Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 393

Snowflake · 12-22-2008, 09:17 AM

I'm not a huge fan of It's a Wonderful Life, either. I've never found the George Bailey character appealing (even with the almost always appealing Jimmy Stewart). I never understood why the Donna Reed character ever married him.

Of course, I have a real problem with the entire Capra body of work. A few stand out films, It Happened One Night is charming, almost a happy accident. There are things I love about Bitter Tea of General Yen (no matter how totally ridiculous it may be and how awful Barbara Stanwyck is). Capra seems to be viewed as a director/storyteller with heart. I rarely find any real heart in any of his films. If I am looking for that, George Stevens does the trick every time. Lost Horizon has great sets and I give Capra chops for casting H.B. Warner in so many films. :-)

Ghoulish Delight · 12-23-2008, 10:34 AM

One of these days I'm going to learn to trust Bob Odenkirk.

I still think he's a terrible actor, but as a producer, having his name attached to something continues to be a good indicator that I'm going to like it.

A while ago we stuck The Brothers Solomon on our Netflix queue for that very reason. Well, that and Will Arnett and Will Forte.

Then we watched a trailer and were less than excited about the movie's prospects. But we forgot to check our queue and it got sent.

Last night we finally felt in a stupid enough mood to put it on. Keeping in mind that we are already fans of Odenkirk's sense of humor, and are fully aware that it's stupid, I gotta say, this movie was damned funny. "Better than it had a right to be," as CP put it.

If you like Will Arnett, if you like Forte on SNL, you'll like this movie.

Alex · 12-23-2008, 10:47 AM

Watched the Russian "creatures of the night" action thriller Night Watch last night. This is the movie that got the director a shot at big-budge American movies resulting in last summer's abomination Wanted.

Wanted was a movie with a lot of style and an evil moral center. I hated it.

But Night Watch does not suffer that problem and I recommend it heartily. It also wins for best use of subtitles. It is available on Netflix via Watch it Now. As is the sequel Day Watch which I haven't watched yet so may suck.

Ghoulish Delight · 12-23-2008, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Wanted was a movie with a lot of style and an evil moral center. I hated it.

CP's brother called it the worst movie of all time. And from his summary, I'm inclined to believe him. Makes me want to see it.

Alex · 12-23-2008, 10:53 AM

As mindless action movie it was ok, certainly not worst of all time. As a movie that seems to present a moral argument that is essentially evil (two of them in fact: "better to do horrible things and have an impact than to be a nobody" and "better to commit horrible atrocities in the name of faith than to seek evidence and justification") it is way down on the list.

Though I'd have to also nominate Four Brothers in the morally awful category as well.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 12-23-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

As mindless action movie it was ok, certainly not worst of all time. As a movie that seems to present a moral argument that is essentially evil (two of them in fact: "better to do horrible things and have an impact than to be a nobody" and "better to commit horrible atrocities in the name of faith than to seek evidence and justification") it is way down on the list.

Though I'd have to also nominate Four Brothers in the morally awful category as well.

I really enjoyed watching Wanted, though it was ridiculous. And the morality was rather repugnant, though that's coming from a moral relativist. Anyway, I was visually entertained but my intelligence felt insulted. Heh. I did enjoy hearing a new pop song by Danny Elfman.

I remember seeing the preview for Night Watch, which contained no dialogue, but something visual prompted me to say, "Is this Russian?! Is this a Russian horror film?!" The movie did not disappoint and was both visually arresting and complex, and the subtitles were both functional and gorgeously integrated into the film. I also haven't seen the 2nd or 3rd films, nor have I read the trilogy on which they are based.

Ghoulish Delight · 12-24-2008, 10:53 AM

Trailer fo 9

Hadn't heard of this, looks intriguing. And that opening bit of music in the trailer is from one of my favorite artists, The Knife.

SzczerbiakManiac · 12-24-2008, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Trailer fo 9

I thought that was gonna be Nine, but that (9) looks quite intriguing.

Tom · 12-31-2008, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Trailer fo 9

Hadn't heard of this, looks intriguing. And that opening bit of music in the trailer is from one of my favorite artists, The Knife.

LSPE and I saw the short this was based on a few years ago, as part of the Oscar-nominated shorts program. It was good. There's a link to it on the trailer page.

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 12-27-2008, 12:48 AM

Saw Punisher War ZOne today. I actually liked it. Its not Oscar material, nor was the acting anything beyond cheesy but there was alot of great action, explosions and ultra violence. It had one of the best kill-shots I've seen in a long while. Lots of laughs, alot unintensional -- but really had fun watching it.

I also saw Role Models which was funny in many spots but it was extreamly predictable. I'd recommend renting it if there's nothing else to watch.

12-22-2008, 09:17 AM	#1
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	I'm not a huge fan of It's a Wonderful Life, either. I've never found the George Bailey character appealing (even with the almost always appealing Jimmy Stewart). I never understood why the Donna Reed character ever married him. Of course, I have a real problem with the entire Capra body of work. A few stand out films, It Happened One Night is charming, almost a happy accident. There are things I love about Bitter Tea of General Yen (no matter how totally ridiculous it may be and how awful Barbara Stanwyck is). Capra seems to be viewed as a director/storyteller with heart. I rarely find any real heart in any of his films. If I am looking for that, George Stevens does the trick every time. Lost Horizon has great sets and I give Capra chops for casting H.B. Warner in so many films. :-) __________________ Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
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12-23-2008, 10:34 AM	#2
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	One of these days I'm going to learn to trust Bob Odenkirk. I still think he's a terrible actor, but as a producer, having his name attached to something continues to be a good indicator that I'm going to like it. A while ago we stuck The Brothers Solomon on our Netflix queue for that very reason. Well, that and Will Arnett and Will Forte. Then we watched a trailer and were less than excited about the movie's prospects. But we forgot to check our queue and it got sent. Last night we finally felt in a stupid enough mood to put it on. Keeping in mind that we are already fans of Odenkirk's sense of humor, and are fully aware that it's stupid, I gotta say, this movie was damned funny. "Better than it had a right to be," as CP put it. If you like Will Arnett, if you like Forte on SNL, you'll like this movie. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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12-23-2008, 10:47 AM	#3
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Watched the Russian "creatures of the night" action thriller Night Watch last night. This is the movie that got the director a shot at big-budge American movies resulting in last summer's abomination Wanted. Wanted was a movie with a lot of style and an evil moral center. I hated it. But Night Watch does not suffer that problem and I recommend it heartily. It also wins for best use of subtitles. It is available on Netflix via Watch it Now. As is the sequel Day Watch which I haven't watched yet so may suck.
	Submit to Quotes

12-23-2008, 10:53 AM	#5
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	As mindless action movie it was ok, certainly not worst of all time. As a movie that seems to present a moral argument that is essentially evil (two of them in fact: "better to do horrible things and have an impact than to be a nobody" and "better to commit horrible atrocities in the name of faith than to seek evidence and justification") it is way down on the list. Though I'd have to also nominate Four Brothers in the morally awful category as well.
	Submit to Quotes

12-24-2008, 10:53 AM	#7
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Trailer fo 9 Hadn't heard of this, looks intriguing. And that opening bit of music in the trailer is from one of my favorite artists, The Knife. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

12-27-2008, 12:48 AM	#10
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	Saw Punisher War ZOne today. I actually liked it. Its not Oscar material, nor was the acting anything beyond cheesy but there was alot of great action, explosions and ultra violence. It had one of the best kill-shots I've seen in a long while. Lots of laughs, alot unintensional -- but really had fun watching it. I also saw Role Models which was funny in many spots but it was extreamly predictable. I'd recommend renting it if there's nothing else to watch.
	Submit to Quotes