Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 483

bewitched · 10-23-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflake

The Nightmare Before Xmas is showing at the Castro and I've never seen it. Should I go? I only know what little smidgen I do about the film from riding HMH with GC one night.

Absolutely.

LSPoorEeyorick · 10-24-2009, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Bad news for Amelia:

16% all critics
12% top critics

The commericals are hyping this movie to be the first of the end of the year Oscar-worthy pics but the reviews have been hammering this one...

It's definitely not the first. An Education and A Serious Man have gotten far better reviews and came out earlier. Where the Wild Things Are, too, for tat matter.

Gn2Dlnd · 10-14-2009, 10:53 AM

We'll save you a seat.

But we won't buy you popcorn.

flippyshark · 10-14-2009, 03:14 PM

Just saw Zombieland, and true to the buzz, it was immensely entertaining. So, why did I find the last third of it lacking?

Spoiler:

I still had a really good time, but came away thinking of it as kind of a wasted opportunity. Still worth a look, and if you aren't bothered by the thing I talked about in the spoiler above, hang out until the credits are over.

innerSpaceman · 10-14-2009, 05:30 PM

Yeah, but the double-spoiler section had me doubled-over in laughter, so the shortcomings resulting from that were worth it.

And I'm so glad that hadn't been spoiled for me. I was surprised with hysterics.

Ghoulish Delight · 10-24-2009, 10:34 PM

Finally saw Zombieland. Yay, fun! Inevitably my thoughts turned towards comparison with Shawn of the Dead, and while I think I still prefer Shawn for sheer cleverness and consistency, Zombieland had much to love. And for the second time in a matter of weeks in this thread I'm in complete agreement with iSm regarding Flippy's bit of criticism. Any determent to the film, which I can understand where he's coming from, is totally outweighed by the sheer delight the sequence instilled in me. And I remarked as we left how surprised and happy I was that, even weeks into the run, I had not heard even a whisper of said sequence, so it was a totally unexpected treat.

Gemini Cricket · 10-15-2009, 01:03 AM

I think Ratatouille has the best animation of all of the Pixar movies. I just watched it again and it continues to blow me away each time I watch it because I see new stuff with each viewing. And I just adore the Anton Ego speech at the end. I think I've watched this one more than the others.

innerSpaceman · 10-15-2009, 07:12 AM

Speaking of Pixar, Toy Story 2 still sucks. It's sequelish through and through.

No character arc for any of the characters. There's a villain, which the first movie didn't have. But the first movie was a buddy film with a decided arc for each of the two main characters so that they move from enemies to, ya know, buddies.

Part 2 was a plain-jane actioner with zero further character development. Bah.

But now I'm curious if the two Barbies the Prospector is "auditioning" during the hilarious end-credit outtakes will really be in Toy Story 3 as he promised them.

Strangler Lewis · 10-15-2009, 08:50 AM

I thought the second was better than the first in every respect. Buzz may have had a character arc, but it was one of those arcs that start at complete blowhard and are very annoying to watch.

The second dealt bittersweetly with disappointment and the passage of time, i.e., toys being put on the shelf, shows being cancelled, relationships fading, dreams being dashed. And it didn't have an annoying mean kid.

innerSpaceman · 10-15-2009, 09:44 AM

That's what most people say. Better in every respect, in fact, were mousepod's exact words last night.

I just don't see it. I found it completely inferior in absolutely every respect, though not without its charms. It suffered from Star Trek Syndrome ... i.e., how to gin up drama when your entire cast is all lovey dovey. I liked it much better when Buzz and Woody hated each other, and all the toys except Bo Peep wanted to lynch Woody from the nearest Lincoln Log.

So outside characters were introduced to be villains and have the dramatic tension. I felt something for Jesse, but none of the others did anything for me and the action-packed rescue plot was sequel-all-the-way.

Bah.

But to each his own.

And I'm actually looking forward to Toy Story 3.

10-14-2009, 10:53 AM	#3
Gn2Dlnd Parmmadore Jim Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Casita del Queso Posts: 3,810	We'll save you a seat. But we won't buy you popcorn. __________________ Does anyone still wear a hat?
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10-14-2009, 03:14 PM	#4
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	Just saw Zombieland, and true to the buzz, it was immensely entertaining. So, why did I find the last third of it lacking? Spoiler: The blend of comedy and horror was pretty much perfect for the first two thirds of the film, but once MAJOR SPOILER Spoiler: the movie paused for a very lengthy Bill Murray tribute/cameo, which was admittedly kind of funny, my investment in the characters came to an end. This happens so often when movies get pop culture happy or self-referential. Note to Hollywood - Get the fvck over yourselves, please. The tone of the movie shifted to something much tamer - essentially it became skit comedy, with no emotional stakes whatsoever. I still had a really good time, but came away thinking of it as kind of a wasted opportunity. Still worth a look, and if you aren't bothered by the thing I talked about in the spoiler above, hang out until the credits are over.
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10-14-2009, 05:30 PM	#5
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Yeah, but the double-spoiler section had me doubled-over in laughter, so the shortcomings resulting from that were worth it. And I'm so glad that hadn't been spoiled for me. I was surprised with hysterics.
	Submit to Quotes

10-24-2009, 10:34 PM	#6
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Finally saw Zombieland. Yay, fun! Inevitably my thoughts turned towards comparison with Shawn of the Dead, and while I think I still prefer Shawn for sheer cleverness and consistency, Zombieland had much to love. And for the second time in a matter of weeks in this thread I'm in complete agreement with iSm regarding Flippy's bit of criticism. Any determent to the film, which I can understand where he's coming from, is totally outweighed by the sheer delight the sequence instilled in me. And I remarked as we left how surprised and happy I was that, even weeks into the run, I had not heard even a whisper of said sequence, so it was a totally unexpected treat. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

10-15-2009, 01:03 AM	#7
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I think Ratatouille has the best animation of all of the Pixar movies. I just watched it again and it continues to blow me away each time I watch it because I see new stuff with each viewing. And I just adore the Anton Ego speech at the end. I think I've watched this one more than the others.
	Submit to Quotes

10-15-2009, 07:12 AM	#8
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Speaking of Pixar, Toy Story 2 still sucks. It's sequelish through and through. No character arc for any of the characters. There's a villain, which the first movie didn't have. But the first movie was a buddy film with a decided arc for each of the two main characters so that they move from enemies to, ya know, buddies. Part 2 was a plain-jane actioner with zero further character development. Bah. But now I'm curious if the two Barbies the Prospector is "auditioning" during the hilarious end-credit outtakes will really be in Toy Story 3 as he promised them.
	Submit to Quotes

10-15-2009, 08:50 AM	#9
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	I thought the second was better than the first in every respect. Buzz may have had a character arc, but it was one of those arcs that start at complete blowhard and are very annoying to watch. The second dealt bittersweetly with disappointment and the passage of time, i.e., toys being put on the shelf, shows being cancelled, relationships fading, dreams being dashed. And it didn't have an annoying mean kid. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
	Submit to Quotes

10-15-2009, 09:44 AM	#10
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	That's what most people say. Better in every respect, in fact, were mousepod's exact words last night. I just don't see it. I found it completely inferior in absolutely every respect, though not without its charms. It suffered from Star Trek Syndrome ... i.e., how to gin up drama when your entire cast is all lovey dovey. I liked it much better when Buzz and Woody hated each other, and all the toys except Bo Peep wanted to lynch Woody from the nearest Lincoln Log. So outside characters were introduced to be villains and have the dramatic tension. I felt something for Jesse, but none of the others did anything for me and the action-packed rescue plot was sequel-all-the-way. Bah. But to each his own. And I'm actually looking forward to Toy Story 3.
	Submit to Quotes

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