Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

The character development was pretty standard and the ultimate conclusion was apparent from the beginning.

Well, that didn't seem to hurt Star Wars. I'm not comparing the quality of the two; merely pointing out that standard character development and foregone conclusion often have little bearing on the quality of an action or adventure movie.

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I'm always uncomfortable when an action movie is set against the backdrop of an important social issue.

Hmmm, and I find it quite refreshing. Movies that focus on an important social issue are likely to end up being seen by far fewer people than more standard popcorn fare that plays against the background of an important social issue. Both such hypothetical films should be judged on their own merits as movies, but I am gladdened that more people will become aware of a social ill (and perhaps want to learn more about it) via the popcorn movie than from the arthouse flick.

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Oh, and I've been told by a linguist friend who knows the languages of those parts of Africa that Di Caprio's accent is pretty darn good. But it is also very distracting since you know it is fake.

And why is that? Are you equally distracted by the likes of Meryl Streep or Cate Blanchett when they do work that involves a fake accent expertly imitated? How about when Nicole Kidman speaks with a perfect American voice in a film, despite her native Aussie accent Or why not be distracted by the simple fact that you know perfectly well movie star Leonardo DiCaprio is not the mercenary smuggler with a heart of gold?

To each his own, but if an accent is done well ... I don't see any legitimate objection to an actor performing a role that calls for one.


Did you like Blood Diamond at all as a film, Alex, or were your many judgments against its behind-the-scenes choices simply too great for you overcome?

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Bornieo: Fully Loaded

For those in the neighborhood of the Aero

Is there some reason you're posting this 30 minutes before this event, other than to mercilessly tease?

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Is there some reason you're posting this 30 minutes before this event, other than to mercilessly tease?

And, to make matter ever worse for me, I get a phone call from AndrewP as he's on his way there.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Is there some reason you're posting this 30 minutes before this event, other than to mercilessly tease?

30 minutes, 4 1/2 hours, who's counting?

[innerSpaceman]

yeah, sorry that.

I thought I'd gone all the way to the bottom of the page before responding to Alex, but apparently I hadn't. So it appeared to me Borneo's post was made while I was posting.


Why bother to check time stamps when I've got my own cockeyed observations to be fouled up with?







Anyway, it was only 30 minutes from when I saw the post - -

- - the cruel irony being that ... if I'd seen it 4 and half hours before the show ... I'd be still be at the Aero right now.


Le Sigh.

[Gn2Dlnd]

You know what would be good? A pancake labyrinth. With some of that bacon from the other thread.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Well, after I posted it I checked Fandango and it was crossed out, so I suspect it was Sold Out! I didn't go... I suck.

[Gemini Cricket]

Just got finished watching "American Beauty" again. I love this film. It's so good yet disturbing in places.
I watch this and feel like Annette Benning was just being herself in this role.

Such a good flick.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Bornieo: Fully Loaded

Well, after I posted it I checked Fandango and it was crossed out, so I suspect it was Sold Out! I didn't go... I suck.

Boy am I glad we didn't try to drive up to catch it!

[Alex]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Well, that didn't seem to hurt Star Wars. I'm not comparing the quality of the two; merely pointing out that standard character development and foregone conclusion often have little bearing on the quality of an action or adventure movie.

I'm not a big fan of Star Wars, either.

Hmmm, and I find it quite refreshing.

I find it trivializing.

Both such hypothetical films should be judged on their own merits as movies, but I am gladdened that more people will become aware of a social ill (and perhaps want to learn more about it) via the popcorn movie than from the arthouse flick.

Not many more people, Blood Diamond is barely going to make it to $50 million and so far is doing almost nothing internationally.

And why is that? Are you equally distracted by the likes of Meryl Streep or Cate Blanchett when they do work that involves a fake accent expertly imitated?

I find it distracting when I am very familiar with a person's normal speaking voice is suddenly speaking with a strong accent. Why is that? I don't know, it just is.

For Leonardo Di Caprio I am very familiar with his normal speaking voice. For Meryl Streep that is true as well. That is not so much the case with most Australian and British actors since I generally only hear them talk in movies where they are masking their native accents.

It isn't fair, but for them it works in reverse. Hugh Laurie, whom I mostly know from House is distracting when I hear him interviewed with his normal accent.

Or why not be distracted by the simple fact that you know perfectly well movie star Leonardo DiCaprio is not the mercenary smuggler with a heart of gold?

To each his own, but if an accent is done well ... I don't see any legitimate objection to an actor performing a role that calls for one.

I don't know why. Why are you distracted by subtitles and I don't even notice I'm reading. Just the way it is.

And by no means am I saying an actor shouldn't do roles that call for accents. But when they do, some part of my brain is distracted in thinking about how good it is, how much work they put into it, listening for slip ups.

Did you like Blood Diamond at all as a film, Alex, or were your many judgments against its behind-the-scenes choices simply too great for you overcome?

It was an ok action movie. Very standard violence and advancement plot. There were interesting things around the edges. Extremely middle of the pack.