her film debut. I haven't seem it yet myself, but it's on my Netflix list.

Going back a page or so the the X-men talk... If the chatter I've been reading so far this week holds true, they seem to be going the spin-off route rather than following it up with an X-Men 4. They already had Wolverine and Magneto films in development and seem to be pushing to make them happen a bit faster now. Today I read of two more potential films. One about Emma Frost, a mutant who never even appeared in the first 3 films and the other film would be more about the lives of Xavier's young students with less of the save the world stuff.

I don't know why, but we saw Date Movie the other night. if I had a vomit smiley I would totally use it to describe that film. Most of it was so dumb that it wasn't even funny. Worse than that, Many scenes were just so disgusting that I couldn't bare to watch them. I literally turned away and didn't look a couple of times.

[Gemini Cricket]

Well it was the same direc tor from the stage version making her film debut. I haven't seem it yet myself, but it's on my Netflix list.
Too bad Mel didn't take the helm on this one. I think it would have been funnier.

[scaeagles]

Well, I'm not planning on seeing An Inconvenient Truth, but I oft read reviews of movies I am not planning on seeing.....here's a scorcher on that movie and Gore.

NY Post review (http://www.nypost.com/movies/66485.htm)

If what is in this review is accurate, there are two specific things that are laughable. First, he compares himself to Churchill. Second, he claims that China is on the cutting edge of environmentalism. I don't know which is funnier, frankly. I'd have to say the second.

[scaeagles]

As a follow up, since it is too late to edit, I will point out that most reviews are very positive about it. Rotten Tomatoes has an 87% rating last I checked.

Still won't be seeing it.

[Gemini Cricket]

We just finished watching 'Transamerica'. I really liked it. Felicity Huffman was great and the actor playing her son was great, too. It's a simple story and moves too slow in places, but it's well done. There's one huge problem in this film that ruined the last 1/4 for me. There's an actress playing her mother that is so over the top that she made me want to puke. Ugh. Almost ruined the whole thing for me. But luckily, she wasn't in the bulk of the film.

So, I really liked it. :)

With that being said, I wished a man had played the character of Bree in the film. I loved what Huffman did with the role, but to see a male in the part would have brought us right into Bree's world completely. There were moments in this film where I thought, 'Look it's Felicity Huffman with no make-up and a low voice.' That kind of thing takes away from a film rather than adds to it. I'm not sure if I'm explaining myself right, but to see a man (Bree was born a man going through the process of becoming a woman) making the transition is much more compelling than seeing a female pretending to be a man who wants to be a woman.

I recommend it. And I will go to my deathbed saying that 'Travellin' Thru' is a much better song than 'It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp'. :rolleyes:

[Scrooge McSam]

I bought the book (Gore's IC), but haven't given it a look yet. It'll be a while before it plays here.