Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[Alex]

Finally watched The Commitments last night. After seeing Once last year, Lani asked me to get The Commitments from Netflix since it also has Glen Hansard in it. Well, after six months of waiting for her to finally watch it, I finally said "I'm watching it tonight and sending it back. You can't really complain I didn't give you enough time."

Now, while Lani was just interested in seeing more of Hansard, I actually read the book years ago and loved it. In fact I love the whole Barrytown Trilogy from Roddy Doyle. They're near perfection and it is really too bad that I haven't cared for much that he's written since then (The Woman Who Walked Into Doors was fine but the rest I haven't even finished).

Anyway, so I actually had a fair bit of interest in watching the movie. Unfortunately, I can't say I was too thrilled by it. Nothing really bad about it but the soul-singing Irish band was an idea that played much more humorously in print than in reality. It was too much just a concert film, and a concert film of quality Motown covers at that.

So, no complaints that I can really make but I'd have been happy sticking with just the book.

[Not Afraid]

I loved the movie long ago (I still adore the soundtrack) but I agree, the book was more compelling.

[€uroMeinke]

Saw Indian Jones and the last crusade last night and found it an enjoyable romp and not nearly as painful as Temple of Doom, at least these leaves me with some hope that this upcomming one won't suck.

[Alex]

Raising Arizona is one of those iconic movies that you just somehow go through life having missed. Over the years my respect for the Coen Brothers has grown immensely.

So it pains me to say that Raising Arizona is complete ****. Getting to see Holly Hunter's face barely provides any redemption. I don't think the corner of my mouth so much as twitched once in amusement. Nicolas Cage, as he pretty much was in every early performance, was awful. The story was awful.

Suck, suck, suck, fail.

[Not Afraid]

Raising Arizona is not one of my favorite Cohen movies either. I tend to get bored with the "high jinks" genre.

However, Indy 3 was thoroughly enjoyable. I really had no complaints about the film at all. Hopefully the next film will be as fun.

[innerSpaceman]

I haven't watched it in quite a while, but Raising Arizona was a great one, to my memory. It's only been about a decade, not something from childhood. So I'll stand by its goofball, screwy comedy. Nicholas Cage was great, and so was everyone else. It's wacky fun, well-written, well-directed and well-performed. Comedy Gold Classic.


Alex is just pain wrong.


* * * *

As for Indiana Jones 3, yes it's not nearly as painful to watch as Indy 2 Temple of Crap. That's why I considered it a "success" when it was released. But it's barely watchable now. Pleasant enough? Perhaps. A trifle. "Doesn't.Completely.Suck" was good enough for a Temple of Doom follow-up ... but NOT for a Raiders of the Lost Ark sequel.


My high hopes for the 4th one, with a sequel/prequel track record of "MEH" ... ride on the fact that they rejected a bunch of scripts and waited till Harrison Ford had one foot in the grave before finding the script they liked. Not that I trust half of Spielberg's instincts or any of George Lucas's ... but at least it's an indication of care that portends less slapped-together than Temple of Doom or Last Crusade.



Oooooh, Indy Marathon tomorrow at LSP and Tom's. Three viewings of Indy 4 by a week from today! Including the opening midnight show in Westwood and the LoT Swanktacular viewing at the Dome for the prime Saturday night screening.

I'm excited.



Please don't suck. Please don't suck. Please don't suck.

[CoasterMatt]

Now that I've got the bluray drive in the ACBF, I can definitely say that I won't be needing my Across the Universe DVD anymore

[Gemini Cricket]

I saw Dan in Real Life last night and liked it. I thought it was a decent film. The happy-go-lucky family kind of drove me nuts and I thought Dan should have put his foot down with his daughters a bit at the end... but all in all I liked it.

[tracilicious]

I loved Dan in Real Life. I loved the way he treated his daughters. It bugged me that he was willing to give up the woman he loved, but self-sacrifice always gives me the heeby jeebies. I'm a sucker for cute and sappy movies as long as they're relatively well done. I hated all of them working out on the lawn. Who does that?

[Gemini Cricket]

Apparently, there is going to be 3 new Terminator movies starring Christian Bale as John Connor. Interesting. No word yet on if the Governator is going to reprise his role.