Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 124

Alex · 11-12-2006, 12:24 PM

Early word that I'm hearing on Casino Royale is that is a mess. The verdict is split from there on whether it is a fun mess or just a mess.

As for Battle Royale I don't see anything particularly Japanese in its weirdness. I think we have produced equally odd things in this country and others (Shaun of the Dead is more overtly comedic but I think touches on several similar nerves and combines styles similarly).

The socio-economic mileau which drives the movie's initial setup is uniquely Japanese, but it is a country that has gone through some significant cultural and economic upheavals over the last century, but beyond that I don't see much uniquely Japanese in its execution.

I tried to read the manga on which the movie is based but didn't care for the artwork and eventually drifted away.

tracilicious · 11-12-2006, 09:11 PM

Saw Lars Von Triers' Medea last week. Didn't really care for it. I loved Dancer in the Dark, but I just didn't feel connected to any of the characters in Medea. It was just a uniquely directed movie about crappy people doing crappy things to each other.

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 11-12-2006, 09:16 PM

Borat! LMFAO.

8 Bornieo's out of 10!

Snowflake · 11-12-2006, 09:37 PM

Isao Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies was on TCM and I caught it tonight. What a grave and shattering piece of anime this was. Very moving film, I wept.

Alex · 11-12-2006, 09:40 PM

I must admit I laughed a lot during Borat. But like iSm I am uncomfortable at people getting punked and made to look like fools. So I was pleasantly suprised that very few of the real people encounters resulted in them coming off looking like idiots. Yes, there was the racist guy and drunk frat boys making themselves look like fools.

But overall I think people responded to Borat within reason and generally with suprising patience. The southern society dinner had to be pushed pretty damn far (he called a prostitute over to dinner) before they kicked him out and based on the sudden turn of attitude between one cut and another I wonder if they realized they were being scammed or he did something provocative not shown.

But the funniest stuff was in the staged portions of the movie, or so I thought. I assumed that the opening and closing in the "Kazakh village" were scripted and staged but now I see that the Romanian village where they filmed it are claiming that they were tricked into acting like idiots and paid very little.

So, yes, it is a very, very funny movie. But I feel like a dirtbag for it.

I'm assuming that Pamela Anderson at least was in on the part that involved her.

Gemini Cricket · 11-15-2006, 11:59 PM

"Casino Royale"
I liked it. It attempts to make Bond more believable.
Daniel Craig is hot. Hot hot hot.

wendybeth · 11-16-2006, 12:03 AM

Eric and I are planning on seeing Borat with some other equally disturbed friends. From the advance press, I feel quite sure we'll like it.

I loathe 'reality tv' and all those punked-type shows, but for some reason this movie appeals to me. Maybe it was seeing Borat wrestle with Harry Smith.

innerSpaceman · 11-16-2006, 08:34 AM

Ooooh, how did you see a pre-release of CR, GC?

I'm really glad they've returned to the hot Bonds. Sorry, but Brosnon and Moore did nothing for me. James Bond needs to be smouldering.

Basically, I need to be stirred ... not skaken.

Gemini Cricket · 11-16-2006, 10:52 AM

I got the hook up from nirvanaman. A big mahalo to him.

It's not your conventional Bond. It's different. You'll see. But I was never a big fan of the hokey nature of Bond anyway... Daniel Craig's body is smokin'!

Some of the film is cheesy, but I liked it. Not a big fan of Brosnan and Moore either...

Edit to add: "Reinvention". That's the word I was looking for to describe it.

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 11-16-2006, 11:12 AM

I saw MAN OF THE YEAR last night. Robin Williams as the president elect. I enjoyed the film. It wasn't the movie you were lead to belive it was in the previews, I think that was a turn-off. I thought it was a neat idea, great dialoge by Williams. All the acting was great and it was very funny. The downside was it was missing somthing. I think another "pass" at the writing stage would have been needed. Maybe the structure was weird. It was enjoyable. 7 1/2 Bornieo's out of 10

THANK YOU FOR SMOKING. I heard this was a pretty good film and I thought it was just ok. Funny, interesting look at that whole side of that world. Well done. Acting was good. Just not a great movie for me. 5 Bornieo's out of 10

CRASH. Somehow I missed it in the theatres. Knew I wanted to see it because of its Best Picture win. I really loved it. Great acting. Well done all around. A group of stories that was interesting and kept my attention. It was melodramatic or preachy with the whole "race" issue. It was a complelling story about people - not explosions, car chases and four-minute soliloquies. Just about things people do and go thru. 9 Bornieo's out of 10

11-12-2006, 12:24 PM	#1231
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Early word that I'm hearing on Casino Royale is that is a mess. The verdict is split from there on whether it is a fun mess or just a mess. As for Battle Royale I don't see anything particularly Japanese in its weirdness. I think we have produced equally odd things in this country and others (Shaun of the Dead is more overtly comedic but I think touches on several similar nerves and combines styles similarly). The socio-economic mileau which drives the movie's initial setup is uniquely Japanese, but it is a country that has gone through some significant cultural and economic upheavals over the last century, but beyond that I don't see much uniquely Japanese in its execution. I tried to read the manga on which the movie is based but didn't care for the artwork and eventually drifted away.
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11-12-2006, 09:11 PM	#1232
tracilicious avatar transition Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in-between Posts: 2,487	Saw Lars Von Triers' Medea last week. Didn't really care for it. I loved Dancer in the Dark, but I just didn't feel connected to any of the characters in Medea. It was just a uniquely directed movie about crappy people doing crappy things to each other. __________________ And now Harry, let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure! - Albus Dumbledore
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11-12-2006, 09:16 PM	#1233
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	Borat! LMFAO. 8 Bornieo's out of 10!
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11-12-2006, 09:37 PM	#1234
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	Isao Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies was on TCM and I caught it tonight. What a grave and shattering piece of anime this was. Very moving film, I wept. __________________ Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
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11-12-2006, 09:40 PM	#1235
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I must admit I laughed a lot during Borat. But like iSm I am uncomfortable at people getting punked and made to look like fools. So I was pleasantly suprised that very few of the real people encounters resulted in them coming off looking like idiots. Yes, there was the racist guy and drunk frat boys making themselves look like fools. But overall I think people responded to Borat within reason and generally with suprising patience. The southern society dinner had to be pushed pretty damn far (he called a prostitute over to dinner) before they kicked him out and based on the sudden turn of attitude between one cut and another I wonder if they realized they were being scammed or he did something provocative not shown. But the funniest stuff was in the staged portions of the movie, or so I thought. I assumed that the opening and closing in the "Kazakh village" were scripted and staged but now I see that the Romanian village where they filmed it are claiming that they were tricked into acting like idiots and paid very little. So, yes, it is a very, very funny movie. But I feel like a dirtbag for it. I'm assuming that Pamela Anderson at least was in on the part that involved her.
	Submit to Quotes

11-15-2006, 11:59 PM	#1236
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	"Casino Royale" I liked it. It attempts to make Bond more believable. Daniel Craig is hot. Hot hot hot.
	Submit to Quotes

11-16-2006, 12:03 AM	#1237
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	Eric and I are planning on seeing Borat with some other equally disturbed friends. From the advance press, I feel quite sure we'll like it. I loathe 'reality tv' and all those punked-type shows, but for some reason this movie appeals to me. Maybe it was seeing Borat wrestle with Harry Smith. __________________
	Submit to Quotes

11-16-2006, 08:34 AM	#1238
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Ooooh, how did you see a pre-release of CR, GC? I'm really glad they've returned to the hot Bonds. Sorry, but Brosnon and Moore did nothing for me. James Bond needs to be smouldering. Basically, I need to be stirred ... not skaken.
	Submit to Quotes

11-16-2006, 10:52 AM	#1239
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I got the hook up from nirvanaman. A big mahalo to him. It's not your conventional Bond. It's different. You'll see. But I was never a big fan of the hokey nature of Bond anyway... Daniel Craig's body is smokin'! Some of the film is cheesy, but I liked it. Not a big fan of Brosnan and Moore either... Edit to add: "Reinvention". That's the word I was looking for to describe it.
	Submit to Quotes

11-16-2006, 11:12 AM	#1240
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	I saw MAN OF THE YEAR last night. Robin Williams as the president elect. I enjoyed the film. It wasn't the movie you were lead to belive it was in the previews, I think that was a turn-off. I thought it was a neat idea, great dialoge by Williams. All the acting was great and it was very funny. The downside was it was missing somthing. I think another "pass" at the writing stage would have been needed. Maybe the structure was weird. It was enjoyable. 7 1/2 Bornieo's out of 10 THANK YOU FOR SMOKING. I heard this was a pretty good film and I thought it was just ok. Funny, interesting look at that whole side of that world. Well done. Acting was good. Just not a great movie for me. 5 Bornieo's out of 10 CRASH. Somehow I missed it in the theatres. Knew I wanted to see it because of its Best Picture win. I really loved it. Great acting. Well done all around. A group of stories that was interesting and kept my attention. It was melodramatic or preachy with the whole "race" issue. It was a complelling story about people - not explosions, car chases and four-minute soliloquies. Just about things people do and go thru. 9 Bornieo's out of 10
	Submit to Quotes