Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[Alex]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Hahahaha, in the radio show, astronomers see the Martians launching from Mars minutes before they reach the Earth!!

I can't remember how it is in the radio show, but is it the same ships that they see launching minutes before they land? In the book, if I remember correctly, they discover the first aliens and that prompts them to see further ship launches from Mars.

[innerSpaceman]

Although that could easily be the case (and is the assumption I made for sanity's sake), the radio show presents much more of a direct connection between launch-spotting and Here's Martian! They don't outright claim the newly arrived aliens are the same ones spotted leaving Mars a moment earlier, but the radio announcers make no effort to disuade their listeners from that absurd conclusion.


I have to say that anyone fooled by this 30-minute radio show was absolutely stupid enough to believe in two-minute travel between the two planets.






Oh, and though I haven't seen it in a long time ... I love Moonstruck.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Whadaya know? Over the Hedge really is better than its trailers and the current state of animal-laden computer-animated glut films led one to believe.

Agreed. Very well put together. This is our first DreamWorks animated film and I was pleasantly surprised. Far beyond watchable - it was enjoyable. And pretty too!

[Alex]

Just finished watching This Film is Not Yet Rated, a documentary about the MPAA and its rating system.

It is somewhat rough in its construction but is an interesting discussion of a force of evil among us (not that I'm taking sides).

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Just finished watching This Film is Not Yet Rated, a documentary about the MPAA and its rating system.

It is somewhat rough in its construction but is an interesting discussion of a force of evil among us (not that I'm taking sides).

I just watched this one too. I liked it. Very interesting doco. I recommend it. I hope a lot of people see this one.


I also watched 'Jesus Camp' as well. All I have to say is, "Wow!"
Good stuff. I recommend with one as well. It has to be seen to be believed.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Agreed. Very well put together.

Yeah, the storyline felt surprisingly non-contrived, and a good mix of gags vs. plot and other humor. My only knock against it was the turtle character. Anthropomorphized out of scale with the rest of the characters, and the running gag of him getting tossed around in ridiculous situations got old quick. I likes me some slapstick, but not when the character of interest is just a passive object being thrown from gag to gag.

This is our first DreamWorks animated film and I was pleasantly surprised. Far beyond watchable - it was enjoyable. And pretty too!

I agreed with you last night, but seeing this statement again this morning it suddenly occurred to me...duh, Shrek.

[Snowflake]

POTC - Dead Man's Chest
I finally managed to start to watch this thanks to Netflix last night. May I say I was sorely dissapointed in what I've seen so far. Loads of effects, all the familiar faces, but not the least bit engaging for me. In fact, I turned it off right when Davey Jones showed up. I'm going to give it another shot sometime this weekend, but at first glance, visually stunning, but sorely in need of a cohesive script.

Color me grouchy this morning.

[innerSpaceman]

Nope, I gave POTCII another shot recently. It's complete crap.


BoxOffice RecordBreaking Crap.



* * * * * *


It's been pretty much substantiated (as far as industry rumors go) that This Film is Not Yet Rated is at least partially responsible for the MPAA's recent overhaul of the ratings appeal system. Matter of fact, reps of the MPAA are at Sundance this week to meet with Indie filmmakers in crafting the details of the appeals process. New rules include the ability to reference previous films in making a case for a ratings change on a new film. (i.e., to paraphrase mousepod, if Dumbo can get a G Rating with a drunk-induced psychedelic episode, why am I stuck with an R?)


* * * *

GD and CP - - my fave Dreamworks animated movie is, I believe, their first ... Antz. I highly recommend it. (Warning: the ants are anthropomorphized out of all proportion).

Also, I'd have thought the two of you would surely have seen The Prince of Egypt. Tsk, tsk ... bad jews.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

GD and CP - - my fave Dreamworks animated movie is, I believe, their first ... Antz. I highly recommend it. (Warning: the ants are anthropomorphized out of all proportion).

I don't have a problem with anthropomorphizing, I just thought that the turtle was more anthropomorhpized than the rest of the characters, so he stuck out like a sore thumb. He had a butt, for crying out loud. A human-style butt (when his shell was off). Even though a rather important plot/character point was all about his tail tingling, without his shell on he had two cheeks and a crack.

But the rest of the movie was more than good enough to make up for that one shortcoming.

[Not Afraid]

I watched "The Devil Weas Prada" tonight. What a terribl predictable film! Not that I wasn't entertained for the whole two hours, Streep is always fascinating to watch, the fashion was fun and Hathaway is very luminious, but - was that book REALLY as popular as I think it was and why?