Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 248

Ghoulish Delight · 11-05-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

On a completely unrelated note - Thanks to our resident archivist, I got to see The Ruling Class for the first time. Peter O'Toole was brilliant in what's basically a double role.

How do you know you're God?
Simple. When I pray to Him, I find I am talking to myself.

Prudence · 11-04-2007, 02:13 PM

30 Days of Night is a complete waste of everyone's time. Do not go.

Alex · 11-05-2007, 10:14 AM

I don't think I've ever run into anybody who really thinks The Jazz Singer is a great movie, just a groundbreaking one.

My recent forays into the multiplex (slow time at work when there is a theater across the street + multiplex across the street from our new apartment = lots of movie action).

Michael Clayton - Can't remember if I already talked about this one but it was good.

We Own the Night - Not bad but not as good or epic as it should have been. Good acting generally, nicely shot and edited. Opening with a mostly nude Eva Mendes getting finger****ed by Joachin Phoenix was certainly attention getting but supremely gratuitous. I'm also troubled by the re-ascension in quality movies (as opposed to action porn) of the idea that when society won't give justice that it is ok to take it for yourself (oh, by the way, justice is a synonym for murder). I blame the Bush White House and its idiocy of not even be able to clearly say waterboarding is torture (not really, I view them as both symptoms of the same problem but let's get political).

Four Weddings and Funeral - The success of this movie is quality evidence that the world is populated by stupid people. No insult intended to anybody here who likes this movie (even if it is evidence you're stupid, but really, no insult meant (stupidhead)).

Dan in Real Life - Not great but a very pleasant fluffy diversion.

License to Wed - Watched on a plane. Absolutely horrible. The general non-success of this movie is prime evdience that people aren't generally as stupid as they looked after the whole Four Weddings and a Funeral debacle. Good on ya, former stupidheads.

Lars and the Real Girl - Hated it halfway in, but it mostly redeemed itself. Ryan Gosling and Emily Watson are both credits to the screen so it is worth seeing for them.

Things We Lost in the Fire - If you want a two-hour movie watching experience where you spend the whole time in a low grade sniffle go see this movie. I enjoyed it a lot but if you're a cryer you'll need to grab a supply of napkins on your way through the theater lobby. Benicio del Toro gives lie to the P.C. nonsense that smoking doesn't make you look cool. Well, maybe it doesn't but Benicio del Toro certainly makes smoking look cool. I don't support the "any smoking gets an R rating rule" but maybe I would support a "any smoking by del Toro gets an R rating rule." Even though he is a junky and generally pathetic in the movie I still left the theater wanting to stop by a convenience store and pick a brand.

American Gangster - Compelling. Unfortunately it has been billed as a face-off between to of the great actors of our time. But ultimately it is no Pacino/De Niro in Heat (and even that was a disappointment). The Russell Crowe part really could have been cut entirely from the movie without much impact and if it had been played by a no-name actor the same part would barely get billing. The subplots involving Crowe felt like fluff added in to puff the part up into something more significant. But even at 2.5 hours it was very watchable and I was never bored or waiting for them to move on the end. The big drawback is that being based on a true story it has the flaw of real life in that it generally doesn't perfectly fit a narrative arc and so the ending is a bit soft.

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 11-05-2007, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

We Own the Night - ... Opening with a mostly nude Eva Mendes getting finger****ed by Joachin Phoenix was certainly attention getting but supremely gratuitous.

I was wondering why she had a career - one of the worse actress' but nice to look at.

Strangler Lewis · 11-05-2007, 04:17 PM

I loved "Four Weddings and a Funeral." Except for the relationship between Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell. And her character. And her acting.

katiesue · 11-05-2007, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

I loved "Four Weddings and a Funeral." Except for the relationship between Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell. And her character. And her acting.

I agree - she really is HORRIBLE yet I still LOVE the film.

Gemini Cricket · 11-09-2007, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katiesue

I agree - she really is HORRIBLE yet I still LOVE the film.

"Is it raining? I hadn't noticed."

I hate her. But I love the film.

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 11-09-2007, 03:28 PM

I saw 30 Days of Night yesterday.

I met the writer and artist years ago in my comic book dealings and it's a pretty original graphic novel, both in content and look. The film really tried to capture it, which I can really appreciate and it was a moderatly good film.

THe issue I had was really, really, REALLY bad editing where people would appear/dissapear and I totally found myself saying "What?" Example, our hero and the remaining folks are hold up in a house. The cut is to our hero OUTSIDE. WTF?

Then, a fairly prominate character at the beginning of the film -totally dissapears only to reapear to "assist" with the ending.

There are some fun special effects and the look is pretty cool especially blood on snow. It falls short due to bad editing and I would suspect directing to some effect, IMHO. The acting really wasn't deep or worth while by any means - it was Josh Hartnet. He was trying way too hard.

30 Days of Night gets 5 out of 10 Bornieos.

Snowflake · 11-11-2007, 05:22 PM

Having spent a good chunk of the last week on the couch, sneezing, sniffling and under a blanket, I got some movie watching in.

Ratatouie: Another gem from Pixar, I really really loved it. The animation and movement was awesome, story was lots of fun and it made me hungry!

Chocolat: Continuing the food theme of a sort, I'd seen this before, but I was feeling crappy and this was just the ticket to make me feel better and also inspired to make some seriously delicious hot chocolate (not quite the thickness or richness of Starbucks' departed and discontinued Chantico) but stil the best I've ever made.

Saving Grace: Lightweight and fun with a bit of the British humor wackiness I love.

The Lives of Others: Taut and a very good film, I was engrossed immediately. I may buy this, I liked it so well.

Nanny McPhee: Emma Thompson, always worth a rental and this was a fun film.

Shadow of a Doubt: One of my favorite Hitch films, I never get tired of it, perfect for a cold rainy night like last night.

Charlie Chaplin Mutual Comedies: Lots of Chaplin, back to back, is not the best way to see these films. I'm a heretic anyway, Chaplin is my least favorite of the silent comedians (save for Arbuckle). That said, some of these are his very best shorts and the always wonderful Eric Campbell as the over the top bad guy and the always charming and somewhat benign Edna Purviance only add to the fun. Also a funky documentary on Campbell (who died from an auto accident in 1917, and his wife remarried only a few months later, weird story)

Alex · 11-11-2007, 05:55 PM

Braved the Oracle World madness to go see No Country for Old Men at its only Bay Area screen yesterday.

It is amazingly good. Go see it. In addition to just being a great movie, Javier Bardem's Anton Chigurh ascends immediately to the cinema bad guy pantheon. Robert Mitchum has gone to get him a welcoming drink. Jack Nicholson is, as always, pretending to be too cool to notice the accomplishments of others but is mightily impressed. Anthony Bates has put out a fresh new chair. Anthony Hopkins is in the corner waiting for people to realize he's a bit overrated. Angela Lansbury sings a welcoming song.

His seen in the back country gas station is going to something the geeky movie dweebs are quoting in its entirety for decades.

Tommy Lee Jones is perhaps even better, though he plays a role in the movie that will probably leave a lot of people mildly dissatisfied, but that is only because a lot of people aren't going to realize what the point of the movie is until long after they've seen it.

11-04-2007, 02:13 PM	#2
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	30 Days of Night is a complete waste of everyone's time. Do not go. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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11-05-2007, 10:14 AM	#3
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I don't think I've ever run into anybody who really thinks The Jazz Singer is a great movie, just a groundbreaking one. My recent forays into the multiplex (slow time at work when there is a theater across the street + multiplex across the street from our new apartment = lots of movie action). *Michael Clayton* - Can't remember if I already talked about this one but it was good. *We Own the Night* - Not bad but not as good or epic as it should have been. Good acting generally, nicely shot and edited. Opening with a mostly nude Eva Mendes getting finger**ed by Joachin Phoenix was certainly attention getting but supremely gratuitous. I'm also troubled by the re-ascension in quality movies (as opposed to action porn) of the idea that when society won't give justice that it is ok to take it for yourself (oh, by the way, justice is a synonym for murder). I blame the Bush White House and its idiocy of not even be able to clearly say waterboarding is torture (not really, I view them as both symptoms of the same problem but let's get political). Four Weddings and Funeral - The success of this movie is quality evidence that the world is populated by stupid people. No insult intended to anybody here who likes this movie (even if it is evidence you're stupid, but really, no insult meant (stupidhead)). Dan in Real Life - Not great but a very pleasant fluffy diversion. License to Wed - Watched on a plane. Absolutely horrible. The general non-success of this movie is prime evdience that people aren't generally as stupid as they looked after the whole Four Weddings and a Funeral debacle. Good on ya, former stupidheads. Lars and the Real Girl - Hated it halfway in, but it mostly redeemed itself. Ryan Gosling and Emily Watson are both credits to the screen so it is worth seeing for them. Things We Lost in the Fire - If you want a two-hour movie watching experience where you spend the whole time in a low grade sniffle go see this movie. I enjoyed it a lot but if you're a cryer you'll need to grab a supply of napkins on your way through the theater lobby. Benicio del Toro gives lie to the P.C. nonsense that smoking doesn't make you look cool. Well, maybe it doesn't but Benicio del Toro certainly makes smoking look cool. I don't support the "any smoking gets an R rating rule" but maybe I would support a "any smoking by del Toro gets an R rating rule." Even though he is a junky and generally pathetic in the movie I still left the theater wanting to stop by a convenience store and pick a brand. American Gangster** - Compelling. Unfortunately it has been billed as a face-off between to of the great actors of our time. But ultimately it is no Pacino/De Niro in Heat (and even that was a disappointment). The Russell Crowe part really could have been cut entirely from the movie without much impact and if it had been played by a no-name actor the same part would barely get billing. The subplots involving Crowe felt like fluff added in to puff the part up into something more significant. But even at 2.5 hours it was very watchable and I was never bored or waiting for them to move on the end. The big drawback is that being based on a true story it has the flaw of real life in that it generally doesn't perfectly fit a narrative arc and so the ending is a bit soft.
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11-05-2007, 04:17 PM	#5
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	I loved "Four Weddings and a Funeral." Except for the relationship between Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell. And her character. And her acting. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
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11-09-2007, 03:28 PM	#8
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	I saw 30 Days of Night yesterday. I met the writer and artist years ago in my comic book dealings and it's a pretty original graphic novel, both in content and look. The film really tried to capture it, which I can really appreciate and it was a moderatly good film. THe issue I had was really, really, REALLY bad editing where people would appear/dissapear and I totally found myself saying "What?" Example, our hero and the remaining folks are hold up in a house. The cut is to our hero OUTSIDE. WTF? Then, a fairly prominate character at the beginning of the film -totally dissapears only to reapear to "assist" with the ending. There are some fun special effects and the look is pretty cool especially blood on snow. It falls short due to bad editing and I would suspect directing to some effect, IMHO. The acting really wasn't deep or worth while by any means - it was Josh Hartnet. He was trying way too hard. 30 Days of Night gets 5 out of 10 Bornieos.
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11-11-2007, 05:22 PM	#9
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	Having spent a good chunk of the last week on the couch, sneezing, sniffling and under a blanket, I got some movie watching in. Ratatouie: Another gem from Pixar, I really really loved it. The animation and movement was awesome, story was lots of fun and it made me hungry! Chocolat: Continuing the food theme of a sort, I'd seen this before, but I was feeling crappy and this was just the ticket to make me feel better and also inspired to make some seriously delicious hot chocolate (not quite the thickness or richness of Starbucks' departed and discontinued Chantico) but stil the best I've ever made. Saving Grace: Lightweight and fun with a bit of the British humor wackiness I love. The Lives of Others: Taut and a very good film, I was engrossed immediately. I may buy this, I liked it so well. Nanny McPhee: Emma Thompson, always worth a rental and this was a fun film. Shadow of a Doubt: One of my favorite Hitch films, I never get tired of it, perfect for a cold rainy night like last night. Charlie Chaplin Mutual Comedies: Lots of Chaplin, back to back, is not the best way to see these films. I'm a heretic anyway, Chaplin is my least favorite of the silent comedians (save for Arbuckle). That said, some of these are his very best shorts and the always wonderful Eric Campbell as the over the top bad guy and the always charming and somewhat benign Edna Purviance only add to the fun. Also a funky documentary on Campbell (who died from an auto accident in 1917, and his wife remarried only a few months later, weird story) __________________ Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
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11-11-2007, 05:55 PM	#10
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Braved the Oracle World madness to go see No Country for Old Men at its only Bay Area screen yesterday. It is amazingly good. Go see it. In addition to just being a great movie, Javier Bardem's Anton Chigurh ascends immediately to the cinema bad guy pantheon. Robert Mitchum has gone to get him a welcoming drink. Jack Nicholson is, as always, pretending to be too cool to notice the accomplishments of others but is mightily impressed. Anthony Bates has put out a fresh new chair. Anthony Hopkins is in the corner waiting for people to realize he's a bit overrated. Angela Lansbury sings a welcoming song. His seen in the back country gas station is going to something the geeky movie dweebs are quoting in its entirety for decades. Tommy Lee Jones is perhaps even better, though he plays a role in the movie that will probably leave a lot of people mildly dissatisfied, but that is only because a lot of people aren't going to realize what the point of the movie is until long after they've seen it.
	Submit to Quotes