Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[cirquelover]

My son really wants to see that movie but I'm more inclined to take him to Nancy Drew at the moment. Maybe I should just suggest Pirates again, I'm sure he'd love to see it a second time. We watched Bruce Almighty tonight. We also watched a few classic movies on AMC or the Turner channel.
I caught part of Them today. I remembered that one from my childhood. My son walked in and then turned around and walked out. Go figure, I guess he doesn't like giant ants!

[Ghoulish Delight]

We watched Love Actually. Eh. Sure, I laughed at a lot of the bits, but it never really grabbed me. Too rambling and scatter-brained. And something about the production values made me feel disconnected, like I was watching a re-edited recap of a movie rather than a movie itself.

17 Girthies out of 30.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I enjoyed Love Actually. I thought the haphazard style fit the concept. It's a good thing they didn't make a whole movie out of any one of these stories - there wasn't much too them, they were just fluffy and fun. The political moment was totally out of place, though it was sweet in the context of defending Natalie's honor. As always, I was disappointed by the stories that ended up sad. I admit that I prefer happily ever afters.

I loved the bit about the Brit who comes to America to get laid - so freaking true.

Oh, and it was filled with cute British guys. I think I now understand the Colin Firth thing.

[Gemini Cricket]

"Merde that meets the eye."
~ David Poland's description of the Transformers movie. He's a critic from 'Movie City News'

lol! That's funny sh!t.

[Alex]

He is Movie City News.

He and I disagree a lot but I have a feeling we're going to be agreeing on that one. But I'll still be seeing it since it is part of a social event.

[CoasterMatt]

I'm watching Jaws again in HD tonight - anybody care to join me?

[flippyshark]

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

I'm watching Jaws again in HD tonight - anybody care to join me?

D'oh! So... envious... oooh!

[Alex]

Let's see. Recent movies:

Live Free or Die Hard - Bruce Willis has charisma and that carries the day. Don't spend even a moment thinking about it or it falls apart, and the action sequences build up until the audience was actually laughing at the conclusion of the final one (in more of a "wheeee!" way than a "that was way stupid" way).

In the Bedroom - Just shows how long it takes movies to work their way through my Netflix queue since I believe I added this 2001 movie right when it came out on DVD. Not at all the movie I was expecting and it has very three distinct acts with a significant mood and tone shift with each. Went to a place I really didn't foresee.

The Player - I didn't like this when I saw it in theaters on its release in 1992. Watching it again I definitely "get" it much more than I did back then. But I still don't like it. Altman is very hit and miss for me and this is an almost redeemed miss. Still prefer the Kevin Spacey/Frank Whaley Swimming with Sharks which came out a couple years later and covers some similar territory.

Bad Lieutenant - For some reason I have pretty clear memories of when this came out in 1992 (probably because of the NC-17 rating) even though I didn't see it. Oh my was this tedious to sit through. Here's my personal "Stoned" scale. 10 equals fun:

Actually being stoned/high/etc. = 6
Watching other people who are stoned/high/etc. = 3
Watching Harvey Keitel be stoned/high/etc. = -16

Bob le Flambeur (Bob the Gambler) - This 1956 movie was recommended to me as a good caper flick. And since the French have done some of the best caper flicks of all time that was good enough for me. Unfortunately, I don't really agree with that categorization. There is a caper but it doesn't even come up until halfway through the movie and then is never realized at all. Some interesting characterization and it is odd to see nudity in a black-and-white 1950s movie (those rascally French!). But it didn't rock my world or anything. And another (actually, always) portrayal of casino baccarat ruins the ending for me.

After sitting on my TV for two months without me ever finding the energy to watch it, Malcolm X went back to Netflix unwatched. Considering that The Autobiography of Malcolm X was a formative book for me, I don't know why I've always been emotionally reticent about finally seeing the movie. But I am. I put it back on the list and I'll try again in 5 years when it gets here.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Revenge of the Pink Panther is a steaming pile. Couldn't even finish it. Worse than A Shot in the Dark even. I enjoyed the original, mostly because Clouseau was not the focus of the movie and was hardly in it at all. What a terrible character.

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by Alex

In the Bedroom - Just shows how long it takes movies to work their way through my Netflix queue since I believe I added this 2001 movie right when it came out on DVD. Not at all the movie I was expecting and it has very three distinct acts with a significant mood and tone shift with each. Went to a place I really didn't foresee.

Okay, is this the one with Sissy Spacek? Marissa Tomei? If so, it was a very good movie but quite difficult for me to watch, at times. Quite possible, really. Things happen that you think no way, stop that!! But you know in real life, sometimes people don't stop things they should.

I saw 'Premonition'. All of the flashbacks, etc., to me, were probably too much in the theater but on DVD it was okay. Interesting although so far the rating from people I know who've seen it is 50/50. No spoilers since it just came out.

We rented 'Dead Girl' while on our trip. I think it was a Sundance type film. It was really good, not a kid friendly movie, to be sure. Again, like 'In The Bedroom', it went places that were a bit hard to take at times, and, to me, quite possible and that made it hard to swallow.

We also rented 'First Born'. This may be a t.v. movie {actually, I think I did see a listing for it}. I won't give it away BUT they really didn't do the movie right. The box for it represents it as a thriller but it isn't. Now, if they want to keep you guessing, oh well. But, as a psychological thriller, it would have made more sense. Ack, I can't say more because it will give it away. But, it would do the movie justice if it were presented that way.

'Norbit'. Norrrrrbiiiiit!!! {sorry, have to say it that way every time}. The movie starts off funny and then agh, not. And, it stays this way. We laughed our heads off at some things but then stopped thinking, Hey, that was awful. I mean, I know I love fluff movies and I love to laugh but this touched on something that really isn't funny {hypocrite that I am who laughed throughout} . But it was presented as a comedy and it was funny. BUT was it? I'd love any opinions on this movie as I was torn and I didn't see it when it came out nor did I read any reviews on it or hear about any flack given about it.

The Pink Panther movies. I bought the Hubster the Steve Martin version but we haven't watched it. I know I've watched some of the old ones, but I don't know which. A different type of funny. I don't think the remake would be as funny because it was funny back in the day because it was fresh and different. Am I wrong with this?

I always want to see movies but I forget what they are....