Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Alex

But you can say of any movie "it is good if you just go along with it." Any nonsense or setup can fly, in my opinion, but the responsibility isn't necessarily on me to just relax and open myself up to it but on the film to make me want to.

While I am in nearly full agreement with LSPE's review (not surprisingly, as I am quoted in it), I would change one statement. I didn't think that the film required you to open up to it. I thought the film did everything one could ask to bring the viewer in, and in my view was spectacularly successful. I would account bad reviews not to failing to open oneself up to the movie, but to deliberately closing oneself off from it. The pans I read, after seeing the film, seemed very offended that the film isn't darker and meaner than it is.

[Gemini Cricket]

It has been a long, long time since I have been to the movies.
I think "Hairspray" was the last thing I saw...

But I did buy "Zodiac", "The Lives of Others", "Host" and "Flags of our Fathers". Used. 4 for $20 at Hollywood Video. I have yet to watch them...

[flippyshark]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

But I did buy "Zodiac", "The Lives of Others", "Host" and "Flags of our Fathers". Used. 4 for $20 at Hollywood Video. I have yet to watch them...

I liked The Host quite a lot. There have been several comparisons to Jaws, including a quote on the DVD cover, but, really, it's almost nothing like Jaws at all. I did find it engaging, though.

"Flags of our Fathers" was also compelling, though I liked its companion, "Letters from Iwo Jima", much more.

[innerSpaceman]

The Lives of Others was seriously overrated, imo. Zodiac only mildly entertaining (but it's got, mmmmm, Jake), and I liked Fags of our, er, excuse me, Flags of Our Fathers way better than the better-received Letters from Iwo Jima.


Never heard of Host. Huh?

[Gemini Cricket]

Jake Jake Jake...

I liked Letters from Iwo Jima a great deal, too.

I bought The Lives of Others just because I like the director's name a lot: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck.
It makes me laugh everytime I say it.

[Alex]

The Host is a reasonably fun South Korean monster movie masking some interesting commentary on SK culture and government. I found particularly interesting the schizophrenic reliance on, and revulsion at American interference.

Worth checking out.

[Snowflake]

It's a real pity The Jazz Singer didn't flop in October of 1927. P.U. what a stinker! I'm sure from the back row of the balcony of the Winter Garden that Al Jolson was a wonder in 1916, in 1927 in extreme close up in a really sappy story, he's not entirely pleasant. And it is rather disconcerting to have all these silent bits and then whenever he opens his mouth to sing, then we get a vocal sound track. I appreciate the history, but I don't need to see this again. Apologies to any Jolie fans out there.

While waiting for the next vitaphonized silent film to start, I've been subjected to several Vitaphone Shorts. Now I know what killed Vaudeville, Vaudeville killed Vaudeville. Eeek, some of these acts were just terrible! I think in this respect, some things are best left to someone's warm and fuzzy old memory. Although I did enjoy Trixie Friganza's "Little Bag O Tricks" except when she pulled out the bull fiddle. The comic recitation was still pretty funny. Interesting person, though, at least it inspired me to look her up!

I guess I'm a bit of a curmudgeon tonight!

[Strangler Lewis]

Bee Movie: forced, kind of tedious and with very few genuine laughs. Seinfeld does carry the movie along vocally. Some genuine emotional impact and very pro-New-York-Jew, which may not be a plus unless you are one. Also, a bold statement that forcing your way into a cockpit to wreak havoc on an airplane can still (still?) be the stuff of comedy. Gratuitous zany peril sequences, which are my main complaint about all animated films these days.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

I guess I'm a bit of a curmudgeon tonight!

Well, I'm glad you posted this, because if you can find certain classics awful, then I feel justified when I find certain classics awful.

On a completely unrelated note - Thanks to our resident archivist, I got to see The Ruling Class for the first time. Peter O'Toole was brilliant in what's basically a double role. I absolutely adore this type of late 60's/early 70's movie making (think Tommy - is there a term for this style?) and highly recommend it. Fantastic dialogue.

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Well, I'm glad you posted this, because if you can find certain classics awful, then I feel justified when I find certain classics awful.

On a completely unrelated note - Thanks to our resident archivist, I got to see The Ruling Class for the first time. Peter O'Toole was brilliant in what's basically a double role. I absolutely adore this type of late 60's/early 70's movie making (think Tommy - is there a term for this style?) and highly recommend it. Fantastic dialogue.

Oh, absolutely, just because it's old does not mean it's a classic, nor is it good. Many "classics" can be awful and some just do not age well, no matter how much I love them. Not everything needs to be dipped in bronze and revered as a treasured heirloom. Granted, sometimes I make it sound that way!