Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 53

Alex · 07-06-2006, 10:55 AM

Also, it is easy to predict a worse critical reception for this movie than the first. The movie is such that if you didn't like the first one then I think it is practically impossible that you'll like this one.

So, 45% of the "cream of the crop" critics at RT didn't like the first one. I'm pretty sure those 45% also won't like this one. Some percentage of the remaining 65% is going to have liked the first one but not the second one so the numbers are doomed to go down. That pretty much guarantees a "rotten" rating among the Cream of the Crop critics. So far the drop-off in the overall number is much lower than the drop-off among the top critics.

Gemini Cricket · 07-06-2006, 11:18 AM

Got it. I understand.

Alex · 07-08-2006, 12:53 PM

Watched two movies yesterday.

The first was the new documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? It is mostly about the life and death of GM's EV-1 all electric car but touches on the larger issue of altnernative fuel cars. While the movie admits that the market failure of the car is complex and has many causes it is obviously slanted towards blaming the car and oil companies for actively fighting campaigning against them. Normally, I am somewhat suspicious of such conspiracy theories (as one guy in the movie says "GM would sell you a car that ran on pig **** if enough people wanted to buy one") but it makes its case reasonably well. The interests the oil companies have in resisting all-electric cars is obvious but why would GM resist production if there was a profitable level of demand?

The movie never really makes the case that demand was sufficient for a major auto manufacturer to continue mass production (at its peak, GM was making only 4 EV-1s per day). So it is easy to accept that GM simply wasn't making enough money to continue production. But it is how they behaved towards the cars already built and in the hands of consumers that is eyebrow raising. They had never allowed outright purchase of the cars but only leased them. As the leases ran out, GM refused to release or sell the cars, repossessed them and then destroyed almost every single one of them (a few disabled ones ended up with auto museums). This despite more than enough demand for the vehicles already constructed and an offer of $1.3 million to buy the last 70 or so temporarily stored in a lot in Southern California. Ford, Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota, all did similar things with their full-electric models (remember the Th!nk? or the electric Rav-4?)

I'm not completely sold on the overarching story they tell in the movie but it is an interesting presentation.

The second movie was The Verdict from 1982. This is a Paul Newman when he was in that slightly awkward looking stage between extremely handsome young buck and extremely handsome old fogey. He plays a washed-up attorney that has given in to alcholism and self-loathing. When a case falls into his hands that both the defense and the clients want to settle he decides it is his final chance as self-redemption and proceeds against everybody's wishes. It is a legal thriller without much thrill and while there are some good things in it I'll probably have mostly forgotten it by the end of the month. An elderly James Mason plays opposing counsel and I must say that Mason may just have the best voice in all cinematic history; I just love listening to him. Jack Warden is also interesting in a completely straight role rather than the comedic curmudgeon he usually plays.

innerSpaceman · 07-08-2006, 05:37 PM

I liked The Verdict. I think Paul gives it some heft and heart, and -yes- I can listen to James Mason read a menu and be satisfied.

I think I saw the movie a lfew times because it was playing with the very rare "Revenge of the Jedi" trailer.

Prudence · 07-08-2006, 09:04 PM

So I just had the teevee on to some stupid edited for teevee movie as background noise and wasn't even paying attention until BT points out ....

Rimmer and Lara Croft, in the same movie.

I have to go lie down now.

Cadaverous Pallor · 07-08-2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prudence

So I just had the teevee on to some stupid edited for teevee movie as background noise and wasn't even paying attention until BT points out ....

Rimmer and Lara Croft, in the same movie.

I have to go lie down now.

Having never seen a Tomb Raider movie, this is the first time I've wanted to watch one.

We coincidentally bumped Red Dwarf at Netflix today.

BarTopDancer · 07-08-2006, 10:26 PM

I watched Supersize Me and Walk the Line today.

I enjoyed both of them. Supersize me was... eyeopening. Not for the reasons you would think, for I already knew that eating McDonalds 3 times a day for a month would be bad for you, but for how nuggets are made, and how much sugar is really in their (and all) fast food. It's sad that what are now kid sizes used to be the "small" adult sizes (which I already knew, it's still sad).

Walk the Line was amazing. I enjoyed the performances by both Reese and Joaquin. Joaquin's performance was more in-depth but his character had a lot more depth. We never learned about June's divorces or much about her before we were introduced to her.

€uroMeinke · 07-09-2006, 12:09 AM

Just saw Repo Man again - I forgot how much I love this film, quirks and all - captures the 80s in a way I remember them, as a suburban white punk/New Wave Guy. I will buy this one the next time I see it, just so I can pick up on all the stuff going on in the background.

Motorboat Cruiser · 07-09-2006, 01:58 AM

I recently watched two movies: "Flight Plan" and "Good Luck and Good Night".

Flight plan was not nearly as good as I had hoped. Without giving anything away, let's just say that the actor, Peter Sarsgaard, should never have asked to play that role. No amount of acting by Ms. Foster could undo the damage. I thought he ruined the film.

Good Luck and Good Night, on the other hand, was such a good film. David Strathairn did a wonderful job in the role of Edward R. Murrow. The film definitely made me wonder if we are currently watching history repeat itself, except this time, sorely lacking an Edward R. Murrow.

Gemini Cricket · 07-09-2006, 04:47 AM

I watched 'The Matador' last night. I thought it was just okay. Greg Kinnear was good in it, I'm not a big fan of his but this was a good casting choice. But I never bought Brosnan as a smarmy hitman. There were interesting choices by the director in terms of color. Very vibrant colors throughout.

Also watched 'Murder My Sweet' and 'Telefon' this weekend. Both are kinda dated but still okay flicks.

07-06-2006, 10:55 AM	#521
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Also, it is easy to predict a worse critical reception for this movie than the first. The movie is such that if you didn't like the first one then I think it is practically impossible that you'll like this one. So, 45% of the "cream of the crop" critics at RT didn't like the first one. I'm pretty sure those 45% also won't like this one. Some percentage of the remaining 65% is going to have liked the first one but not the second one so the numbers are doomed to go down. That pretty much guarantees a "rotten" rating among the Cream of the Crop critics. So far the drop-off in the overall number is much lower than the drop-off among the top critics.
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07-06-2006, 11:18 AM	#522
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Got it. I understand.
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07-08-2006, 12:53 PM	#523
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Watched two movies yesterday. The first was the new documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? It is mostly about the life and death of GM's EV-1 all electric car but touches on the larger issue of altnernative fuel cars. While the movie admits that the market failure of the car is complex and has many causes it is obviously slanted towards blaming the car and oil companies for actively fighting campaigning against them. Normally, I am somewhat suspicious of such conspiracy theories (as one guy in the movie says "GM would sell you a car that ran on pig **** if enough people wanted to buy one") but it makes its case reasonably well. The interests the oil companies have in resisting all-electric cars is obvious but why would GM resist production if there was a profitable level of demand? The movie never really makes the case that demand was sufficient for a major auto manufacturer to continue mass production (at its peak, GM was making only 4 EV-1s per day). So it is easy to accept that GM simply wasn't making enough money to continue production. But it is how they behaved towards the cars already built and in the hands of consumers that is eyebrow raising. They had never allowed outright purchase of the cars but only leased them. As the leases ran out, GM refused to release or sell the cars, repossessed them and then destroyed almost every single one of them (a few disabled ones ended up with auto museums). This despite more than enough demand for the vehicles already constructed and an offer of $1.3 million to buy the last 70 or so temporarily stored in a lot in Southern California. Ford, Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota, all did similar things with their full-electric models (remember the Th!nk? or the electric Rav-4?) I'm not completely sold on the overarching story they tell in the movie but it is an interesting presentation. The second movie was The Verdict from 1982. This is a Paul Newman when he was in that slightly awkward looking stage between extremely handsome young buck and extremely handsome old fogey. He plays a washed-up attorney that has given in to alcholism and self-loathing. When a case falls into his hands that both the defense and the clients want to settle he decides it is his final chance as self-redemption and proceeds against everybody's wishes. It is a legal thriller without much thrill and while there are some good things in it I'll probably have mostly forgotten it by the end of the month. An elderly James Mason plays opposing counsel and I must say that Mason may just have the best voice in all cinematic history; I just love listening to him. Jack Warden is also interesting in a completely straight role rather than the comedic curmudgeon he usually plays.
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07-08-2006, 05:37 PM	#524
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	I liked The Verdict. I think Paul gives it some heft and heart, and -yes- I can listen to James Mason read a menu and be satisfied. I think I saw the movie a lfew times because it was playing with the very rare "Revenge of the Jedi" trailer.
	Submit to Quotes

07-08-2006, 09:04 PM	#525
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	So I just had the teevee on to some stupid edited for teevee movie as background noise and wasn't even paying attention until BT points out .... Rimmer and Lara Croft, in the same movie. I have to go lie down now. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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07-08-2006, 10:26 PM	#527
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	I watched Supersize Me and Walk the Line today. I enjoyed both of them. Supersize me was... eyeopening. Not for the reasons you would think, for I already knew that eating McDonalds 3 times a day for a month would be bad for you, but for how nuggets are made, and how much sugar is really in their (and all) fast food. It's sad that what are now kid sizes used to be the "small" adult sizes (which I already knew, it's still sad). Walk the Line was amazing. I enjoyed the performances by both Reese and Joaquin. Joaquin's performance was more in-depth but his character had a lot more depth. We never learned about June's divorces or much about her before we were introduced to her. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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07-09-2006, 12:09 AM	#528
€uroMeinke L'Hédoniste Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A.S.C.O.T. Posts: 8,671	Just saw Repo Man again - I forgot how much I love this film, quirks and all - captures the 80s in a way I remember them, as a suburban white punk/New Wave Guy. I will buy this one the next time I see it, just so I can pick up on all the stuff going on in the background. __________________ I would believe only in a God that knows how to Dance. Friedrich Nietzsche
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07-09-2006, 01:58 AM	#529
Motorboat Cruiser Cruiser of Motorboats Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 3,665	I recently watched two movies: "Flight Plan" and "Good Luck and Good Night". Flight plan was not nearly as good as I had hoped. Without giving anything away, let's just say that the actor, Peter Sarsgaard, should never have asked to play that role. No amount of acting by Ms. Foster could undo the damage. I thought he ruined the film. Good Luck and Good Night, on the other hand, was such a good film. David Strathairn did a wonderful job in the role of Edward R. Murrow. The film definitely made me wonder if we are currently watching history repeat itself, except this time, sorely lacking an Edward R. Murrow.
	Submit to Quotes

07-09-2006, 04:47 AM	#530
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I watched 'The Matador' last night. I thought it was just okay. Greg Kinnear was good in it, I'm not a big fan of his but this was a good casting choice. But I never bought Brosnan as a smarmy hitman. There were interesting choices by the director in terms of color. Very vibrant colors throughout. Also watched 'Murder My Sweet' and 'Telefon' this weekend. Both are kinda dated but still okay flicks.
	Submit to Quotes