I know I'm alone on the Sci-Fi channel, but I thought you might enjoy some nice prose about Sci Fi and some ranting at Lucas, who we all love and hate...
(By the way, Dan Simmon's mentioned in the article is a Boulder writer... and Hyperion is masterful, but I couldn't figure out what it all meant!)
http://movies.msn.com/movies/sci-fi?GT1=7701
Enjoy... Comment!!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
I'm Still Undecided!
I've seen four of the five nominees for best picture, and of these four, I still can't figure out which one is my favorite... Or which, at least, I think is the best picture of the year.
I did not see Letters from Iwo Jima. I really can't stomach a war picture right now, I'll catch it on DVD someday. I'm sure it is quite good, as Clint has not steered us in the wrong direction in many many years, if ever. I'm also intruiged by the idea of a film from the perspective of the American enemy, as it harkens directly back to tongue lashings I got from my Irish friends after Saving Private Ryan came out in Dublin: "All American war movies are the same." "WWII movies never show that the Germans had families and people who mourned them." Well, friends from neutral-in-WWII Ireland, you got your picture.
As for the other nominees:
Little Miss Sunshine
I didn't like this all that much. It was cute, and quirky, and the story moved well enough. But there was something incredibly missing for me. It is as if between the quirk and character development of each individual (and overbearingly 'unique') character was done in a vacuum, and it was hard to see why he was married to her, why he would be the son of her, or why she is so goddamned cute in the face of the rest of her family, or why in gods name a 10 year old girl in 2006 would be dressed like that, seriously. That said, there were a couple of relationships I did buy: The Uncle and The Son, for instance. Grandfather and Olive, I suppose as well. And while I appreciate the message at the bottom of it all, be yourself and while you're at it, be quirky and unique, the climatic 'pervy' dance by Olive in the pageant (hilariously disgusting the pageant mothers who goad their children into equally, or perhaps moreso, 'pervy' hairdos and evening gowns, so much so as to lure pedophiles in the audience), somhow missed the mark. Would Olive, in being her own unique self, chosen such a sensual dance had she not been equally goaded into it by her grandfather? All I'm saying, this movie was so filled with quirk, it was slightly hard for me to believe there were real relationships in there, and ultimately, the kind of quirks that you and I and all of us unique beings in this world really have. Plus, it had the 'move the dead body around' motif that makes me really uncomfortable.
Babel
Before I say anything about, say, the convoluted plot lines or the confusing continuity of this film, let me state that it was one of the most beautifully shot movies I've seen come out of Hollywood in a long time. Sure, Brokeback Mountain was lovely, with its helocopter shots of its titular mountain, and it's drab depiction of small town Wyoming life, but this movie... It pulsated. It popped out of the screen, and each scene, each setting, was lovingly filmed. But I come back to the convolution. In a way, it was the only way the movie could be made, and the ultimate theme of the film, that we ultimately misunderstand each other either through will, pride, discrimination or isolation, was proved in the way that as a viewer, I felt disconnected from the goings on on the screen. Since that was the point of the movie, that we are all suffering from a imposed-by-God disconnect, I must assume that the way it made me feel meant that the movie acheived its aim.
The Departed
The story is the thing in The Departed. It boasts a strong, tight script, instantly engaging and superbly acted. I'm not the biggest fan of shoot-em-up action flicks, but I make a big and generally wholesale exception for a good gangster movie, and for me, The Departed sits in the ranks of the best of its peers in the genre. I love that this movie is nominated for best picture, it is so untypically "Oscar." The steely gray streets of Boston and dirty green and brown of its seedy gangster bars don't reflect a thing of beauty, but the cinematography is controled and on a perfect pitch with the mood of the film. The tight control of the subject matter and every other aspect of the film (soundtrack, editing, etc) is what makes The Departed so exemplary. Even the characters follow these rules of constraint: each character in this film stands on his own, an island unto himself. Self preservation is a high priority for each character here. Unlike other films in this genre, there is no interplay between family and familia, like that of Goodfellas or The Godfather. Each character is disconnected, but unlike in Babel, it engaged me. As a film, it reminded me more of Munich than other, more gangster-ish films in its theme: What is the cost on a man to be a mole, even if it is for a cause in which he believes? The answer isn't pretty, and either is this film, but it is certainly watchable, exciting, and just simply well done. This may not be Raging Bull, but it is definitely Scorcese's return to true, murderous form.
The Queen
I just saw this last night, and I'm still chewing on it. I understand so little about the purpose of the English monarchy, but I think that part of the aim of this movie is to give perspective to their role. I also think that the movie aimed its sights on a larger theme, of the price on dignity in the face media savvy. Diana was a darling of the media, and I loved her, and felt for her, having pushed upon her all of the suppression of emotion that appears to be expected among the royal family. She was represented as a too free spirit in a role and a family that wouldn't allow her to be herself. Queen Elizabeth II is the antithesis of Diana's struggle. She speaks to restraint, tradition and dignity while as a family, the royals circle their wagons in what she considered a private period of grief, while Prime Minister "Call me Tony" Blair laughs with his staffers about their robotic non-response and strange traditions, envoys and basic non-media friendly manners. The queen has some catching up to do with the state of the media frenzy, and by the time she does, she understands enough to take Mr. Blair down a few notches by the end of the film: in the end, she knows in 1997, as Tony does not, that he will have his turn for media scorn, perhaps prophesizing his recent troubles holding office amidst strong Britain's disapproval of his handling of Iraq and his relationship with President Bush. The film is, however, all about her. The queen does grieve Diana's death, and the pieces of the monarchy that she took with her to the grave, but she does so with stoicism and refinery that fit her position. She proves that restraint does not necessarily belie a true emotional 'self,' but that in her restraint, she gets the much larger picture, always. And yes, I'll say it, Helen Mirren is perfectly and absolutely the queen.
I did not see Letters from Iwo Jima. I really can't stomach a war picture right now, I'll catch it on DVD someday. I'm sure it is quite good, as Clint has not steered us in the wrong direction in many many years, if ever. I'm also intruiged by the idea of a film from the perspective of the American enemy, as it harkens directly back to tongue lashings I got from my Irish friends after Saving Private Ryan came out in Dublin: "All American war movies are the same." "WWII movies never show that the Germans had families and people who mourned them." Well, friends from neutral-in-WWII Ireland, you got your picture.
As for the other nominees:
Little Miss Sunshine
I didn't like this all that much. It was cute, and quirky, and the story moved well enough. But there was something incredibly missing for me. It is as if between the quirk and character development of each individual (and overbearingly 'unique') character was done in a vacuum, and it was hard to see why he was married to her, why he would be the son of her, or why she is so goddamned cute in the face of the rest of her family, or why in gods name a 10 year old girl in 2006 would be dressed like that, seriously. That said, there were a couple of relationships I did buy: The Uncle and The Son, for instance. Grandfather and Olive, I suppose as well. And while I appreciate the message at the bottom of it all, be yourself and while you're at it, be quirky and unique, the climatic 'pervy' dance by Olive in the pageant (hilariously disgusting the pageant mothers who goad their children into equally, or perhaps moreso, 'pervy' hairdos and evening gowns, so much so as to lure pedophiles in the audience), somhow missed the mark. Would Olive, in being her own unique self, chosen such a sensual dance had she not been equally goaded into it by her grandfather? All I'm saying, this movie was so filled with quirk, it was slightly hard for me to believe there were real relationships in there, and ultimately, the kind of quirks that you and I and all of us unique beings in this world really have. Plus, it had the 'move the dead body around' motif that makes me really uncomfortable.
Babel
Before I say anything about, say, the convoluted plot lines or the confusing continuity of this film, let me state that it was one of the most beautifully shot movies I've seen come out of Hollywood in a long time. Sure, Brokeback Mountain was lovely, with its helocopter shots of its titular mountain, and it's drab depiction of small town Wyoming life, but this movie... It pulsated. It popped out of the screen, and each scene, each setting, was lovingly filmed. But I come back to the convolution. In a way, it was the only way the movie could be made, and the ultimate theme of the film, that we ultimately misunderstand each other either through will, pride, discrimination or isolation, was proved in the way that as a viewer, I felt disconnected from the goings on on the screen. Since that was the point of the movie, that we are all suffering from a imposed-by-God disconnect, I must assume that the way it made me feel meant that the movie acheived its aim.
The Departed
The story is the thing in The Departed. It boasts a strong, tight script, instantly engaging and superbly acted. I'm not the biggest fan of shoot-em-up action flicks, but I make a big and generally wholesale exception for a good gangster movie, and for me, The Departed sits in the ranks of the best of its peers in the genre. I love that this movie is nominated for best picture, it is so untypically "Oscar." The steely gray streets of Boston and dirty green and brown of its seedy gangster bars don't reflect a thing of beauty, but the cinematography is controled and on a perfect pitch with the mood of the film. The tight control of the subject matter and every other aspect of the film (soundtrack, editing, etc) is what makes The Departed so exemplary. Even the characters follow these rules of constraint: each character in this film stands on his own, an island unto himself. Self preservation is a high priority for each character here. Unlike other films in this genre, there is no interplay between family and familia, like that of Goodfellas or The Godfather. Each character is disconnected, but unlike in Babel, it engaged me. As a film, it reminded me more of Munich than other, more gangster-ish films in its theme: What is the cost on a man to be a mole, even if it is for a cause in which he believes? The answer isn't pretty, and either is this film, but it is certainly watchable, exciting, and just simply well done. This may not be Raging Bull, but it is definitely Scorcese's return to true, murderous form.
The Queen
I just saw this last night, and I'm still chewing on it. I understand so little about the purpose of the English monarchy, but I think that part of the aim of this movie is to give perspective to their role. I also think that the movie aimed its sights on a larger theme, of the price on dignity in the face media savvy. Diana was a darling of the media, and I loved her, and felt for her, having pushed upon her all of the suppression of emotion that appears to be expected among the royal family. She was represented as a too free spirit in a role and a family that wouldn't allow her to be herself. Queen Elizabeth II is the antithesis of Diana's struggle. She speaks to restraint, tradition and dignity while as a family, the royals circle their wagons in what she considered a private period of grief, while Prime Minister "Call me Tony" Blair laughs with his staffers about their robotic non-response and strange traditions, envoys and basic non-media friendly manners. The queen has some catching up to do with the state of the media frenzy, and by the time she does, she understands enough to take Mr. Blair down a few notches by the end of the film: in the end, she knows in 1997, as Tony does not, that he will have his turn for media scorn, perhaps prophesizing his recent troubles holding office amidst strong Britain's disapproval of his handling of Iraq and his relationship with President Bush. The film is, however, all about her. The queen does grieve Diana's death, and the pieces of the monarchy that she took with her to the grave, but she does so with stoicism and refinery that fit her position. She proves that restraint does not necessarily belie a true emotional 'self,' but that in her restraint, she gets the much larger picture, always. And yes, I'll say it, Helen Mirren is perfectly and absolutely the queen.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
And the winner is. .
Okay ladies-the heat is on! Only 24 days until the big night. . . Sorry I've been such a stranger to our BLOG, but I am so happy to be posting tonight. I can't sign in at work-probably a good thing- so I have to do it from home--probably a good thing again!!
The only movie I have seen to date (of all the 5 that have been nominated) is Little Miss. . .I would be terribly surprised if that actually won, but it was a funny movie, but Oscar-Worthy?? Hmmmm. . .
I'm with Peggy, I still want to see Dreamgirls. . .surprised that didn't get a nod. I am looking forward to the big night on Feb. 25th, I think Ellen D. will be a very entertaining hostess.
Meanwhile ladies--when are we going to see The Queen? I think I can drag my husband to Babel and The Departed, but I would love to see The Queen with my Oscar friends. I enjoy anything that has to do with Princess Di. . . Yes Peggy, I am moving away from my traditionalist ways and will not be seeing Letters from Iwo Jima this year. Yawn!!!- I don't do well with subtitles. Sorry Clint! Same would have gone for Apocalypto had it been nominated.
Until we meet again,
"Starting the countdown to the Oscars" Maureen
Okay ladies-the heat is on! Only 24 days until the big night. . . Sorry I've been such a stranger to our BLOG, but I am so happy to be posting tonight. I can't sign in at work-probably a good thing- so I have to do it from home--probably a good thing again!!
The only movie I have seen to date (of all the 5 that have been nominated) is Little Miss. . .I would be terribly surprised if that actually won, but it was a funny movie, but Oscar-Worthy?? Hmmmm. . .
I'm with Peggy, I still want to see Dreamgirls. . .surprised that didn't get a nod. I am looking forward to the big night on Feb. 25th, I think Ellen D. will be a very entertaining hostess.
Meanwhile ladies--when are we going to see The Queen? I think I can drag my husband to Babel and The Departed, but I would love to see The Queen with my Oscar friends. I enjoy anything that has to do with Princess Di. . . Yes Peggy, I am moving away from my traditionalist ways and will not be seeing Letters from Iwo Jima this year. Yawn!!!- I don't do well with subtitles. Sorry Clint! Same would have gone for Apocalypto had it been nominated.
Until we meet again,
"Starting the countdown to the Oscars" Maureen
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
But I STILL want to see Dreamgirls ...
So now we know the 5 movies that we'll be trying to see before the evening of Feb 25th ...
Babel
The Departed
Letters from Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen
Sigh. No Dreamgirls, although the expected supporting noms came through for J-Hud and Eddie Murphy.
My observations:
I know that Molly, Kath and I have seen Little Miss Sunshine. Reenie - I think you mentioned that you and Mitch watched it on vacation? How 'bout you Francine. Seen it? I just saw it last weekend, and I’m racking my brain trying to figure out why Alan Arkin got singled out while the other supporting males were not (Greg Kinnear, the kid who plays the silent kid, or my personal favorite, Steve Carrell). Of COURSE the little girl got nominated. What is the Oscars without some little girl getting to play dress-up in the Supporting Actress category?
It's always interesting to me to see the screenplay nominations. Maybe it’s because I fancy myself a professional writer (oh wait – I am a professional writer – I get paid for my efforts, however lame they may be!), or maybe it’s just because I admire creativity in cinema, but doesn’t it seem like the BEST films are always those that get screenplay noms? So I’m counting on being most impressed with movies like Children of Men, Borat, and Little Children.
It’s going to be a struggle to get me to sit down for Letters From Iwo Jima. I am sure it’s deserving, but I am tired of the violence of war. And I’m still not frothing at the mouth to see Babel. And I still don’t know why.
Some of the nominations seem very manly-man to me ... Is this Brokeback-lash? Heh heh heh.
Three of Dreamgirls nominations are in the Best Original Song category … Just pointing that out. Babel received 7 nominations, in 7 different categories. I’m thinking that’s pretty telling. (But I STILL want to see Dreamgirls … )
Click got nominated for Best Makeup!? Must be harder to age Adam Sandler than I would have thought …
Am I the only one excited about the prospect of seeing Al Gore at the Oscars? His documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, is nominated (and I would think, is a front-runner). I wonder if they could get him to be a presenter …
I kind of feel bad for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The buzz is/was that they each turned in winning performances in Hollywoodland and The Departed/The Good Shepherd, respectively. Maybe the academy feels like they’ve already won one and are harder on them than other actors??? I think Damon is a danged fine actor, so it bums me out that he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.
Even though everyone says Hudson is a shoo-in for Best Supporting Actress, I have this twinge in my gut that Blanchette could slide in there, particularly since there might be an anti-Dreamgirls sentiment.
I am most excited about seeing The Queen. I’d like to see it this weekend, if possible. Who’s in????
So, ladies? What do you think? Is this the year when we don’t actually follow-through with the pledge to see all Best Picture noms? Is this the year when we forego the picture noms to see nominated performances (in addition to Hudson and Murphy in Dreamgirls, think: Forrest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland, or Kate Winslet and Jackie Earle Haley in Little Children, or Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson, or Penelope Cruz in Volver, or Sascha Baron Cohen in Borat)? Is this the year we see the movies that get the buzz of screenplay noms instead of the big picture (Pan’s Labryinth, Children of Men, Notes on a Scandal)? And do we dare watch movies that got snubbed (Sherrybaby, and for the most part, United 93 and The Good Shepherd)?
What do you say???
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
And The Winner Is...
Some mystical energy universal force prevented me from applying for jobs and submitting posts over the weekend. So, this is CLEARLY late, because I had to write it all over again... and I couldn't bear to do it after the third, no FOURTH, blip on my internet activity!!
But, it is so fun I wanted to share. Forgive the lateness. Please.
MSN hosted a game And The Winner Is... for the Golden Globes! I'm so hoping they do it for the Oscars too. They tabulate the winners and you can see your score, compare your score with others... and on and on. I think it's way cool.
I sucked at the game... 9 picks correct...270 points. But it was fun. I will try to do better for Oscar.
Couple of things I just need to say:
Meryl is the best thing about "Prada."
Patricia Arquette as a nominee is a complete mystery to me. Being frumpy and acting flatly is award garnering?? Sup??
I totally called the Hugh Laurie thing, but missed America whats-her-name... even though I really like her.
I love that Heroes got nominated. Sci Fi hardly ever gets a nod.
I'm getting all ready for Oscar! Bring it on!
But, it is so fun I wanted to share. Forgive the lateness. Please.
MSN hosted a game And The Winner Is... for the Golden Globes! I'm so hoping they do it for the Oscars too. They tabulate the winners and you can see your score, compare your score with others... and on and on. I think it's way cool.
I sucked at the game... 9 picks correct...270 points. But it was fun. I will try to do better for Oscar.
Couple of things I just need to say:
Meryl is the best thing about "Prada."
Patricia Arquette as a nominee is a complete mystery to me. Being frumpy and acting flatly is award garnering?? Sup??
I totally called the Hugh Laurie thing, but missed America whats-her-name... even though I really like her.
I love that Heroes got nominated. Sci Fi hardly ever gets a nod.
I'm getting all ready for Oscar! Bring it on!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Golden Globe Nominations
Ok – so the Golden Globe nominations were announced this morning. For some reason, today’s announcements make me feel like I did on November 1st, the day after Halloween, when I walked into Super Target and saw it was already decorated for Christmas. Sigh. I still can’t quite get over the fact that these noms come out before some of the movies nominated are released to the public, but then again – the awards aren’t for the movie-going public, right? Uh … right? Hmmm … what ARE the awards for anyway? It’s a mystery to me, people.
Anyway – I haven’t seen ANY of the movies nominated today, although I know I will be seeing some of them once the Academy Awards nominations are announced. I’m definitely hoping these movies ARE included in the Oscar nominations: Dreamgirls, The Queen, Little Children, The Departed, The Pursuit of Happyness, Little Miss Sunshine, and United 93. I definitely want to see those films. (I know, I know, I should have seen Little Miss Sunshine and United 93 by now … sue me!)
Then there are the movies that make me think, “Meh, I kinda want to see this movie,” so I won’t be disappointed if I have to see any of these: Flags of Our Fathers, Letters From Iwo Jima, and Blood Diamond. The latter movie may move into my definite list simply because I respect DiCaprio’s acting chops so much.
And then of course, are the movies I’m really, REALLY hoping don’t get nods: Apocalypto (Please, please, PLEASE don’t make me watch!), Bobby (I’m so tired of the Star! Studded! Cast! ensemble movies, especially when they aren’t done well – and the buzz is that this one isn’t), and Babel. I don’t know why I don’t want to see Babel. I don’t know much about it at all except that as a movie goer, I’m supposed to want to see it. Maybe that’s why I don’t want to? Molly – I know you and I talked about this last week. I confessed then that I didn’t even know what Babel is about, and well, I still don’t. I have learned that in some scene Brad Pitt’s character carries Cate Blanchette’s character, and am reminded of The English Patient. Maybe THAT’s why I don’t want to see it.
Since The Globes split movies into two categories, I’m expecting that Bobby will get booted from the list when the Oscar noms come out, and will be replaced by Dreamgirls. I can see one of Eastwood’s films making it into the Best Picture category, too – simply because the Academy seems to adore him (I don’t have a problem with that; I’m just stating the obvious). I’m just hoping that if Flags or Letters makes the list, that it doesn’t boot Little Children. I’m really looking forward to seeing the performances in that movie.
What do you think? Are you surprised by any of the nominations today? How do you feel about Babel? Apocalypto? Dreamgirls?
Oh, and STOP the PRESSES while we’re at it … I am going to see a movie today. Yes, you read that right. I, Peggy/Grubmer/Fegs, She Who Loves but Never Sees Movies, will be at a movie theater in a mere 2 hours. My team at work chose lunch and a movie as our holiday celebratory outing. Yay!
Anyway – I haven’t seen ANY of the movies nominated today, although I know I will be seeing some of them once the Academy Awards nominations are announced. I’m definitely hoping these movies ARE included in the Oscar nominations: Dreamgirls, The Queen, Little Children, The Departed, The Pursuit of Happyness, Little Miss Sunshine, and United 93. I definitely want to see those films. (I know, I know, I should have seen Little Miss Sunshine and United 93 by now … sue me!)
Then there are the movies that make me think, “Meh, I kinda want to see this movie,” so I won’t be disappointed if I have to see any of these: Flags of Our Fathers, Letters From Iwo Jima, and Blood Diamond. The latter movie may move into my definite list simply because I respect DiCaprio’s acting chops so much.
And then of course, are the movies I’m really, REALLY hoping don’t get nods: Apocalypto (Please, please, PLEASE don’t make me watch!), Bobby (I’m so tired of the Star! Studded! Cast! ensemble movies, especially when they aren’t done well – and the buzz is that this one isn’t), and Babel. I don’t know why I don’t want to see Babel. I don’t know much about it at all except that as a movie goer, I’m supposed to want to see it. Maybe that’s why I don’t want to? Molly – I know you and I talked about this last week. I confessed then that I didn’t even know what Babel is about, and well, I still don’t. I have learned that in some scene Brad Pitt’s character carries Cate Blanchette’s character, and am reminded of The English Patient. Maybe THAT’s why I don’t want to see it.
Since The Globes split movies into two categories, I’m expecting that Bobby will get booted from the list when the Oscar noms come out, and will be replaced by Dreamgirls. I can see one of Eastwood’s films making it into the Best Picture category, too – simply because the Academy seems to adore him (I don’t have a problem with that; I’m just stating the obvious). I’m just hoping that if Flags or Letters makes the list, that it doesn’t boot Little Children. I’m really looking forward to seeing the performances in that movie.
What do you think? Are you surprised by any of the nominations today? How do you feel about Babel? Apocalypto? Dreamgirls?
Oh, and STOP the PRESSES while we’re at it … I am going to see a movie today. Yes, you read that right. I, Peggy/Grubmer/Fegs, She Who Loves but Never Sees Movies, will be at a movie theater in a mere 2 hours. My team at work chose lunch and a movie as our holiday celebratory outing. Yay!
Monday, November 27, 2006
Cars and Pirates. Pirates and Cars.
Pathetic. I just realized those are the only movies I have seen in the theater since the Oscar season.
I could sit here and tell you my life is really, really difficult and busy; I could come up with 100 excuses as to why I haven't seen any movies - you know, like those "the Phone! the Doorbell! Calgon! Take me Away!" moments? And that would be partially true. It's seriously hard to schedule movie time when #1) your husband hates going to the movies and #2) your schedule is dictated by work and kid and family stuff. Not much I can do about that. But the other truth of the matter, and the one I want to focus on here, is that I'm a bit disillusioned by movies right now.
All of them LOOK good. All of them are advertised with glowing reviews. Not all of them are good, or deserve good reviews. I'm tired of the spin the studios give us. I get excited about seeing a movie right before it comes out. I get wrapped up in the "must see this one" aspect of a movie, or movie ad campaign, eventually don't see it, and then come to the realization that it's ok if I don't see it. Next thing I know, I just don't care anymore. I figure, "I'll see it when it comes out on pay-per-view, or DVD. Or maybe not. No biggie."
There were movies I was excited about, too! Like SoaP, and Superman Returns, and Talledega Nights. I still want to see those. And there are newer films out, still in the theater - like The Departed, The Queen, For Your Consideration, and Stranger Than Fiction, that I want to see, but most-likely will NOT see in the theater unless they get noms for Oscars and we see them in our manic rush to see all the nominated films before the Oscar telecast.
It is pathetic. I am pathetic. It depresses the heck out of me, makes me wish that Hollywood could focus on making fewer films so as to focus on the quality of those few ... And that they wouldn't spin the marketing so much. It also makes me wish there were more days in a week. You know, the Eighth Day. "And on the Eighth Day, God opened movie theaters for us and we watched movies and they were good."
As November turns into December, I know that realistically I will not see any movies until after Christmas. That's ok. But maybe my New Year's Resolution for 2007 will be to MAKE SURE to see at least one movie per month. What do you think?
I could sit here and tell you my life is really, really difficult and busy; I could come up with 100 excuses as to why I haven't seen any movies - you know, like those "the Phone! the Doorbell! Calgon! Take me Away!" moments? And that would be partially true. It's seriously hard to schedule movie time when #1) your husband hates going to the movies and #2) your schedule is dictated by work and kid and family stuff. Not much I can do about that. But the other truth of the matter, and the one I want to focus on here, is that I'm a bit disillusioned by movies right now.
All of them LOOK good. All of them are advertised with glowing reviews. Not all of them are good, or deserve good reviews. I'm tired of the spin the studios give us. I get excited about seeing a movie right before it comes out. I get wrapped up in the "must see this one" aspect of a movie, or movie ad campaign, eventually don't see it, and then come to the realization that it's ok if I don't see it. Next thing I know, I just don't care anymore. I figure, "I'll see it when it comes out on pay-per-view, or DVD. Or maybe not. No biggie."
There were movies I was excited about, too! Like SoaP, and Superman Returns, and Talledega Nights. I still want to see those. And there are newer films out, still in the theater - like The Departed, The Queen, For Your Consideration, and Stranger Than Fiction, that I want to see, but most-likely will NOT see in the theater unless they get noms for Oscars and we see them in our manic rush to see all the nominated films before the Oscar telecast.
It is pathetic. I am pathetic. It depresses the heck out of me, makes me wish that Hollywood could focus on making fewer films so as to focus on the quality of those few ... And that they wouldn't spin the marketing so much. It also makes me wish there were more days in a week. You know, the Eighth Day. "And on the Eighth Day, God opened movie theaters for us and we watched movies and they were good."
As November turns into December, I know that realistically I will not see any movies until after Christmas. That's ok. But maybe my New Year's Resolution for 2007 will be to MAKE SURE to see at least one movie per month. What do you think?
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Mid-Year Movie Season
I wanted to write a whole "summer wrapup" and here it is late October and I've barely started. Sigh.
But, I'm going to do a recap of some movie "season"... we'll call it the "Mid-Year Season":
I think it's been a weird year for movies. The summer was smattered with fun films like Superman, X-Men, and Pirates. But somehow, even though the effects get bigger and bigger, I don't have the joie de cinema that I used to have. Could be my age... right?
Or could it be that summer movies aren't that good this year? I think I'll go with that one.
X-Men was actually fun... and good. And the whole concept of mutants gives them license to use special effects all over the place. They killed off a lot of characters ... so I'm guessing it really was the last stand. I give them kudos for completely restructuring the original story (to shorten the entire history of "The Phoenix") without destroying it. Excellent rewrite... but you'd have to be a long-time fan to appreciate it.
Superman got rave reviews but to tell the truth I missed it in the theater! Gasp.
Stay tuned for a really late review of that one.
Dead Man's Chestwas great because I love Johnny Depp. But I walked out of the theater with Back to the Future deja vu (is that redundant?). I love Jack Sparrow (which is the same thing Gianna kept telling me during the movie. She loves Captain Jack too!) I just wish they'd spent less money on the boats and more on the plot. I think it's gotten quite convoluted. The fight scenes are predictable instead of being fresh and fun.
In the first movie, I was completely taken in when Johnny and Orlando had their fight scene. You don't know if either of them are any good and it's a fun scene... the donkey, the tipsy cart... and the sword fight at the end is brilliant when you find out that Jack is "dead" too. Wonderful twists to the sword play.
But, this year I just wasn't impressed... the rolling water wheel was gimmicky (and way to hard to follow... I just got tired of the round-n-round! I sure hope the next one has some freshness to it!
Hollywoodland was wonderful. To quote my movie-mate, "It was a nice, adult film." I love Adrian Brody, and I've never said that before. The sets and costumes were wonderful. I found myself enthralled with the look of 40s Hollywood. The shine on the cars, the glint on the seedy motel sign... the wonderfully retro-look. Turns out it was filmed outside the US ... ironically... I think in Toronto, because there is nothing left of retro-Hollywood in LA.
Aside: the retro-look and nod to the 50s and 60s is what I loved about Disney's Cars this summer too. But the kids I went with were totally bored during the nostalgia stuff.
I loved how they played out the possible scenarios, so you can envision them... can enjoy each one... and then they just leave it "unsolved." I read criticisms of the movie that poked at the film for not telling them how George died. But, of course, we'll never know more than the movies tells us. And I think it's a strength of the film, not a gap.
The Illusionist was just okay and the high point for me was that I discovered that Ed Norton is a babe. He was absolutely adorable. My movie-mate summed it up: "It was a silly little film." Jessica looked good. Paul Giamatti was excellent. But, I wasn't fooled by the plot machinations ... so the illusion didn't work on me. The costumes were really cool, but I think that about every period movie.
You'd think I'd have more movie info, what with all my free time, but alas...
I have to see The Prestige (Peggy... are we picking a date?)
I've got The Departed on my list, and
I can't wait for Stranger Than Fiction.
I just hope the end of the year is better than this Mid-Season.
But, I'm going to do a recap of some movie "season"... we'll call it the "Mid-Year Season":
I think it's been a weird year for movies. The summer was smattered with fun films like Superman, X-Men, and Pirates. But somehow, even though the effects get bigger and bigger, I don't have the joie de cinema that I used to have. Could be my age... right?
Or could it be that summer movies aren't that good this year? I think I'll go with that one.
X-Men was actually fun... and good. And the whole concept of mutants gives them license to use special effects all over the place. They killed off a lot of characters ... so I'm guessing it really was the last stand. I give them kudos for completely restructuring the original story (to shorten the entire history of "The Phoenix") without destroying it. Excellent rewrite... but you'd have to be a long-time fan to appreciate it.
Superman got rave reviews but to tell the truth I missed it in the theater! Gasp.
Stay tuned for a really late review of that one.
Dead Man's Chestwas great because I love Johnny Depp. But I walked out of the theater with Back to the Future deja vu (is that redundant?). I love Jack Sparrow (which is the same thing Gianna kept telling me during the movie. She loves Captain Jack too!) I just wish they'd spent less money on the boats and more on the plot. I think it's gotten quite convoluted. The fight scenes are predictable instead of being fresh and fun.
In the first movie, I was completely taken in when Johnny and Orlando had their fight scene. You don't know if either of them are any good and it's a fun scene... the donkey, the tipsy cart... and the sword fight at the end is brilliant when you find out that Jack is "dead" too. Wonderful twists to the sword play.
But, this year I just wasn't impressed... the rolling water wheel was gimmicky (and way to hard to follow... I just got tired of the round-n-round! I sure hope the next one has some freshness to it!
Hollywoodland was wonderful. To quote my movie-mate, "It was a nice, adult film." I love Adrian Brody, and I've never said that before. The sets and costumes were wonderful. I found myself enthralled with the look of 40s Hollywood. The shine on the cars, the glint on the seedy motel sign... the wonderfully retro-look. Turns out it was filmed outside the US ... ironically... I think in Toronto, because there is nothing left of retro-Hollywood in LA.
Aside: the retro-look and nod to the 50s and 60s is what I loved about Disney's Cars this summer too. But the kids I went with were totally bored during the nostalgia stuff.
I loved how they played out the possible scenarios, so you can envision them... can enjoy each one... and then they just leave it "unsolved." I read criticisms of the movie that poked at the film for not telling them how George died. But, of course, we'll never know more than the movies tells us. And I think it's a strength of the film, not a gap.
The Illusionist was just okay and the high point for me was that I discovered that Ed Norton is a babe. He was absolutely adorable. My movie-mate summed it up: "It was a silly little film." Jessica looked good. Paul Giamatti was excellent. But, I wasn't fooled by the plot machinations ... so the illusion didn't work on me. The costumes were really cool, but I think that about every period movie.
You'd think I'd have more movie info, what with all my free time, but alas...
I have to see The Prestige (Peggy... are we picking a date?)
I've got The Departed on my list, and
I can't wait for Stranger Than Fiction.
I just hope the end of the year is better than this Mid-Season.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
I have not given up on the movie blog!!!
It's been several months since any of us have written anything on this blog. I can attribute that to the following:
- Complete disinterest in films starring Jessica Simpson and her peers
- All of my energy I've expended for popular culture has been used up by Project Runway, and the return of the fall TV season (my first with a DVR, which is nice).
- A bunch of other crap that leaves me too tired to think about movies.
But, it's now October, and time to start watching Ebert and Roeper again. There are a lot of movies coming our way this fall into winter that I am particularly psyched out of my mind about. To wit:
- I'm not the biggest fan of the "intense relationshippy drama about infidelity" genre, but if the movie is half as good as this incredible trailer for Little Children, I think you can count me placing the film on my "must see" list this movie season. I'm not kidding when I say I think this is the BEST. TRAILER. EVER. Seriously, like the trailer should get an oscar for its fantastic traileriness.
- I quote the film Elf on a nearly daily basis (and once so far in this post). Will Farrell is already my hero, but I've had grave concerns for his career after that bad kid soccer movie. After seeing the trailer for Stranger Than Fiction, I am confident that he's firmly back on track (and co-staring with Emma Thompson at that, good on ya, Frank the Tank!).
- I've only watched a few of Da Ali G show, count me in as intriqued by all of the good press Borat has been getting from its debut in Toronto. I may not make it to see this in the theatres, but it's already on my netflix queue.
- On pedigree alone, I will be seeing this movie (Nicholson! Scorcese! Damon! DiCaprio! Baldwin! This is a sausage fest, but you have to admit, it's good sausage). Based on the fact that I have crushes on Leo and Matt Damon, I will be seeing this movie. Most importantly, the reviews sound great. I want to see The Departed.
- Finally, Richard Linklater's latest. I feel like I've grown up with Richard Linklater. When I as a senior in high school, he made Dazed and Confused. We just wanted to party and beat up freshmen. Then when I was in college, our world opened up to wanting to make out with hot foreign people and hear ourselves talk in Before Sunrise. 10 years later, we still wanted to hear ourselves talk, but we had to own up to our responsibilities in Before Sunset. His latest project represents further maturity in realizing how absolutely complicated and messed up the world is: Fast Food Nation. I'm psyched about this movie for so many reasons. First of all, it has Greg Kinear in it. So, there's that. Also, I thought it was such a brave and smart choice to fictionalize the incendiary non-fiction book upon which this movie is based. It can emotionalize this very disturbing subject of the non-food that is in our food without resulting to the Michael Moore school of disturbing subject documentaries. I am hoping that the end result will be just as mobilizing, but not as polarizing. We'll see. ALSO, the movie has launched a totally kick-heinie website, which includes retorts from and blogs written by McDonalds, safe food advocacy and activist website links, etc. It's pretty cool.
Anyway, I'm back on board for another movie season. I hope all of the hype is worth it!
Friday, August 18, 2006
SoaP??
Okay... vote me least likely to see a movie about being trapped with snakes. Then read this really positive review and go with me for "the most fun we'll have all summer!"
Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Things To Do In Denver When You're Waiting for Ricky Bobby
So, as you wait in great anticipation for this Friday's opening of Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, take a sneak peek at the next movie starring Will Ferrell, Stranger Than Fiction.
Will! This is your vehicle man! And I'm not talking about Ricky Bobby here, but Harold Crick.
If, while watching old SNL eps w/ Ferrell as the boy cheerleader, anyone had told me that Will Ferrell would eventually star in a movie with Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman, I would have pooped an anchor! But here he is. Good for you Will, GOOD for you! I only have one teeny little suggestion though ...
I need more cowbell.
God, I love Will Ferrell.
Will! This is your vehicle man! And I'm not talking about Ricky Bobby here, but Harold Crick.
If, while watching old SNL eps w/ Ferrell as the boy cheerleader, anyone had told me that Will Ferrell would eventually star in a movie with Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman, I would have pooped an anchor! But here he is. Good for you Will, GOOD for you! I only have one teeny little suggestion though ...
I need more cowbell.
God, I love Will Ferrell.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Trailer Park!!! Super psyched edition!!!
Did YOU go see Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest yet? No? Well, go! It's fun!
And besides, you'll get to see a trailer for a movie I'm so very excited to see.
You see, The Kid, my son, is a dinosaur junkie. Because he is a dinosaur junkie, we have pretty much every single dinosaur book written for the 2-10 set. One of his (and honestly mine too) favorite books that was given to us because of the dino-obsession was a little apparently out-of-print book called The Night at the Museum. It's about Hector, a newly hired night guard at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC. Hector is left to do his job but finds out that the exhibits that are so still during the day, are not quite the same at night. He he.
So, as we were settling in for the totally fun swashbuckling adventure that is Pirates 2, we got to see this preview for Night at the Museum, based [very] loosely on that book. With a cast including Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Ricky Gervais, Owen Wilson, Dick van Dyke AND Mickey Rooney, this movie looks like some guaranteed F.U.N!
UPDATE: I tried to link directly to the movie, but that link didn't work afterall, so you will have to find the movie in the list of trailers from the moviefone site above. It was released 7/10/06.
Oh, and while you're there, check out the newest Simpson's Movie trailer.
And besides, you'll get to see a trailer for a movie I'm so very excited to see.
You see, The Kid, my son, is a dinosaur junkie. Because he is a dinosaur junkie, we have pretty much every single dinosaur book written for the 2-10 set. One of his (and honestly mine too) favorite books that was given to us because of the dino-obsession was a little apparently out-of-print book called The Night at the Museum. It's about Hector, a newly hired night guard at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC. Hector is left to do his job but finds out that the exhibits that are so still during the day, are not quite the same at night. He he.
So, as we were settling in for the totally fun swashbuckling adventure that is Pirates 2, we got to see this preview for Night at the Museum, based [very] loosely on that book. With a cast including Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Ricky Gervais, Owen Wilson, Dick van Dyke AND Mickey Rooney, this movie looks like some guaranteed F.U.N!
UPDATE: I tried to link directly to the movie, but that link didn't work afterall, so you will have to find the movie in the list of trailers from the moviefone site above. It was released 7/10/06.
Oh, and while you're there, check out the newest Simpson's Movie trailer.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Cheers!
Last night, CBS aired the American Film Institute's list of America's top 100 most inspiring movies. If you missed it, here's a link to the list: AFI's 100 Cheers.
I love these lists. As you can tell from our List Friday posts, I tend to love lists. Period. But I confess that I ABSOLUTELY adore slacking in front of the television for a gluttonous 3 hours watching clips of the best movies ever made. So I was H A P P Y last night. (Incidentally, Molly - I only could have been happier if you were watching with me. I didn't call - mainly cuz I was pushing it with the hubby to assume control over the giant screen tv set for the 3 hours, anyway. sigh.)
So of course, there were films that made the list that made me scratch my head ... like Working Girl? 2001: A Space Odyssey? High Noon? The last two are great movies, don't get me wrong, but inspiring? Huh?
And of course, there were omissions - I mean, if you can put One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in the list, can't you include Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in there, too? Yo, Film Dudes? Samwise Gamgee is my hero! And maybe, just maybe, if you're gonna include a film like Sullivan's Travels, of which I've never heard, could you maybe think about including The Goonies? The Goonies inspired nerdy kids to just be themselves waaay before Napoleon Dynamite made it hip to be square.
(Aside: Who should be an icon to the 30-something generation, but isn't? Sean Astin. He made the list two times more than Colin Farrel ... )
Ok, and then - there's the argument of placement. I knew I'd have placement issues with this list the moment they showed #100 ... Chariots of Fire, and minutes later announced #98, The Karate Kid, and #95, Places in the Heart. To me, each of these movies should have been higher up on the list. Braveheart was placed at #62, and Rudy (another Sean Astin!) at # 54 ... Are we seriously saying that Dead Poet's Society at # 52 is more inspiring, more apt to make us cheer? Uhh, for teen suicide? Again, I give you a hearty "HUH?"
Overall, the list is fun and a great reminder of all the great movies out there. So, AFI, what's your next topic????
I love these lists. As you can tell from our List Friday posts, I tend to love lists. Period. But I confess that I ABSOLUTELY adore slacking in front of the television for a gluttonous 3 hours watching clips of the best movies ever made. So I was H A P P Y last night. (Incidentally, Molly - I only could have been happier if you were watching with me. I didn't call - mainly cuz I was pushing it with the hubby to assume control over the giant screen tv set for the 3 hours, anyway. sigh.)
So of course, there were films that made the list that made me scratch my head ... like Working Girl? 2001: A Space Odyssey? High Noon? The last two are great movies, don't get me wrong, but inspiring? Huh?
And of course, there were omissions - I mean, if you can put One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in the list, can't you include Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in there, too? Yo, Film Dudes? Samwise Gamgee is my hero! And maybe, just maybe, if you're gonna include a film like Sullivan's Travels, of which I've never heard, could you maybe think about including The Goonies? The Goonies inspired nerdy kids to just be themselves waaay before Napoleon Dynamite made it hip to be square.
(Aside: Who should be an icon to the 30-something generation, but isn't? Sean Astin. He made the list two times more than Colin Farrel ... )
Ok, and then - there's the argument of placement. I knew I'd have placement issues with this list the moment they showed #100 ... Chariots of Fire, and minutes later announced #98, The Karate Kid, and #95, Places in the Heart. To me, each of these movies should have been higher up on the list. Braveheart was placed at #62, and Rudy (another Sean Astin!) at # 54 ... Are we seriously saying that Dead Poet's Society at # 52 is more inspiring, more apt to make us cheer? Uhh, for teen suicide? Again, I give you a hearty "HUH?"
Overall, the list is fun and a great reminder of all the great movies out there. So, AFI, what's your next topic????
Friday, June 02, 2006
List Friday! Doomed Romances
Ok, so right off the bat I’m going to admit that I borrowed this topic from an MSN article that I read earlier this week … Rather than trying to re-write the premise, I’ll just copy theirs here:
And then she proceeds to list the films and couples she thought were DOOMED … I’d post her list, but that would be leading the listers, right? But if you need help, know that one of her first picks was Harry and Sally from When Harry Met Sally. Why are they doomed? Well, weren't they doomed throughout the entire film to be both in love, and in hate at the same time? (Peggy's aside: Wait a minute - isn't that the definition of marriage?)
Anyway, Cinema Firmamenters – let’s see your lists of the romantic couples DOOMED for a break up. Ready? Set? COMMENT!
10 movies that would have been better without the 'happily ever
after'
By Martha Brockenbrough
Special to MSN Movies
Sixty-four years after it first came out, the nearly unanimous pick for most romantic film ever is "Casablanca."
"Casablanca."
If this movie were a person, it'd be old enough to qualify for senior-citizen discount tickets at the multiplex. And yet, even as babies conceived in its aftermath have grown old and gray, no one's yet been able to craft a more enduring and compelling love story.
We have a theory why: The filmmakers were smart enough to skip the happily-ever-after part. Instead, Ilsa gets on the plane and escapes Nazi-controlled Casablanca. Rick starts a "beautiful"
friendship with the police chief, in the pre-"Brokeback Mountain" era, when men could walk off into the sunset together without ever having to worry about quitting each other.
There are some movies, of course, that depict true love that we know will never, ever die. "The Princess Bride," "The Wedding Singer," "Shrek." All classics in their own right.
But for our money, more moviemakers should give us good break-ups. After all, it's better to have loved and lost than to be stuck with someone unsuitable, unstable or — egads! — boring.
As we prepare to see real-life couple Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn split on screen in "The Break-Up," here are 10 films we wish had ended with a break-up:
And then she proceeds to list the films and couples she thought were DOOMED … I’d post her list, but that would be leading the listers, right? But if you need help, know that one of her first picks was Harry and Sally from When Harry Met Sally. Why are they doomed? Well, weren't they doomed throughout the entire film to be both in love, and in hate at the same time? (Peggy's aside: Wait a minute - isn't that the definition of marriage?)
Anyway, Cinema Firmamenters – let’s see your lists of the romantic couples DOOMED for a break up. Ready? Set? COMMENT!
Friday, May 26, 2006
“Poseidon” (or “Is it Really Different Upside Down?”)
I love the original “Poseidon Adventure.” I love Gene Hackman as the priest who leads the survivors to safety, I love the girl and her brother who are accidentally swept to salvation, I love the Shelley Winters valiantly doing her part to aid their little group. It’s a loaded cast… and a fun disaster movie.
The other thing I love about the original is the attention to detail of the filmmakers. They made a film about a boat that was upside down. Being upside down is an important part of the story. It’s hard to walk up the ceiling of a staircase. Its’ hard to figure out where you are when everything is upside down. The world is different and that, itself, is part of the adventure.
I realized what I loved about the original when I saw the new one!
“Poseidon” tries to load the cast with Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas (who is my new superstar crush next to Johnny), and Richard Dreyfuss. When you get a cast that can act, you have to give them good stuff to work with. Josh Lucas is a gambler who wants to get out… he doesn’t care about anyone else. He’s a pitiful replacement for Gene, and you wonder why he doesn’t just run away from his rag tag group.
Kurt Russell is an overprotective father who does have to find his daughter… his motivation for leaving the ball room. The others? NO good reason to hang out with Josh. And Josh doesn’t want them. Dreyfuss has the hardest role. He plays a older, gay man (is that a stretch for him?) whose lover has left him. He’s on deck, climbing over the railing to jump overboard when he sees the wall of water coming toward the ship. Evidently dying in a big wave is scarier than throwing yourself overboard, so he runs into the ballroom to tell people, and then spends the rest of the movie struggling to stay alive. Is he suicidal or not? Dunno.
And, there’s the whole upside-down and boat-on-fire thing. In the original, you see the characters struggling with the stairwells, and the upside down issues. I was always scared when they had to walk through the engine room and everything was so hot that one little stumble would result in life-threatening burns. Excellent.
The new one doesn’t make the obstacles as interesting. I kept forgetting that they were upside down because they move so easily through the ship. Of course Josh “knows ships” and that explains it. The explosions and fires don't make it too hot to do what they need to do. Kurt is a retired fireman (Josh is ex-Navy), so they've equipped characters with all the skills to make it “easy.”I liked the priest, the geek, the old people, and the girl and her brother all without skills and still trying. It’s dramatic.
So… not my favorite movie.
Having said all that, I watched the “Making of…” on HBO last night and realized a few things:
1. I would have liked this movie more if I hadn’t compared it to the old one. And, while some of that is my fault, I’m also blaming the screen writer who made the plot close enough that comparisons are inevitable. If he’d copied a bit less, I would have let go of my old notions.
2. The actors in the movie did almost all of their own stunts, and there isn’t a lot of CGI stuff. And THAT is cool. When I saw some of the scenes, I was pretty impressed with the enormity of the physical set and the way they actually flooded the ballroom with 100,000 gallons of water and stuff like that. So, it would be wrong to review it and not mention that it gets an A for technical merit and stunt stuff.
3. The director was conscious of the upside down stuff and actually talks about it. So, it wasn’t something they missed. Now, I think they wanted so many obstacles (and always bigger and better ones) around each corner that they overdid it. The characters should have struggled a bit more with each one. But there would have been less time for more obstacles. They move so fast that you don’t worry about the water behind them…
The other thing I love about the original is the attention to detail of the filmmakers. They made a film about a boat that was upside down. Being upside down is an important part of the story. It’s hard to walk up the ceiling of a staircase. Its’ hard to figure out where you are when everything is upside down. The world is different and that, itself, is part of the adventure.
I realized what I loved about the original when I saw the new one!
“Poseidon” tries to load the cast with Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas (who is my new superstar crush next to Johnny), and Richard Dreyfuss. When you get a cast that can act, you have to give them good stuff to work with. Josh Lucas is a gambler who wants to get out… he doesn’t care about anyone else. He’s a pitiful replacement for Gene, and you wonder why he doesn’t just run away from his rag tag group.
Kurt Russell is an overprotective father who does have to find his daughter… his motivation for leaving the ball room. The others? NO good reason to hang out with Josh. And Josh doesn’t want them. Dreyfuss has the hardest role. He plays a older, gay man (is that a stretch for him?) whose lover has left him. He’s on deck, climbing over the railing to jump overboard when he sees the wall of water coming toward the ship. Evidently dying in a big wave is scarier than throwing yourself overboard, so he runs into the ballroom to tell people, and then spends the rest of the movie struggling to stay alive. Is he suicidal or not? Dunno.
And, there’s the whole upside-down and boat-on-fire thing. In the original, you see the characters struggling with the stairwells, and the upside down issues. I was always scared when they had to walk through the engine room and everything was so hot that one little stumble would result in life-threatening burns. Excellent.
The new one doesn’t make the obstacles as interesting. I kept forgetting that they were upside down because they move so easily through the ship. Of course Josh “knows ships” and that explains it. The explosions and fires don't make it too hot to do what they need to do. Kurt is a retired fireman (Josh is ex-Navy), so they've equipped characters with all the skills to make it “easy.”I liked the priest, the geek, the old people, and the girl and her brother all without skills and still trying. It’s dramatic.
So… not my favorite movie.
Having said all that, I watched the “Making of…” on HBO last night and realized a few things:
1. I would have liked this movie more if I hadn’t compared it to the old one. And, while some of that is my fault, I’m also blaming the screen writer who made the plot close enough that comparisons are inevitable. If he’d copied a bit less, I would have let go of my old notions.
2. The actors in the movie did almost all of their own stunts, and there isn’t a lot of CGI stuff. And THAT is cool. When I saw some of the scenes, I was pretty impressed with the enormity of the physical set and the way they actually flooded the ballroom with 100,000 gallons of water and stuff like that. So, it would be wrong to review it and not mention that it gets an A for technical merit and stunt stuff.
3. The director was conscious of the upside down stuff and actually talks about it. So, it wasn’t something they missed. Now, I think they wanted so many obstacles (and always bigger and better ones) around each corner that they overdid it. The characters should have struggled a bit more with each one. But there would have been less time for more obstacles. They move so fast that you don’t worry about the water behind them…
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Francine's Review - Mission Impossible: 3
I miss the days when I loved Tom Cruise. I really loved how cute and buff he was in MI2. Now, he’s just a bobble-headed caricature of himself. And, he’s really wound up… both on Oprah and in this film.
MI:3 has all the good stuff that you love about the IMF (Impossible Mission Force). They break into the Vatican, rescue the girl, speak any language they need to, have all the right costumes and gadgets (oh the gadgets!!). It’s everything you love when the music comes on “Dum, dum, dum-dum…Dum dum dummmdum.” The special effects are really good and they fit the movie perfectly. And there’s Phillip... and Kerri... and Ving.
Unfortunately, they all get a little bit of screen time and the rest is all Tom. It is, after all a “Cruise/somebody” production. It’s Tom looking tired, Tom all stressed out, Tom looking too short… Tom running gimpily, then running fast, then running REALLY fast and looking stressed out at the same time.
As a little aside, why do you think they cast Ving Rhames to work with Tom Cruise? They can never actually stand in the same scene together or Tom looks like one of the munchkins from OZ. I looked it up and, if IMDB is right, Ving is 6 feet (and not a little boy). Cruise is 5’7”. 5 inches on camera means that Tom looks at Ving’s clavicle, right??
That wasn’t as much of an aside as I thought, because Tom just seems smaller in this film. There are no fabulous buff shots. In one scene I actually thought “Tom runs like he’s getting old” and he’s too busy being frenetic to be charming. He doesn’t smile much. And when he does, you remember why you ever liked him. But, he smiles only a couple of times in the entire film and it made me stop and think, “He should smile more often.”
But, it is a movie, right? And not just a Tom fest (go with me on this one). So.. let's talk about the movie. The plot is a bit weak, you don’t really know why Ethan is getting all involved in the mess until they threaten his lady love, and then he’s (yup, you got it) all stressed out and running REALLY fast.
The twist is completely predictable. You know, where they point you to the double-crossing bad guy but it ends up being the guy next to him? Yup, Laurence Fishburne is our decoy (I forgot to mention him earlier) and he’s totally flat and unbelievable in his little bit of screen time. When the real bad guy pops up… I’m not the least bit surprised.
They were trying to add some relationship drama into the plot and I applaud that. Ethan is driven by his need to protect the woman he loves from the bad guys and from the loss of innocence that “knowing” about IMF will bring her. He’s trying to keep a bit of his world safe from IMF. He’s trying to have a life. It’s all in there. It's all really slow and boring. And at the end, the bad guys do get the girl for a while, she ends up shooting people to save herself, and Ethan has to tell her all about IMF. It’s a happy ending. Oh wait… he’s failed at ALL his goals. Hmmm… well, just believe me that it’s a happy ending. And when they do the relationship thing, remember Fred Savage and say, “skip the kissing.”
MI:3 has all the good stuff that you love about the IMF (Impossible Mission Force). They break into the Vatican, rescue the girl, speak any language they need to, have all the right costumes and gadgets (oh the gadgets!!). It’s everything you love when the music comes on “Dum, dum, dum-dum…Dum dum dummmdum.” The special effects are really good and they fit the movie perfectly. And there’s Phillip... and Kerri... and Ving.
Unfortunately, they all get a little bit of screen time and the rest is all Tom. It is, after all a “Cruise/somebody” production. It’s Tom looking tired, Tom all stressed out, Tom looking too short… Tom running gimpily, then running fast, then running REALLY fast and looking stressed out at the same time.
As a little aside, why do you think they cast Ving Rhames to work with Tom Cruise? They can never actually stand in the same scene together or Tom looks like one of the munchkins from OZ. I looked it up and, if IMDB is right, Ving is 6 feet (and not a little boy). Cruise is 5’7”. 5 inches on camera means that Tom looks at Ving’s clavicle, right??
That wasn’t as much of an aside as I thought, because Tom just seems smaller in this film. There are no fabulous buff shots. In one scene I actually thought “Tom runs like he’s getting old” and he’s too busy being frenetic to be charming. He doesn’t smile much. And when he does, you remember why you ever liked him. But, he smiles only a couple of times in the entire film and it made me stop and think, “He should smile more often.”
But, it is a movie, right? And not just a Tom fest (go with me on this one). So.. let's talk about the movie. The plot is a bit weak, you don’t really know why Ethan is getting all involved in the mess until they threaten his lady love, and then he’s (yup, you got it) all stressed out and running REALLY fast.
The twist is completely predictable. You know, where they point you to the double-crossing bad guy but it ends up being the guy next to him? Yup, Laurence Fishburne is our decoy (I forgot to mention him earlier) and he’s totally flat and unbelievable in his little bit of screen time. When the real bad guy pops up… I’m not the least bit surprised.
They were trying to add some relationship drama into the plot and I applaud that. Ethan is driven by his need to protect the woman he loves from the bad guys and from the loss of innocence that “knowing” about IMF will bring her. He’s trying to keep a bit of his world safe from IMF. He’s trying to have a life. It’s all in there. It's all really slow and boring. And at the end, the bad guys do get the girl for a while, she ends up shooting people to save herself, and Ethan has to tell her all about IMF. It’s a happy ending. Oh wait… he’s failed at ALL his goals. Hmmm… well, just believe me that it’s a happy ending. And when they do the relationship thing, remember Fred Savage and say, “skip the kissing.”
Friday, May 12, 2006
The Elemental List Friday
Here's a little game I used to play with my friends in college. You list the top three elements that a perfect (in your mind) movie needs.
For example, if your perfect movie includes Morgan Freeman, Zombies and a soundtrack written by Yanni, well, then you list, Freeman, Zombies, Yanni. It's that easy! Or you could say: Jane Austen novel, Steven Seagal and Cameron Diaz. And, boy, what a perfect movie that would be.
So, to reiterate, today's Friday slacktastic task is:
List three elements that would make up a perfect movie. It can be anything, a landscape, a soundtrack, a director, actor, novel, cartoon character, plot mechanism, anything.
It's fun!
For example, if your perfect movie includes Morgan Freeman, Zombies and a soundtrack written by Yanni, well, then you list, Freeman, Zombies, Yanni. It's that easy! Or you could say: Jane Austen novel, Steven Seagal and Cameron Diaz. And, boy, what a perfect movie that would be.
So, to reiterate, today's Friday slacktastic task is:
List three elements that would make up a perfect movie. It can be anything, a landscape, a soundtrack, a director, actor, novel, cartoon character, plot mechanism, anything.
It's fun!
Friday, May 05, 2006
List Friday!!! Countdown to Summer Movie Season
Today marks the early start to the 2006 summer movie season, with the release of MI3. I thought it would be fun if we all counted down to the #1 most personally anticipated movie coming this summer. I'll post mine here - as an example ... (I've only used a countdown from 6, but if you have more ... use a higher starting number!)
#6) Click
This one looks promising. Adam Sandler as a guy who discovers a universal remote that will actually fast forward life's boring (or preferably avoidable) tedium, turn down the volume on his wife's ranting, etc. I can't wait to see if Sandler has matured ... I've heard he has, but I hope not too much!
# 5) The DaVinci Code
As someone who never saw Far and Away, I can honestly say that I've never been disappointed by a Ron Howard movie. I'm really looking forward to this adaptation.
#4) The Break-Up
I know I am not the only person in the world who really wants Jennifer Aniston to have a successful film career. I am looking forward to seeing this movie because of the Vaughniston aspect, but also because I love Rachel ... err, Jennifer, and Vince, and well, I just really want to see a GOOD romantic comedy.
#3) Poseidon!
I'm really psyched for this one ... probably because I missed seeing Titanic in the theaters. Every time I see the movie trailer with the giant wave approaching the still-right-side-up ship, I get a tiny dose of adrenaline!
#2) Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest
Oh, please, please, PLEASE deliver one heck of an awesome sequel! Johnny, please don't phone it in! I'm so in love with the first one that I am nervous about this one living up to my expectations. Can't believe I have to wait until JULY to see it. *hmmph!*
and, my number one personally anticipated movie of the summer ....!!!!!
Nachooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Libre!
Molly, hope I didn't steal your thunder for this one, but the more I think about it, the more excited I am to see this movie!
Ok other posters and lurkers ... Which movies are you counting down the minutes to see this summer? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? heh heh heh.
#6) Click
This one looks promising. Adam Sandler as a guy who discovers a universal remote that will actually fast forward life's boring (or preferably avoidable) tedium, turn down the volume on his wife's ranting, etc. I can't wait to see if Sandler has matured ... I've heard he has, but I hope not too much!
# 5) The DaVinci Code
As someone who never saw Far and Away, I can honestly say that I've never been disappointed by a Ron Howard movie. I'm really looking forward to this adaptation.
#4) The Break-Up
I know I am not the only person in the world who really wants Jennifer Aniston to have a successful film career. I am looking forward to seeing this movie because of the Vaughniston aspect, but also because I love Rachel ... err, Jennifer, and Vince, and well, I just really want to see a GOOD romantic comedy.
#3) Poseidon!
I'm really psyched for this one ... probably because I missed seeing Titanic in the theaters. Every time I see the movie trailer with the giant wave approaching the still-right-side-up ship, I get a tiny dose of adrenaline!
#2) Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest
Oh, please, please, PLEASE deliver one heck of an awesome sequel! Johnny, please don't phone it in! I'm so in love with the first one that I am nervous about this one living up to my expectations. Can't believe I have to wait until JULY to see it. *hmmph!*
and, my number one personally anticipated movie of the summer ....!!!!!
Nachooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Libre!
Molly, hope I didn't steal your thunder for this one, but the more I think about it, the more excited I am to see this movie!
Ok other posters and lurkers ... Which movies are you counting down the minutes to see this summer? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? heh heh heh.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
List Friday: Movie Music
In celebration of my conversion to Idol-dom (that’s American Idol, and I’m now caught in the same frenzy as everyone else), this List Friday is dedicated to songs that completely stole a scene or movie!
I got this idea when I found myself completely enchanted by scenes in “The Wedding Date.”
“Enchanted?” you gasp??
Yes… enchanted.
There two or three scenes that are wonderful, and I realized that I loved them because the music in the scene is fabulous. I probably stopped watching the movie and just focused on the music. And I’d watch them again. Peggy did point out that Dermot Mulroney is in all the good scenes, but I contend that the value is based in the music!!
Create your lists!!
I got this idea when I found myself completely enchanted by scenes in “The Wedding Date.”
“Enchanted?” you gasp??
Yes… enchanted.
There two or three scenes that are wonderful, and I realized that I loved them because the music in the scene is fabulous. I probably stopped watching the movie and just focused on the music. And I’d watch them again. Peggy did point out that Dermot Mulroney is in all the good scenes, but I contend that the value is based in the music!!
Create your lists!!
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Films that Spoof Other Films
I just found a great little article about spoofs... Gianna and I watched Shrek 2 this morning and the "Mongo" giant gingerbread man just cracked me up. Hours later I find an article that not only mentions "Blazing Saddles," but mentions a bunch of other spoof movies...
So, though only the "Scary Movie" mention is about anything remotely new, I thought it was a totally fun list!
http://movies.msn.com/movies/springmovieguide/parodies
So, though only the "Scary Movie" mention is about anything remotely new, I thought it was a totally fun list!
http://movies.msn.com/movies/springmovieguide/parodies
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)