Miscellaneous Movie Musings the Sequel - Page 35

Cadaverous Pallor · 03-06-2010, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prudence

Alice was boring.

There was a super great opportunity for plot twistiness, but they decided to go with conventional instead. Snoozefest.

Damnit.

Strangler Lewis · 03-07-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flippyshark

Hey, I just watched Scanners last night. I've always really enjoyed it, but, like many others, I have to acknowledge that the lead performance by Stephen Lack is distractingly odd. I try to make allowances for the fact that he is playing a very psychically broken person, but really, his line readings are just so robotic and non-credible. Mind you, with time, this has become one of the movies charms, not any longer a demerit. And I just can't get enough of Michael Ironside in his leering, evil prime!

Are you well? It sounds like you may be bedridden with all this marathon watching. If so, please get well. If not, um, keep enjoying!

I remember attributing his line readings to bad acting. Of course, perhaps he was really going for a kind of Paradise Lost thing where the good guy is boring, and the bad guy is attractive. But my bet's on bad acting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prudence

Alice was boring.

Then it is faithful to the book.

CoasterMatt · 03-06-2010, 05:40 PM

Yesterday, I watched Raiders of the Lost Ark, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Battle Beyond The Stars, and Rock And Roll High School.

Today I've watched Scanners, and now I'm watching the Star Wars Trilogy.

flippyshark · 03-06-2010, 10:02 PM

Hey, I just watched Scanners last night. I've always really enjoyed it, but, like many others, I have to acknowledge that the lead performance by Stephen Lack is distractingly odd. I try to make allowances for the fact that he is playing a very psychically broken person, but really, his line readings are just so robotic and non-credible. Mind you, with time, this has become one of the movies charms, not any longer a demerit. And I just can't get enough of Michael Ironside in his leering, evil prime!

Are you well? It sounds like you may be bedridden with all this marathon watching. If so, please get well. If not, um, keep enjoying!

CoasterMatt · 03-06-2010, 11:33 PM

I've got a bit of a cold, but nothing too serious (yet). I'm just stuck at home with the animals while my wife is in Vegas.

innerSpaceman · 03-07-2010, 12:05 AM

Here's a second "meh" on the new Alice in Wonderland. Some really marvelous elements that didn't quite gel for me - in a re-telling that features all the familiar settings and characters, but with a rather conventional story grafted on.

Yet, as might be expected, the picture looks awesometastical. And I enjoyed almost all the performances -- with the notable exception of Johnny Depp - whom i HAteD as the Mad Hatter. And hated the role this story saddled him with.

I loved Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. Quispin Glover was also rad, as was Anne Hathaway. The girl who plays Alice was terrific, as were Tweedle-Dee and Dum.

Good Cheshire Cat, too, but he suffered - as did many of the "beloved" characters - from being too straightforwardly benevolent to our heroine. In fact, all the usual suspects just sort of banded together as the Alice Team of cuddly, helpful friends who remember her fondly from .... from the earlier Disney movie, I guess. A little too neat and sweet. And the standardly heroic storyline lacked the oddball charm of the original tale - that was nonetheless mimicked too faithfully.

Sigh, I don't think there's ever been a completely satisfactory version of Alice in Wonderland on screen. This one comes as close as many. But not close enough for me. I'm glad I saw it, but I never need to see it again.

Prudence · 03-07-2010, 12:25 AM

Ooh! Forgot about the Clash of the Titans preview where I busted out in a giant belly laugh at the "Release the Kraken!" line.

I'm pretty sure that wasn't the intended result, but then again, I haven't seen the original. Maybe it's a comedy?

flippyshark · 03-07-2010, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prudence

Ooh! Forgot about the Clash of the Titans preview where I busted out in a giant belly laugh at the "Release the Kraken!" line.

I'm pretty sure that wasn't the intended result, but then again, I haven't seen the original. Maybe it's a comedy?

"Release the Kraken!" is indeed about the only memorable line from the first movie, which isn't really a comedy, but is about as cheesy as it can be. I've always found that the original CotT disappoints. It's pretty slow, and even the Ray Harryhausen creature sequences are pacey and sluggish, especially compared to the swashbuckling likes of Jason and the Argonauts or The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. Those are kind of clunky as well, but whenever a cyclops or a skeleton shows up, it's wildly kinetic and exciting. Titans was the most expensive movie Harryhausen got to make, but his hands seem curiously tied, as if perhaps he was rushed once he got around to his animating table.

On the other hand, this is one of those PG rated movies that had some rather welcome nudity for a teen in the pre-internet days. I remember insisting on watching it every time it appeared on HBO just so I could see Andromeda's lovely bare behind as she stepped out of her pre-sacrificial bath. (Yes, you got to see her crack just before she was offered to the Kraken. Heh)

BarTopDancer · 03-07-2010, 12:41 AM

My friend and I loved Alice. We may go see it again in 3-D.

It was beautiful and a fun adventure. Mia Wasikowska held her own against the big-names. I love what Depp did with the Mad Hatter - tragic, creepy and, well mad.

Melonballer · 03-07-2010, 01:52 AM

My all time favorite Mad Hatter is Steve Buscemi. "I'm so mad I wash my hands a 100 times a day, because they smell like my mother!"

03-06-2010, 05:40 PM	#3
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	Yesterday, I watched Raiders of the Lost Ark, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Battle Beyond The Stars, and Rock And Roll High School. Today I've watched Scanners, and now I'm watching the Star Wars Trilogy. __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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03-06-2010, 10:02 PM	#4
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	Hey, I just watched Scanners last night. I've always really enjoyed it, but, like many others, I have to acknowledge that the lead performance by Stephen Lack is distractingly odd. I try to make allowances for the fact that he is playing a very psychically broken person, but really, his line readings are just so robotic and non-credible. Mind you, with time, this has become one of the movies charms, not any longer a demerit. And I just can't get enough of Michael Ironside in his leering, evil prime! Are you well? It sounds like you may be bedridden with all this marathon watching. If so, please get well. If not, um, keep enjoying!
	Submit to Quotes

03-06-2010, 11:33 PM	#5
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	I've got a bit of a cold, but nothing too serious (yet). I'm just stuck at home with the animals while my wife is in Vegas. __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
	Submit to Quotes

03-07-2010, 12:05 AM	#6
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Here's a second "meh" on the new Alice in Wonderland. Some really marvelous elements that didn't quite gel for me - in a re-telling that features all the familiar settings and characters, but with a rather conventional story grafted on. Yet, as might be expected, the picture looks awesometastical. And I enjoyed almost all the performances -- with the notable exception of Johnny Depp - whom i HAteD as the Mad Hatter. And hated the role this story saddled him with. I loved Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. Quispin Glover was also rad, as was Anne Hathaway. The girl who plays Alice was terrific, as were Tweedle-Dee and Dum. Good Cheshire Cat, too, but he suffered - as did many of the "beloved" characters - from being too straightforwardly benevolent to our heroine. In fact, all the usual suspects just sort of banded together as the Alice Team of cuddly, helpful friends who remember her fondly from .... from the earlier Disney movie, I guess. A little too neat and sweet. And the standardly heroic storyline lacked the oddball charm of the original tale - that was nonetheless mimicked too faithfully. Sigh, I don't think there's ever been a completely satisfactory version of Alice in Wonderland on screen. This one comes as close as many. But not close enough for me. I'm glad I saw it, but I never need to see it again.
	Submit to Quotes

03-07-2010, 12:25 AM	#7
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	Ooh! Forgot about the Clash of the Titans preview where I busted out in a giant belly laugh at the "Release the Kraken!" line. I'm pretty sure that wasn't the intended result, but then again, I haven't seen the original. Maybe it's a comedy? __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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03-07-2010, 12:41 AM	#9
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	My friend and I loved Alice. We may go see it again in 3-D. It was beautiful and a fun adventure. Mia Wasikowska held her own against the big-names. I love what Depp did with the Mad Hatter - tragic, creepy and, well mad. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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03-07-2010, 01:52 AM	#10
Melonballer Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bremerton, WA Posts: 222	My all time favorite Mad Hatter is Steve Buscemi. "I'm so mad I wash my hands a 100 times a day, because they smell like my mother!"
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