28 Film Discussion Threads Later

[Mara]

:pritch:

Oh, yay! I love Into the Woods. It might be my favorite musical ever. Maybe.

And that production is top notch. I'm seeing a live production of it this spring. I saw it live once before, but it was pretty amateur.

[Raiders]

I'm assuming that's the original Broadway production DVD? Only one I've seen of the show, but it is naturally fabulous. My favorite of his remains Sunday in the Park with George, though I always feel that I am alone in that.

[Mara]

I have a original cast recording of Sunday in the Park with George on CD signed by Mandy Patinkin.

I'm a fan. Although I think the second act was weaker.

I also met Sondheim once in person by hanging outside a stage door at 17 and being a total nerd.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I very nearly missed this. Yes, it was the Broadway production that is on Netflix streaming (there has to be a better way of referring to the Instant Viewing portion of Netflix). Loved everything about it. The songs were a blast, the play was absolutely hilarious, the performances were spot on, etc. It was a three-hour play that absolutely flew by. I had to watch one "mediatized" play for my Modern Drama class, and this had been on my queue ever since seeing Sweeney Todd. I wish it was something I could have seen live, because the forced perspective really bothered me, but I'll take what I can get.


Light in August (William Faulkner, 1932) ****

I'm equally pleased with this rating.

[Sven]

I'm pretty jazzed about Daft Punk's Electroma, which I just finished. Watched it on a whim and wasn't expecting that!

[Watashi]

I need to do a Muppets marathon in preparation for the new film. Never seen the original.

[MadMan]

I need to do a Muppets marathon in preparation for the new film. Never seen the original.I believe the only one I've seen at least most of was Muppet Treasure Island, so yeah I haven't viewed the original, either.

The new one coming out looks pretty good.

[Mara]

I need to do a Muppets marathon in preparation for the new film. Never seen the original.

The original is great. I recently rewatched the first three (which are the only truly quality ones) and they held up wonderfully.

[Ezee E]

I'm pretty jazzed about Daft Punk's Electroma, which I just finished. Watched it on a whim and wasn't expecting that!
Tell me more.

[Sven]

Tell me more.

I was expecting something wilder. With poppin' colors and dance music and futuristic dance clubs and stuff. Y'know... something Daft Punky.

Instead, it's a minimalist deconstruction of identity, achieved through visually associating the American West with barren cosmic expansiveness. Long stretches of silence (punctuated with blissful choreographies of classic rock and classical music - no D.Punk music on the s.track) and protracted action, following machines through landscapes, achieving the affect of alienation (replacing all life with circuitry and sand) while still implicating the viewer in its deliberations. It doesn't distort the recognizable in its attempts to make its connections, but instead gazes long enough for the inherent bizarreness of photographed objects to make an impression. Like saying the same word over and over until it just sounds like a weird noise. It's hypnotizing and beautiful and sometimes (like with the gas station bathroom's flickering flourescents) a little frightening. So many great moments.

Plus, the first song is Rundgren's International Feel, playing as the duo cruises through the cosmic deserts of California. Immediate win.

[Raiders]

The original is great. I recently rewatched the first three (which are the only truly quality ones) and they held up wonderfully.

Baloney. Christmas Carol is wonderful. I feel like we've discussed this before, though.

[Ivan Drago]

I've only seen bits and pieces of Electroma, but what I saw of it was beautiful. I really want to see it in its entirety.

[MadMan]

Disclosure is a pretty good movie, even though it could have gone farther in its exploration of sexual and office politics. Oh well, I still liked it, and it has a good cast.

I realize that these days I just write reviews in my blog instead of here. Much easier to just do that instead.

[B-side]

Sisters of the Gion was fantastic, and the best Mizoguchi I've seen so far. Also has easily the longest takes I've ever seen in a film from the '30s.

[EyesWideOpen]

The original is great. I recently rewatched the first three (which are the only truly quality ones) and they held up wonderfully.

I did the same thing and I was pretty underwhelmed with all three.

[Mara]

Baloney. Christmas Carol is wonderful. I feel like we've discussed this before, though.

Extensively!

I feel like there are enjoyable elements in all the Muppet films, but I think the first three really had that mix of the wholesome and the subversive that really defines the Muppets for me.

If anything, I think The Great Muppet Caper is the most underrated. It's actually a pretty snazzy little heist film, satirizing the genre while indulging in the best kind of action/romance/comedy. And the musical numbers are some of my favorites, including Piggy's Ethel Merman spoof, Kermit's Fred Astaire spoof, and the dancing-waiters-production-number "The First Time it Happens."

[Sven]

Christmas Carol is a shrill bore, comparatively insubstantial, and all the more depressing for facilitating a flat Michael Caine performance.

And yes, we've danced this tango before.

[Fezzik]

Oh, yay! I love Into the Woods. It might be my favorite musical ever. Maybe.

And that production is top notch. I'm seeing a live production of it this spring. I saw it live once before, but it was pretty amateur.

Was the the one with Bernadette Peters as the witch? I saw it recently. Really impressive, though I felt the second act was almost a different play entirely.

[Mara]

Was the the one with Bernadette Peters as the witch? I saw it recently. Really impressive, though I felt the second act was almost a different play entirely.

A better play. The first act sets it up, and the second knocks everything down.

[Fezzik]

A better play. The first act sets it up, and the second knocks everything down.

Oh, I don't disagree. It just shocked the hell out of me :D

[Qrazy]

I quite liked The Edge of Heaven, can't wait for Akin to finish the trilogy. He presents a tender zaniness I find very appealing. Half Nelson on the other hand was incredibly rote and uninteresting on every level. The script was by the books but the filmmaking was also a series of mids and close-ups communicating absolutely nothing about our surroundings. I wasn't even impressed by Gosling's performance, highly overrated.

A re-watch of Brazil (fifth viewing or so) confirmed it as a favorite.

[Spinal]

The first act sets it up, and the second knocks everything down.

Exactly. That's the whole point. What happens beyond 'happily ever after'? What happens after you get your prince? Life goes on. It's really quite brilliant.

[Boner M]

I thought EoH was a big step down from Head-on, though I probably owe it another viewing.

[Qrazy]

I thought EoH was a big step down from Head-on, though I probably owe it another viewing.

Head-on is definitely better, yes.

[B-side]

Wow, they really massacred Texas Killing Fields in the editing room. Wildly inconsistent quality, inexplicable time leaps and the tension is largely absent because there's no escalation in the action, really. I was digging it starting out, but it just gets worse and worse as the edits strip away important context, mood and atmosphere and pares the whole thing down to a straightforward narrative with strange and unarticulated motifs and themes shoved in around the sides. I'd be willing to give a director's cut a chance, but as is, it's not worth bothering with. Seems we're still yet to see if Mann's talents were passed onto his daughter.

[dreamdead]

Rewatched Festen last night, since the wife hadn't ever seen it. It remains a singularly powerful film, where any potential narrative melodrama is undercut by the filmmaking techniques. And the humor that's in the margins this time really shined through. Nearly a great film, and always remarkable to think about within late-90s cinema.

[Idioteque Stalker]

The only thing I remember about Edge of Heaven is switching from negative to positive at the very end.

[Bosco B Thug]

Lost Highway - I was reading reviews of Lost Highway hoping to, you know, understand it more, but shortly stopped because the reviews make it seem like I should have liked it a lot less. The evidential premise resonates less than Lynch's other stuff (a common complaint), but this is definitely not the slouch film I expected. In fact the opposite, it is so successful at everything it attempts it may almost be Lynch's most impressive effort, as the film takes on so many story turns, changes in scope, and stylistic angles and then succeeds in all of them, even sincerely trumping the mainstream tropes it insincerely mimics. A thoroughly envisioned, consummate piece that just may in sum (after all its answers are given) be a little less than its parts (where it approaches the nuance and depth of any other Lynch work).

Martha - A little surprised this has gotten such unanimous love here, as I feel in the end it comes up a bit empty, especially with its dire ending, which just struck me as a bit fruitlessly cruel and a bit lacking in imagination. Mostly awesome, though.

[transmogrifier]

Been on a bit of a B-movie kick with mixed effect:

Rolling Thunder - 65

William Devane is awesome, and for a low budget revenge flick it has a genuine interest in characterization. Doesn't add up to much in the end, and the ending is blink-and-you'll-miss-it, but it manages to at least make you believe the weight being carried by the wronged man. Plus young Tommy Lee Jones kicking arse.

The Wicker Man - 64

It's not every day that you watch two films back-to-back that both start with an extended credits sequence based around a plane coming into land with an incongruous song on the soundtrack, but such was Rolling Thunder and this. At the start I was thrown by the kind of kitschy approach taken by the film-makers (hell, it's pretty much a musical for the first half hour), but once I forgot my expectations, I started to vibe on the contrast between the folksy exterior of the village and the desperation flitting around underneath. So imagine my surprise when I found what I expected to be the highpoint - the reveal of the title object etc - to be such a huge let down. It lacks any sort of momentum or pacing, and just sort of sits there. It's like the filmmakers where all excited to get to the ending, but never thought about what to do with it. But naked Britt Ekland!

Body Double - 69

This movie is all about the inherent artificiality of movies like this. The "mystery" of the plot is absolutely pointless (one look at the jawline of the Indian and it's obvious what is going on), but it all hangs on a series of gorgeously balls-out set pieces that grab the attention and help smooth over the terrible acting and dumb plot. But naked Melanie Griffith!

Lifeforce - 36

Naked Mathilda May!
Everything else kind of sucked.

[Sven]

Last night I dreamt that Lili Taylor was an evil woman that I needed to stay away from, but I didn't want to because I like Lili Taylor.

[D_Davis]

Rolling Thunder - 65

William Devane is awesome, and for a low budget revenge flick it has a genuine interest in characterization. Doesn't add up to much in the end, and the ending is blink-and-you'll-miss-it, but it manages to at least make you believe the weight being carried by the wronged man. Plus young Tommy Lee Jones kicking arse.

Lifeforce - 36

Naked Mathilda May!
Everything else kind of sucked.

Love Rolling Thunder, and naked Mathilda May is a beautiful thing.

[Spun Lepton]

The Big Bird Cage. Roger Corman. Jack Hill. Pam Grier. Sig Haig. A women-in-prison film shot in the Phillipines. Funny how none of the leads are from the Phillipines, most of them are American. Story is random and directionless, but it's fast-paced and filled with a lot of cheesecake, so it's not really a chore to sit through. Having friends around to poke fun of it could help. Beer could also help. Apparently it was meant to be a satire of the genre, but unless you're expert on the genre, you may not be able to tell. Hairy Sig Haig makes out with Pam Grier a couple times. Lucky bastard.

4/10

[MadMan]

Lifeforce - 36

Naked Mathilda May!
Everything else kind of sucked.Booooo!!! *Throws peanuts at trans*

Based on what I heard about both Wild At Heart and Lost Highway, I didn't expect to love either one. Lost Highway is excellent, but due to how weird that movie is I want to see it again. Wild At Heart I want to own just to see Nic Cage singing Elvis all over again and of course for the lovely Laura Dern.

[Grouchy]

Disclosure is a pretty good movie, even though it could have gone farther in its exploration of sexual and office politics.
This does not compute. For me Disclosure is one of the stupidest Hollywood products I've ever seen in my life.

[Boner M]

My mum would protect my eyes from the Disclosure poster everytime we saw it in a cinema lobby ca. '94.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_W27Dku0WTTg/TVB9h-0XFeI/AAAAAAAADBg/5FDboVjqcDc/disclosure_poster01.jpg

EXTREEEEEME

[Qrazy]

Jeez, how many freaking films did Michael Douglas make where sex is power?

[Ezee E]

Mmm... Demi Moore at her prime.

[Grouchy]

Jeez, how many freaking films did Michael Douglas make where sex is power?
And where he is sexually harassed by women.

[Mara]

A new Tangled short is going to be before the 3D release of Beauty and the Beast.

I'll see it.

[Fezzik]

A new Tangled short is going to be before the 3D release of Beauty and the Beast.

I'll see it.

Tangled short..B&B re-release to theaters...yeah, theres no way Im NOT seeing this.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Mmm... Demi Moore at her prime.

Demi Moore's prime was About Last Night.

[bac0n]

Demi Moore's prime was About Last Night.

Demi Moore had a prime?

[Kurosawa Fan]

Demi Moore had a prime?

Physically, yes.

[MadMan]

This does not compute. For me Disclosure is one of the stupidest Hollywood products I've ever seen in my life.I thought it was a fairly entertaining, solid movie that I enjoyed. Plus it has a good cast. Could be my Michael Crichton bias at work here, but hey Demi Moore, Michael Douglas....although I wonder why Dennis Miller was in the movie and then he completely disappears for the rest of the second half. That was odd.

Hey I still find Demi Moore attractive, and Aston Kutcher did too until he cheated on her a bunch of times.

[Qrazy]

Hrm, there was really nothing particularly good about Herzog's Bad Lieutenant in the slightest. Ferrara's was infinitely more compelling.

[Grouchy]

Hrm, there was really nothing particularly good about Herzog's Bad Lieutenant in the slightest. Ferrara's was infinitely more compelling.
Somehow I knew this was a masterpiece that you wouldn't understand.

[Qrazy]

Somehow I knew this was a masterpiece that you wouldn't understand.

It just wasn't well crafted man. At times during some of the police procedural aspects I felt like I was watching an episode of Dexter. The little idiosyncrasies such as the poem and shot of the fish, the iguana, maybe the spoon and a few other moments were nice touches but they were few and far between and weren't nearly enough to carry the film. And frankly Cage's unhinged performance was more of his same usual shtick, I wasn't seeing Adaptation levels of nuance in this role. If Keitel knocked the role out of the park then Cage at most hit a grounder to second. Life and death scenes don't hold the tension they should, peripheral characters feature in incredibly half assed arcs (I'm looking at you Val Kilmer) and even Cage's drug psychology is barely rendered cinematically. A break dancing dead man does not a drug trip make. After seeing this I can only imagine Herzog has a) never done drugs b) forgotten what doing drugs is like c) didn't care enough to put on the screen what his character would be experiencing.

Also the opening and closing sequences of the film were trite as hell.

[Melville]

After seeing this I can only imagine Herzog has a) never done drugs
He said so in interviews. You're taking the movie too seriously. If it's to be categorized, it's a dark comedy rather than a thriller or psychological study. Everything it does is entirely dissimilar from the original, so comparing how well they do the same things is approaching it wrongly. There's no tension, some of the scenes are wildly klunky (e.g., the opening scene), and Cage's performance isn't nuanced, but there is magnificent absurdity, a great tone of upending police thriller norms, and Cage's unhinged performance—which is pretty much his usual shtick, but taken to a spectacular extreme. I love how his body grows increasingly contorted and his voice increasingly erratic. The whole thing is hilarious.

[Thirdmango]

I've been watching a lot of Woody Allen lately, is there a way to find those pre-new forum match cut director consensus threads? I can't find Woody Allen.

[B-side]

He said so in interviews. You're taking the movie too seriously. If it's to be categorized, it's a dark comedy rather than a thriller or psychological study. Everything it does is entirely dissimilar from the original, so comparing how well they do the same things is approaching it wrongly. There's no tension, some of the scenes are wildly klunky (e.g., the opening scene), and Cage's performance isn't nuanced, but there is magnificent absurdity, a great tone of upending police thriller norms, and Cage's unhinged performance—which is pretty much his usual shtick, but taken to a spectacular extreme. I love how his body grows increasingly contorted and his voice increasingly erratic. The whole thing is hilarious.

Yup. It's really not be taken very seriously at all. It's just an absurdist take on post-Katrina New Orleans. Silly and corrupt.

[Raiders]

Yup. It's really not be taken very seriously at all. It's just an absurdist take on post-Katrina New Orleans. Silly and corrupt.

This was actually why I was rather tepid in my praise of the film; it gets so focused on Cage and his contortions and hallucinations that I didn't think it developed the milieu around him very well at all and that seemed quite integral to Herzog's vision. I'd like to watch it again and focus more on the non-Cage elements to see if maybe Herzog layered more there than I initially saw.

[Sven]

I've been watching a lot of Woody Allen lately, is there a way to find those pre-new forum match cut director consensus threads? I can't find Woody Allen.

Coincidentally, you are the last person to've posted in that thread.

http://match-cut.org/showthread.php?t=3030

[Sven]

I recommend Bullets Over Broadway for you. I think you'd love that one. And my favorite is Broadway Danny Rose.

[B-side]

The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums. Probably about as good as Sisters of the Gion, which is high praise coming from me. Also, where's the protest to bring back deep focus photography?

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz70/SalvadorDali_2010/Movie%20Caps%20Pt%202/vlcsnap-2011-11-16-06h01m02s236.png

[Mysterious Dude]

I think Nicholas Cage's performance isn't so much "good" as it just fits the role, like Bruno S. Werner Herzog should only work with actors who are insane.

[Spun Lepton]

Comparing Herzog's Bad Lieutenant to Ferrera's is bad form, since it was the studio's decision to give it the sequel-like title. Herzog said he did not set out to make a sequel, he just wanted to call it Port of Call: New Orleans.

Either way, I found it frequently hilarious.

[Qrazy]

He said so in interviews. You're taking the movie too seriously. If it's to be categorized, it's a dark comedy rather than a thriller or psychological study. Everything it does is entirely dissimilar from the original, so comparing how well they do the same things is approaching it wrongly. There's no tension, some of the scenes are wildly klunky (e.g., the opening scene), and Cage's performance isn't nuanced, but there is magnificent absurdity, a great tone of upending police thriller norms, and Cage's unhinged performance—which is pretty much his usual shtick, but taken to a spectacular extreme. I love how his body grows increasingly contorted and his voice increasingly erratic. The whole thing is hilarious.

I'm not taking this movie too seriously. Immediately after I saw it I said to the person I watched it with, 'hmmm I expected that to be funnier'. There isn't magnificent absurdity, there are a few absurd and funny scenes (maybe four or so) and the rest of the film just sort of plods along ugly and tediously. Yes the scene where he threatens the old women is funny, but there aren't nearly enough of these moments to make it a satisfying dark comedy (The Loved One and Little Murders succeed there) and there isn't nearly enough of anything else to make it a satisfying examination of drugs or policework or cross section of America or anything really. When I said what I said about drugs I didn't mean that the film should be a piercing examination of drug use or drug addiction but merely if you're going to feature a main character who uses drugs compulsively you might as well embrace that cinematically. The experience of taking drugs tends to be (with a number of drugs) extremely funny and if the film had indulged more in the psychology of it's character on drugs (which it does once in a while but not often enough) there might have been a number of much funnier sequences.

People frequently compare films from different directors and widely different time periods so I don't see a problem in comparing one that is a loose retelling of another. The film has a number of similar scenes and plot threads as the original film so I don't think comparison is entirely unwarranted. I would hope that most remakes aren't trying to do the same thing as the originals.

[Qrazy]

Yup. It's really not be taken very seriously at all. It's just an absurdist take on post-Katrina New Orleans. Silly and corrupt.

A poor one.

[Qrazy]

Comparing Herzog's Bad Lieutenant to Ferrera's is bad form, since it was the studio's decision to give it the sequel-like title. Herzog said he did not set out to make a sequel, he just wanted to call it Port of Call: New Orleans.

Either way, I found it frequently hilarious.

Then clearly you haven't seen the original in a while because the similarities don't end with the title and a corrupt cop.

Drug abuse. Crack use and reselling. Owing money to a bookie and sports betting. Sex with multiple women. Inducing sexual favours from the public. Having a series of problems driving him further to criminality.

The difference is there was some moral consistency with Ferrara's character. Cage's characters actions and motivations are wildly inconsistent. We're supposed to believe he draws the line at murder? He has no problem drawing his gun on and threatening murder, or watching a body being dumped and he had no problem telling the dealers to shoot the guy again when his soul was still dancing. The fact that he saves the jail cell victim or doesn't kill the guy he wants to collar doesn't add layers to his character, it just makes him weakly characterized. The film can't decide if it wants Cage's character to feature a descent into criminality so he starts on that route and then by films end just goes back to minor crimes. I have no problem with a bad guy 'getting away with it' and being promoted to captain but I have no sense of who this guy really is other than a thinly sketched caricature. It's just extremely lazy filmmaking.

[Sven]

The experience of taking many drugs is actually extremely funny

Many drugs also result in perpetual cycles of ugly emotion and discomfort.


if you're going to feature a main character who uses drugs compulsively you might as well embrace that cinematically.

That's a strangely presumptive sentiment. By that token, movies about alcoholism should be constantly blurring, wavering, and blacking out. I would not want to see that movie.

And BL: PoC: NO is not about the subjective experience of intoxication, as steeping the film in such would make it. Most of the moments of strangeness function as punctuations to a dour story of already spiraling sanity, set apart from the character's instances of substance use. In that way, they achieve lucidity and become even stranger. The routine elements contribute, such that the film is Cage's constant struggle to contextualize the irrational within the rational. Those sequences of arresting the young party kids are not just about a druggy cop abusing power to get a fix. They demonstrate an obsessive need to adjust his sense of corruption within a legal framework.

I need to see the movie again. Haven't seen it since theaters, so I can't discuss with thoroughness. I'm just recollecting.

[Qrazy]

Many drugs also result in perpetual cycles of ugly emotion and discomfort.

I already rephrased that but let me clarify further.

"The experience of taking drugs tends to be (with a number of drugs) extremely funny"

I am responding to the claim that I took the film too seriously and that it is a black comedy. I agree with this claim but I am saying that I don't think it is comedic enough. I think Herzog could have excised a lot of the bullshit and poorly executed police procedural nonsense in favor of dark humor. Cage's character's drug abuse could have been a perfect justification for doing so because as so many filmmakers tend to forget, a number of people do drugs precisely because it generates such a humorous experience. No, they don't only generate that experience but for the sake of comedy that is one attribute which could be latched onto. Tangentially this is why Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is such a great film because Gilliam's general approach to storytelling is 'make it funny until it's not' (also true of Brazil). Which is kind of what drugs are all about. They are extremely funny and enjoyable until they aren't. Either the trip changes or addiction develops or the circumstances of the environment changes.


That's a strangely presumptive sentiment. By that token, movies about alcoholism should be constantly blurring, wavering, and blacking out. I would not want to see that movie.

No, this film doesn't have to be a constant first person experience, but it would have been a lot more visually interesting imo if it had engaged in more third person subjective than it did and communicated Cage's experiences more consistently. This is my central issue with the film, a lack of consistency.


And BL: PoC: NO is not about the subjective experience of intoxication, as steeping the film in such would make it. Most of the moments of strangeness function as punctuations to a dour story of already spiraling sanity, set apart from the character's instances of substance use. In that way, they achieve lucidity and become even stranger. The routine elements contribute, such that the film is Cage's constant struggle to contextualize the irrational within the rational. Those sequences of arresting the young party kids are not just about a druggy cop abusing power to get a fix. They demonstrate an obsessive need to adjust his sense of corruption within a legal framework.

I don't agree with that at all. Most of the insane shit Cage sees is directly related to how high he is in the film. When he sees the iguana and the dancing soul he's fucked out of his mind. I only wish that there had been more of those moments as they are of passing interest and humor and as he is on drugs throughout the majority of the film. Although in all honesty the insistences we do see of hallucinations are rather clunky in nature. Herzog's has certainly never been a cinema of fluidity so blurring the line between the real and the imagined comes across as somewhat stilted. He is or used to be exceptional at creating bizarre environments where madness abounds, but portraying drug trips or dream sequences is not really his strong suit.

[Sven]

Tangentially this is why Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is such a great film because Gilliam's general approach to storytelling is 'make it funny until it's not' (also true of Brazil). Which is kind of what drugs are all about.

I disagree that it is a great film, but I do admire Gilliam's artistry. And think it's interesting that he's never taken drugs.


Although in all honesty the insistences we do see of hallucinations are rather clunky in nature. Herzog's has certainly never been a cinema of fluidity so blurring the line between the real and the imagined comes across as somewhat stilted. He is or used to be exceptional at creating bizarre environments where madness abounds, but portraying drug trips or dream sequences is not really his strong suit.

I see what you're saying, mostly. And coming from the perspective of a Herzog fanatic like myself, I will confess to a certain stiltedness. But in my view, that largely works because it polarizes the tone, and the movie is about radical mental and emotional flux. It's about mining sanity for its inherent insanity, so he prods at the routine of red herring mysteries and procedural formula (tedious things, relying on manufactured drama and character) and extracts odd nuggets of ecstatic, uncanny moments that express the bizarreness of direct experience. How things, in themselves, are inexplicable.

At any rate, I might be rambling. I'll save any further comments until I've seen the movie again.

[transmogrifier]

I'm on the side of BL:POCNO being pretty poor.

[NickGlass]

I'm on the side of BL:POCNO being pretty poor.

I love that the acronym for the film aptly creates a :P. Genius.

[transmogrifier]

I love that the acronym for the film apt creates a :P. Genius.

Yeah, I didn't bother to change it, because it sums up the film nicely.

[Rowland]

I really liked the film, and not in the ironic manner that many have. Given its reputation, and for all its perhaps deliberate eccentricity, I was surprised and moved by how sincerely and deeply felt it was on an emotional level. Love the score (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAQsEPXNPj0) too.

[Milky Joe]

I disagree that it is a great film, but I do admire Gilliam's artistry. And think it's interesting that he's never taken drugs.

I think it strains credulity. :lol:

[Qrazy]

I think it strains credulity. :lol:

I dunno, the films Fellini made before he took acid are just as unique and visually creative as those he made after. Plus on a personal level the short stories and thoughts I had before trying shrooms for the first time were just as zany as my perception of the world after. Shrooms were just sort of an affirmation of certain visual predilections rather than an entirely new scope of experience (thought abstraction-wise, certainly they are the latter in terms of direct experience).

[MadMan]

I found both BL: POCNO and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to be great movies, both really funny with excellent lead performances. I would like to see the Herzog movie again-I think I rented it from Netflix.

[Milky Joe]

I dunno, the films Fellini made before he took acid are just as unique and visually creative as those he made after. Plus on a personal level the short stories and thoughts I had before trying shrooms for the first time were just as zany as my perception of the world after. Shrooms were just sort of an affirmation of certain visual predilections rather than an entirely new scope of experience (thought abstraction-wise, certainly they are the latter in terms of direct experience).

Yeah, but I'm more referring to just the man himself and his mannerisms and way of speaking rather than his work, and I'm not even necessarily suggesting psychedelics. Maybe it's true that he just didn't need cocaine to be all amped up like that, but I find it rather hard to believe that he wasn't indulging in the 80s like everyone else. I think I've had this discussion on here before though so it's sort of tired. I can see the reasons why he would deny taking drugs, and it doesn't really matter to me one way or the other.

[Mysterious Dude]

Speaking of cocaine, does anyone think Martin Scorsese might have used it shortly before filming his scene in Taxi Driver? I never really noticed it before, but the last time I saw the movie, I was a little more worldly and more aware of how people tend to act when they're on cocaine, and I know that Scorsese used it, and the way he talks in the movie, like he constantly has to be saying something no matter what, reminds me of the effects of cocaine.

[Qrazy]

Speaking of cocaine, does anyone think Martin Scorsese might have used it shortly before filming his scene in Taxi Driver? I never really noticed it before, but the last time I saw the movie, I was a little more worldly and more aware of how people tend to act when they're on cocaine, and I know that Scorsese used it, and the way he talks in the movie, like he constantly has to be saying something no matter what, reminds me of the effects of cocaine.

I wouldn't be surprised. At the very least he's mining those mannerisms for that performance, such that that character is probably supposed to be on it.

[Ezee E]

Scorsese was very much on cocaine around that time. I can't pinpoint the time, and it's not very well publicized, but he's alluded to overdosing between that movie and Raging Bull, and he quit right then and there.

[B-side]

I think we should do another collective thread; one where a bunch of us participate. One idea would be where we each pick a letter and review a film that begins with that letter. Might be difficult to get 26 participants, though. Maybe a few of us could pick multiple letters?

[Dukefrukem]

so Ricky Gervais is going to host the Golden Globes again?

[Sven]

I think we should do another collective thread; one where a bunch of us participate. One idea would be where we each pick a letter and review a film that begins with that letter. Might be difficult to get 26 participants, though. Maybe a few of us could pick multiple letters?

I haven't written a review (or seen a movie, really) in such a long time, I think this would be fun. I'm in.

[B-side]

I haven't written a review (or seen a movie, really) in such a long time, I think this would be fun. I'm in.

:)

2 and counting...

BTW, you'd pick your movie, and letters would be grabbed first come, first serve. So you're not being obligated to watch something you're not interested in.

[Boner M]

Weekend

My Watch Tells the Time (Chernyaev)
An Orange is an Orange (Naryshkin)
Stalin is Dead! Celebration? (Burlachenko)
Misery Party (Mizin)
Borscht... (Molchenoff)
Brightside, have you watched any of these yet?

[B-side]

All of them. Twice.

[Qrazy]

I'll do the review thread also.

[MadMan]

I'm down, Brightside.

[Dukefrukem]

I'll do one.

[Izzy Black]

I'll play.

[Boner M]

I'm in.

[elixir]

Me too.

[Boner M]

Brief reply.

[B-side]

Sweet. 8 people. Come on Spinal, Raiders, Nick, Isaac, Russ, meg, trans, etc. If I forgot your name, it's because I assumed our love was so entrenched in us that my desire for your participation was best left unsaid.

[Spinal]

Sweet. 8 people. Come on Spinal, Raiders, Nick, Isaac, Russ, meg, trans, etc. If I forgot your name, it's because I assumed our love was so entrenched in us that my desire for your participation was best left unsaid.

See my sig.

[Izzy Black]

See my sig.

Hey, I've been there about 2 years, but you don't see that (entirely) stopping me. It just leads to crankier, less-informed opinions. Join in.

[B-side]

Hey, I've been there about 2 years, but you don't see that (entirely) stopping me. It just leads to crankier, less-informed opinions. Join in.

Precisely. No reason why you can't squeeze in a 90 minute film.

[transmogrifier]

I'd prefer to be involved with something more thematic, like Reverse Shot's latest where they each pick a director and review what they think is their worst movie (Simply the Worst (http://reverseshot.com/30/simply_worst)).

I think between us we could come up with some pretty cool thread ideas and reviews. But simply doing letters is a bit meh as an overarching theme.

[Izzy Black]

I agree. Brainstorm

[Bosco B Thug]

Now I'm surprised seeing people here are all lukewarm to Fassbinder's Lola. Unfortunately formally it is a lesser film than Martha, but the story and screenplay are killer. It's a bit of a perfect Occupy-era film (or commentary, that is).

First Mizoguchi with Sisters of the Gion, first Vigo with his two (sadly primary) works. Don't know if I'll be much of a Mizoguchi fan, but Vigo is awesome. L'Atalante loses some steam towards the end.

[B-side]

That's a cool idea, actually. I like that one. We'd get a lot of people reviewing Kubrick films, though. Myself likely included. :P

[Izzy Black]

What about assigning directors and reviewing their most underrated (and/or underappeciated/underseen/undervalued) film? This will have interesting results (I think) because it tends toward unique preferences and interpretations rather than canonical or popular favorites/dislikes.

[Qrazy]

I'd prefer to be involved with something more thematic, like Reverse Shot's latest where they each pick a director and review what they think is their worst movie (Simply the Worst (http://reverseshot.com/30/simply_worst)).

I think between us we could come up with some pretty cool thread ideas and reviews. But simply doing letters is a bit meh as an overarching theme.

Yeah, watching a director's worst film sounds like a much better idea.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sTUdd1wAVBw/R5ojFsWOMEI/AAAAAAAAAJs/wv0-xx8DT94/s400/TB.jpg

[elixir]

Now I'm surprised seeing people here are all lukewarm to Fassbinder's Lola. Unfortunately formally it is a lesser film than Martha, but the story and screenplay are killer. It's a bit of a perfect Occupy-era film (or commentary, that is).

First Mizoguchi with Sisters of the Gion, first Vigo with his two (sadly primary) works. Don't know if I'll be much of a Mizoguchi fan, but Vigo is awesome. L'Atalante loses some steam towards the end.

Awesome only gets a 7? L'Atalante loses steam at the end? Oh Bosco, you hurt me so.

[elixir]

What about assigning directors and reviewing their most underrated (and/or underappeciated/underseen/undervalued) film? This will have interesting results (I think) because it tends toward unique preferences and interpretations rather than canonical or popular favorites/dislikes.

I think this is a good idea (especially as opposed to watching the worst of a director's films...)

[B-side]

First Mizoguchi with Sisters of the Gion, first Vigo with his two (sadly primary) works. Don't know if I'll be much of a Mizoguchi fan, but Vigo is awesome. L'Atalante loses some steam towards the end.

Not sure I understand the implication. Your rating suggests you rather enjoyed Sisters of the Gion. I definitely think it's better than you do, but if you fear his early work may not be your thing, his later work is a bit different. More formally restrained, which may be why I prefer his earlier work.

[Qrazy]

Now I'm surprised seeing people here are all lukewarm to Fassbinder's Lola. Unfortunately formally it is a lesser film than Martha, but the story and screenplay are killer. It's a bit of a perfect Occupy-era film (or commentary, that is).

First Mizoguchi with Sisters of the Gion, first Vigo with his two (sadly primary) works. Don't know if I'll be much of a Mizoguchi fan, but Vigo is awesome. L'Atalante loses some steam towards the end.

Ehh, it goes from being a pretty good whimsical adventure to being fantastic towards the end.

[B-side]

What about assigning directors and reviewing their most underrated (and/or underappeciated/underseen/undervalued) film? This will have interesting results (I think) because it tends toward unique preferences and interpretations rather than canonical or popular favorites/dislikes.

I dig the premise. So the idea would be to have people pick their own director/film and review something they've already seen? That would likely garner more participation than a thread making people watch something.

[Ezee E]

Film swaps are always good.

[Qrazy]

Count me out.

[Izzy Black]

I dig the premise. So the idea would be to have people pick their own director/film and review something they've already seen? That would likely garner more participation than a thread making people watch something.

I don't know. I think maybe there should be some surprise involved.

[B-side]

Count me out.

You're just ants at a picnic, Qrazy.

[Izzy Black]

Count me out.

Why?

[B-side]

I don't know. I think maybe there should be some surprise involved.

Like what?

[Bosco B Thug]

Awesome only gets a 7? L'Atalante loses steam at the end? Oh Bosco, you hurt me so. Didn't fall in love with Zero for Conduct like I did L'Atalante, and L'Atalante should be an 8, but what can I do, it lost steam. :) The self-pleasuring scene was great, but I definitely lost a teensy bit of interest when I realized the film was just heading towards a simple romantic reconciliation story.

[Qrazy]

Why?

I don't like other people's taste when it's forced upon me. I find that for the most part I end up watching films I don't care that much for plus the process itself is taxing because you have to go back and forth figuring out what the person has and has not seen.

I'd be down for doing anything where I can pick the film myself. That is to say if we choose a specific genre (film noir?), time period, country, film movement or what have you.

[Qrazy]

Didn't fall in love with Zero for Conduct like I did L'Atalante, and L'Atalante should be an 8, but what can I do, it lost steam. :) The self-pleasuring scene was great, but I definitely lost a teensy bit of interest when I realized the film was just heading towards a simple romantic reconciliation story.

It's the way it goes about it though man, and the depth and nuance of emotion expressed in relation to loss of and rekindling of love.

[B-side]

I don't like other people's taste when it's forced upon me. I find that for the most part I end up watching films I don't care that much for plus the process itself is taxing because you have to go back and forth figuring out what the person has and has not seen.

I'd be down for doing anything where I can pick the film myself. That is to say if we choose a specific genre (film noir?), time period, country, film movement or what have you.

I'm with you there, actually.

[Qrazy]

I'm with you there, actually.

Yeah, our film swap failed because it became a chore to watch each others films. Even though we like many of the same directors and films and will certainly like many of each other's recs it just becomes too much.

[Izzy Black]

I don't like other people's taste when it's forced upon me. I find that for the most part I end up watching films I don't care that much for plus the process itself is taxing because you have to go back and forth figuring out what the person has and has not seen.

But the current suggestion (I thought) is that you pick your own director and your own favorite (under-appreciated) film from that director. That seems pretty personalized. I think it would be better to have no repeating directors, but it could go either way.


I'd be down for doing anything where I can pick the film myself. That is to say if we choose a specific genre (film noir?), time period, country, film movement or what have you.

Any ideas?

[transmogrifier]

Okay:
- a specific genre
- films of a certain director (but this could be anything, actor, cinematographer etc)
- revisit a childhood favourite you haven't seen in over ten years
- directorial debuts
- past Best Picture winners you haven't seen before
- original/remake double-headers
- movies that take place over the course of a day
- a film from Armond White's Top 10 lists from 1997-2006 (http://alumnus.caltech.edu/%7Eejohnson/critics/white.html) you haven't seen
- a film from the Bottom 100 at IMDB

More to come

[Bosco B Thug]

Not sure I understand the implication. Your rating suggests you rather enjoyed Sisters of the Gion. I definitely think it's better than you do, but if you fear his early work may not be your thing, his later work is a bit different. More formally restrained, which may be why I prefer his earlier work. I did like it, especially the 2nd half (it's a powerful story), but I wasn't particularly wowed by anything. I also have watched the first 10 minutes of Ugetsu and Sansho the Bailiff, been interrupted, and never continued either for whatever reason. It probably doesn't mean anything, but I've decided to let the fact color my remarks.


Ehh, it goes from being a pretty good whimsical adventure to being fantastic towards the end. Elaborate? I thought it lost a lot of its subversive elements once the wife is abandoned.


It's the way it goes about it though man, and the depth and nuance of emotion expressed in relation to loss of and rekindling of love. Understand. People I watched it with were all weepy at the end (for good reason). Guess that's just less interesting to me.

[transmogrifier]

Yeah, watching a director's worst film sounds like a much better idea.


Whatever. No-one's forcing you to participate.

[Qrazy]

But the current suggestion is that you pick your own director and your own favorite (under-appreciated) film from that director. That seems pretty personalized. I think it would be better to have no repeating directors, but it could go either way.

Any ideas?

Ah, the way it was initially phrased I thought people were picking the films for others. In this case I just don't really feel like rewatching something and reviewing it, I'd rather watch something I haven't seen.

In terms of ideas I still have a ton of noirs I haven't and want to see so I'd definitely be down for that one.

---

On an entirely unrelated note does anyone know where I can get good quality public domain films? I know archive.org hosts public domain films but I find their quality to be fairly poor on average. The issue with copyright laws is that films which have been remastered or improved upon in some way fall under new copyright laws so even if the film itself is public domain you can't use the new prints. So does anyone know where I can find good public domain prints?

[B-side]

Okay:
- a specific genre
- films of a certain director (but this could be anything, actor, cinematographer etc)
- revisit a childhood favourite you haven't seen in over ten years
- directorial debuts
- past Best Picture winners you haven't seen before
- movies that take place over the course of a day
- a film from Armond White's Top 10 lists from 1997-2006 (http://alumnus.caltech.edu/%7Eejohnson/critics/white.html) you haven't seen

More to come

I'm up for any of these.

[Qrazy]

Whatever. No-one's forcing you to participate.

The idea of purposely watching what I believe or know to be a bad film just doesn't appeal to me at all, but to each their own.

In terms of one of your other suggestions though I do like the idea of watching a film from a cinematographer we love but haven't seen one from before. It would also be cool if the reviews were particularly focused upon the cinematography.

I've been going through Conrad Hall and Gordon Willis's filmographies off and on for a few years now and have definitely found some great films as a result.

[Izzy Black]

Ah, the way it was initially phrased I thought people were picking the films for others. In this case I just don't really feel like rewatching something and reviewing it, I'd rather watch something I haven't seen.

In terms of ideas I still have a ton of noirs I haven't and want to see so I'd definitely be down for that one.


What about movies you haven't seen from certain directors? I'm not a big noir fan, myself.

[B-side]

No thanks on noirs, btw. That genre and I don't seem to get along all that well anymore.

[Qrazy]

What about movies you haven't seen from certain directors? I'm not a big noir fan, myself.

Sure, I'm a director completionist like a mofo, so in terms of the underseen category that certainly works for me.

[B-side]

In terms of one of your other suggestions though I do like the idea of watching a film from a cinematographer we love but haven't seen one from before. It would also be cool if the reviews were particularly focused upon the cinematography.

I've been going through Conrad Hall and Gordon Willis's filmographies off and on for a few years now and have definitely found some great films as a result.

+1 on this


I'm not a big noir fan, myself.

Thank you!

[transmogrifier]

I dig the premise. So the idea would be to have people pick their own director/film and review something they've already seen? That would likely garner more participation than a thread making people watch something.

I reckon whatever the category, the participants choose their own films. And they are free to choose ones they've never seen before or do rewatches. Whatever takes their fancy. There's nothing wrong with people writing more than one review, nor with double ups.

[Qrazy]

No thanks on noirs, btw. That genre and I don't seem to get along all that well anymore.

http://rlv.zcache.com/i_did_your_mom_tshirt-p235469863420586280z85ne_400.j pg

Oh wait no, I meant...

http://art.ngfiles.com/images/86/riki_you-re-not-doing-it-right.jpg

[transmogrifier]

In terms of one of your other suggestions though I do like the idea of watching a film from a cinematographer we love but haven't seen one from before. It would also be cool if the reviews were particularly focused upon the cinematography.

I think that should be the goal, even just as a writing exercise - judge the film in the context of the category of the thread, rather than just a generic "It was good/bad because" review.

One of the things I likes about the Reverse Shot idea was that the writers were asked to place the failed film in the context of the director's career and their auteurist tendencies.

[B-side]

Guy in the first picture looks to have about 14 stomach tumors considering the shape of his abdomen.

[baby doll]

I'd be down for doing anything where I can pick the film myself. That is to say if we choose a specific genre (film noir?), time period, country, film movement or what have you.How about African cinema?

[B-side]

How about African cinema?

Love it. Doubt it'd go over well, though.

[baby doll]

Love it. Doubt it'd go over well, though.Incidentally, La Noire de... was on YouTube last time I checked.

[MadMan]

All this talk about film swaps just reminds me I still owe Morris a review about Aliens. Don't worry MS, I'll get it done soon.

[B-side]

Incidentally, La Noire de... was on YouTube last time I checked.

Great film, that. Under an hour, if I recall.

[B-side]

As far as I can see, we've got 3 solid and agreeable ideas so far for themes:

-African cinema
-Underseen/Underrated film in a favorite director's catalogue
-Films shot by a certain cinematographer; reviews emphasizing cinematographic aspect

[Spinal]

All this talk about film swaps just reminds me I still owe Morris a review about Aliens. Don't worry MS, I'll get it done soon.

I feel like you could B.S. two paragraphs on Aliens right now if you really wanted to. Go on. Do it.

[Ezee E]

Might actually watch some movies this weekend.

The Skin I Live In
Bridesmaids
Unknown
Martha Marcy May Marlene...

Apparently, I'm a 2011 whore.

[Ezee E]

With that, I have a pass for one of my theaters, but there's absolute shit there.

Breaking Dawn
Immortals
Puss in Boots
J. Edgar
Tower Heist
In Time
Some others I can't think of, but I know I'll just sleep through or be bored.

Meh.

[Qrazy]

How about African cinema?

I'm down, I grabbed a bunch of African films a while back and only ended up watching about four. Yaaba was the best of the bunch, very good film.

[Qrazy]

As far as I can see, we've got 3 solid and agreeable ideas so far for themes:

-African cinema
-Underseen/Underrated film in a favorite director's catalogue
-Films shot by a certain cinematographer; reviews emphasizing cinematographic aspect

Just call a moratorium on ideas, start all three threads and people will show up or not show up accordingly. I would participate in all three of those and I'm looking to up my review quotient anyway.

[Izzy Black]

I like the cinematography idea as well. I'd also participate in an African cinema thread.

[B-side]

Just call a moratorium on ideas, start all three threads and people will show up or not show up accordingly. I would participate in all three of those and I'm looking to up my review quotient anyway.

I'd participate in all 3 myself, but let's let the majority decide what we do.

Come on, folks. Group participation is fun and encourages thoughtful discussion. Try something new. The more, the better.

[Qrazy]

I'd participate in all 3 myself, but let's let the majority decide what we do.

Come on, folks. Group participation is fun and encourages thoughtful discussion. Try something new. The more, the better.

No, jut let me decide because otherwise nothing will get done.

[B-side]

No, jut let me decide because otherwise nothing will get done.

Your aggressiveness turns me on.

[Qrazy]

Your aggressiveness turns me on.

I'd make an excellent Dicktator, but no one will give me my own Cuntry. :(

[B-side]

I'd make an excellent Dicktator, but no one will give me my own Cuntry. :(

+10 Pun Points

[Qrazy]

+10 Pun Points

Punning may be the lowest form of humor but I feel like if it's sex related then at least it... oh wait no the porno industry does that... fml.

[Qrazy]

It's been a while since we had one of these late night defacing Match-cut sprees B. The mods are going to wake up and not know what hit them. I'm off now to toilet paper the off topic thread. Muahaahaha!!!

[B-side]

:D

[Sven]

I do not anticipate any of the new threads having an active or sustained life. Brightside's event idea was better.

[Qrazy]

I do not anticipate any of the new threads having an active or sustained life. Brightside's event idea was better.

http://www.justjohnnywebster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/TheEvent.jpg

[Rowland]

Wait, so what now?

[Ezee E]

Wait, so what now?
Three threads have been made.

I don't foresee them getting 20 posts.

Combined.

[MadMan]

I feel like you could B.S. two paragraphs on Aliens right now if you really wanted to. Go on. Do it.It doesn't work like that for me. And I would want to do this right, not half-assed.

[Sven]

Just about to start Snake Eyes. K has never seen it. I predict she will "eh" it. I hope I am proven wrong.

[Derek]

It's been a while since we had one of these late night defacing Match-cut sprees B. The mods are going to wake up and not know what hit them. I'm off now to toilet paper the off topic thread. Muahaahaha!!!

Might I suggest a "Review Films Directed by Royalty" Thread for reviews of films directed by the former King of Cambodia?

[B-side]

Might I suggest a "Review Films Directed by Royalty" Thread for reviews of films directed by the former King of Cambodia?

The prints are all in bad shape.:cry:

[Sven]

Just about to start Snake Eyes. K has never seen it. I predict she will "eh" it. I hope I am proven wrong.

Hooray, she liked it! Though she did say it was ridiculous. Justifiable. I'm thinking Raising Cain next, even though she doesn't really take to horror.

[BuffaloWilder]

My theater's running a special presentation of Buckaroo Banzai tomorrow.

I get to meet John Lithgow and Peter Weller.

I'm so excited I might wee a little.

[Qrazy]

Might I suggest a "Review Films Directed by Royalty" Thread for reviews of films directed by the former King of Cambodia?

I've already wrote a novel about this, I feel like a thread would be overkill.

[Qrazy]

My theater's running a special presentation of Buckaroo Banzai tomorrow.

I get to meet John Lithgow and Peter Weller.

I'm so excited I might wee a little.

Peter Weller is still alive? *mind blown*

[Qrazy]

Monsieur Hire - Further evidence that the French are all a bunch of wankers.

[Raiders]

Monsieur Hire - Further evidence that the French are all a bunch of wankers.

Yeah... I love that film.

[Derek]

Patrice Leconte > Alexei German

[BuffaloWilder]

So, the screening was pretty awesome. Lithgow had to opt out for some kind of family thing, but Weller was there, and - man, he just seemed like he was in a rush to get out of there and away from the crowd of mouth breathers as fast as he could. He seemed pretty uncomfortable, to the point that it was funny to watch. Still, casual guy.

Even more interesting was who I ended up sitting directly in front of - I look behind me, and oh my god, it's Elvis Mitchell. After the screening we chatted for a bit in the lobby and I told him how listening to his podcast had kind of directly led to me writing about movies in the way that I do. Very, very cool guy. None of my coworkers knew who he was though, which was disappointing.

Then Robert Wilonsky bummed a smoke off of me in Starbucks, and I realized I needed to get back into writing proper again because this felt awesome.

[Spinal]

Today, I will be watching my first movie in over two months. Don't call it a comeback.

[Mara]

Today, I will be watching my first movie in over two months. Don't call it a comeback.

Remember to pee first and find a chair with good back support. This crap isn't for amateurs.

[Spinal]

Remember to pee first and find a chair with good back support. This crap isn't for amateurs.

Do they still run a cartoon and a news reel before the feature presentation?

[Kurosawa Fan]

Today, I will be watching my first movie in over two months. Don't call it a comeback.

What will it be?

[D_Davis]

I think we should do another collective thread; one where a bunch of us participate. One idea would be where we each pick a letter and review a film that begins with that letter. Might be difficult to get 26 participants, though. Maybe a few of us could pick multiple letters?

I'm down.

[MadMan]

If I met Peter Weller, I'd be that guy who would tell him that he was awesome in 24 instead of Robocop.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Powell and Pressburger's A Matter of Life and Death is amazing. Oh my Lord, what a beautiful, sweet and optimistic movie. Just...so much awesome. It's all about romance, sure, but it's also so much about those lost to World War II. "I love you June! You're life, and I'm leaving it." The visions of Heaven are stunning. The technicolor is gorgeous. The characters are effortlessly lovable. The trial at the end finds reconciliation between nations and people with such grace and ease.

Jesus, that's gotta be the best movie I've seen all year.

[Qrazy]

Patrice Leconte > Alexei German

Words do not suffice.

[Raiders]

Powell and Pressburger's A Matter of Life and Death is amazing. Oh my Lord, what a beautiful, sweet and optimistic movie. Just...so much awesome. It's all about romance, sure, but it's also so much about those lost to World War II. "I love you June! You're life, and I'm leaving it." The visions of Heaven are stunning. The technicolor is gorgeous. The characters are effortlessly lovable. The trial at the end finds reconciliation between nations and people with such grace and ease.

Jesus, that's gotta be the best movie I've seen all year.

I'd like to see this one again since it has been a long, long time. Speaking of P&P, I noticed that Netflix has A Canterbury Tale, the main blind spot from them I have really wanted to see.

[hey it's ethan]

Watched Salo for the first time with my roommates last night, which I'm glad I did as our constant joke-cracking eased the tension quite a bit. Afterwards though I wanted to curl into a ball and cry, as it wasn't necessarily any of the torture scenes themselves but just the film's depiction of evil that truly got under my skin.

Also, I was glad I got a little more background on Pasolini from the doc on the Blu-Ray, even though it was hosted by the humongous chode Mark Kermode.

[EyesWideOpen]

The Wiz was just as bad as I was led to believe. They really screwed up having Diana Ross as Dorothy. Completely unbelievable for the role and while she has a great voice her acting is horrendous.

[Derek]

Words do not suffice.

When they come from you, they usually don't. ;)


Everything worth a damn > Derek's opinions about film

:lol:

At least my opinions on other things have a chance of being worth a damn...

[Grouchy]

The French thriller The Prey is compulsively watchable. I had remembrances of '70s and '80s De Palma while watching it, and coming from me that's a huge compliment. It's just a pulpy action movie, but somehow a lot more mature and out there than a similar Hollywood product.

Pina 3D was a fantastic experience. Not being familiar or enthusiastic about the world of ballet and completely ignorant about contemporary dancing, I gotta say Wenders does a great job of getting the audience into the sauce of it.

Super 8 wasn't very good. At its core it's very similar to Cloverfield which I also disliked. Spielberg references galore and convincing child performances make this a better film, but Abrams just does some very questionable things with his characters. They are all a lot more heroic than they have any right to be considering the circumstances. Halfway through this I started to fondly remember The Host and wondered if Abrams had seen it.

[Qrazy]

When they come from you, they usually don't. ;)

Because my stoic gaze already communicates all? Good to know.




:lol:

At least my opinions on other things have a chance of being worth a damn...

I'm nothing if not even handed.

[MadMan]

I actually like Super 8 more than either The Host or Cloverfield...

Silver Streak (1976) is a really entertaining and funny 70s style comedy/thriller. Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor are great together here-I would like to see the other movies where they are paired up, since they play off of each other's comedic styles very well. The bathroom scene with Wilder is one of the funnier moments I've viewed in quite some time.

[Qrazy]

I actually like Super 8 more than either The Host or Cloverfield...

Silver Streak (1976) is a really entertaining and funny 70s style comedy/thriller. Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor are great together here-I would like to see the other movies where they are paired up, since they play off of each other's comedic styles very well. The bathroom scene with Wilder is one of the funnier moments I've viewed in quite some time.

I recently watched Stir Crazy, it wasn't very good.

[Qrazy]

The final twist in Nine Queens seemed kind of absurd to me and greatly diminished what was otherwise a pretty enjoyable film.

[Yxklyx]

The final twist in Nine Queens seemed kind of absurd to me and greatly diminished what was otherwise a pretty enjoyable film.

Speaking of Argentine directors, I just watched The Method from 2005. Kind of like 12 Angry Men crossed with Survivor with 7 executive job candidates in a room while IMF riots are being held outside. Very enjoyable and thought provoking.

I remember not being let down by the ending of Nine Queens.

[MadMan]

Tokyo Drifter (1966) is raw, energetic, a bit strange and a really great gangster thriller that doesn't quite follow normal convention. Although at the time its main storyline (gangster tries to go straight, rivals gangs try to either bring him back or kill him) was less cliche in the 1960s. Love this film's brilliant use of color and Japanese cheesy pop music.

X-Men First Class (2011) was pretty good, and I actually like it better than any of the previous X-Men movies. Yes, even over X2. Despite some really silly moments (I guess even superhero movies need to have montages) there were plenty of great or entertaining scenes that made up for those. The younger cast wasn't as strong as the older bunch, although Jennifer Lawrence continues to impress me in terms of what passes for younger actresses being good these days.

Not enough Kevin Bacon, or maybe too much Kevin Bacon. Can't decide which was true. I'm game for a sequel, although I'm not sure if it will happen or not due to this film's weak box office returns.

[dreamdead]

First film in two weeks was Tangled, which was enjoyable fare. I'm surprised the filmmakers didn't explore the surrogate mother relationship more, or the ramifications of her demise, but it was a pleasant surprise after the initial icky trailers. Thanks to all who promoted it on the board...

[Li Lili]

Tokyo Drifter (1966) is raw, energetic, a bit strange and a really great gangster thriller that doesn't quite follow normal convention. Although at the time its main storyline (gangster tries to go straight, rivals gangs try to either bring him back or kill him) was less cliche in the 1960s. Love this film's brilliant use of color and Japanese cheesy pop music.
I like very much this film too.

[Grouchy]

The final twist in Nine Queens seemed kind of absurd to me and greatly diminished what was otherwise a pretty enjoyable film.
It's a typical twist for this type of film, and it's even fairly predictable, but I think the fact that the script focuses so much on the developing relationship between the two characters automatically makes it more relevant than the same twist in, I dunno, Matchstick Men. It's a good movie. I was always sad the director died so young.

First Class better than X2? Crazy talk.

[Qrazy]

It's a typical twist for this type of film, and it's even fairly predictable, but I think the fact that the script focuses so much on the developing relationship between the two characters automatically makes it more relevant than the same twist in, I dunno, Matchstick Men. It's a good movie. I was always sad the director died so young.

First Class better than X2? Crazy talk.

It makes the entire film even from the get go extremely far fetched in my opinion. For instance their initial meeting at that corner store? If the other guy is the mark I think his actions with the fake gun are a bit hard to believe. And this incredibility rains down through many of his choices throughout the course of the film. Also the film itself strives too hard towards misdirection at times. For instance the presentation of the kid meeting with his father in jail followed by the packing the money into the bag. And the inability to cash the registered check??

But yes, the final twist in Matchstick Men is just awful crap.

[Morris Schæffer]

I actually like Super 8 more than either The Host or Cloverfield...

Silver Streak (1976) is a really entertaining and funny 70s style comedy/thriller. Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor are great together here-I would like to see the other movies where they are paired up, since they play off of each other's comedic styles very well. The bathroom scene with Wilder is one of the funnier moments I've viewed in quite some time.

Heh yeah, I've also seen this quite a few times, but that's partly due to my fascination with trains. The ending is actually surprisingly spectacular although the damage in real life would have been far more catastrophic.

:)

[MadMan]

Heh yeah, I've also seen this quite a few times, but that's partly due to my fascination with trains. The ending is actually surprisingly spectacular although the damage in real life would have been far more catastrophic.

:)Heh, yeah that's true. The movie works in typical outlandish thriller movie fashion, with comedy thrown in. I don't mind that, because it even admits how silly the overall premise is.


First Class better than X2? Crazy talk.Sure I'll have to revisit X2, but I recall it being very good. The two get the same star rating anyways, and are only five points apart at this moment, bearing a second viewing of X2. I'm not sure why people thought it was the best superhero movie of all time when Spiderman 2 is better, not to mention The Dark Knight.

All this may or may not stem from the fact that I like Batman: TAS, Spiderman TAS, and X-Men TAS better than most of the live action movies that were made for those respective franchises.

Oh and I wonder if the Donner cut of Superman II is really as good as they say, cause I saw the theatrical regular cut and thought it was merely solid at best. But hey I don't really like Superman, although I keep watching his movies, I guess-I enjoyed Superman Returns.


I like very much this film too.Cool.

[Grouchy]

All this may or may not stem from the fact that I like Batman: TAS, Spiderman TAS, and X-Men TAS better than most of the live action movies that were made for those respective franchises.
Absolutely no argument here.

Qrazy, I should rewatch the film to argue thoroughly about it, but I remember the bit about the toy gun and I agree that it's far fetched to assume a person will act out exactly like DarÃ*n did in the scene. However almost all con man films I've seen in my life cause that same reaction from me. I almost consider it a genre trope.

[B-side]

For Criterion Consideration. (http://vimeo.com/criterionconsideration) Criterion Cast people put together video essays arguing for Criterion to release films. I already see a few on here that could definitely use a proper release.

[Watashi]

Yo LA peeps, Edgar Wright is hosting a week full of movies he hasn't seen at the New Beverly (http://www.edgarwrighthere.com/2011/11/22/the-wright-stuff-iii-movies-edgar-has-never-seen/). I'm definitely going to the Umbrellas of Cherbourg/Chungking Express double feature. May go to the Ford/Peckinpah one as well.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Yo LA peeps, Edgar Wright is hosting a week full of movies he hasn't seen at the New Beverly (http://www.edgarwrighthere.com/2011/11/22/the-wright-stuff-iii-movies-edgar-has-never-seen/). I'm definitely going to the Umbrellas of Cherbourg/Chungking Express double feature. May go to the Ford/Peckinpah one as well.

Excellent! I won't be able to see Umbrellas, since it falls on a Monday (stupid work is stupid), but I'm tempted to grab tickets for the Keaton/Chaplin/Fields marathon.

[MadMan]

For Criterion Consideration. (http://vimeo.com/criterionconsideration) Criterion Cast people put together video essays arguing for Criterion to release films. I already see a few on here that could definitely use a proper release.I can't remember if The Limey (1999) is on Criterion, but if it isn't it should be. I would love to see "Strange Behavior" or "Raw Meat" get Criterions, just because I'm a proponent of more horror movies and neither one has a really good DVD release, much less a Blu Ray release either. I'm trying to think of a few others-Drive would be a cool one, but its too new and that would be too obvious of a choice. Is there any Bava on Criterion or Argento? Cause those guys made movies worthy of being selected. You know what would be really amazing? If some company, Criterion, Arthouse, whatever, would re-release all of the Hammer Studios Dracula and Frankenstein movies on DVD/Blu Ray, remastered. That would rule, hard.

[Ezee E]

Attack the Block on the way in. Excited for that one.

Think I'll save Hugo for the weekend and check out Melancholia tomorrow afternoon.

My Week With Marilyn seems like its worth a shot too.

Good movie weekend lined up.

[Boner M]

I've got a huge list of year-end screenings over the next few weeks (before I head to Papua New Guinea for a 4-week holiday): War Horse tomorrow, then Tintin, The Iron Lady, Hugo, Restless... and Jack & Jill.

I'm also interviewing Almodovar over the phone next week. Exciting times.

[Bosco B Thug]

Suddenly all these movies I want to see... Melancholia, Hugo, The Muppets, and Happy Feet Two again.

The children's fare will probably rub out the chance of me seeing serious stuff that I'm mildly, morbidly curious about, but not enough: Martha Marcy May Marlene, A Dangerous Method, and J. Edgar.

[Rowland]

and Happy Feet Two again.Gotta say, I was a bit shocked by your score for this, since an 8 is damn high by your standards, but it's a pleasant sort of surprise. The conformity of consensus over many films can be a drag, so I always take pleasure in wildly divergent responses from those whose views I hold in high esteem, which also gives me the courage to trust my own instincts when my reaction to any given film deviates dramatically from the norm.

[Bosco B Thug]

Gotta say, I was a bit shocked by your score for this, since an 8 is damn high by your standards, but it's a pleasant sort of surprise. The conformity of consensus over many films can be a drag, so I always take pleasure in wildly divergent responses from those whose views I hold in high esteem, which also gives me the courage to trust my own instincts when my reaction to any given film deviates dramatically from the norm. I can honestly say I've never been so baffled by a critical response to a film before. I'm particularly taken aback that I've found no reprieve from sources I trust, what with everyone from Slant to Ignatiy Vishnevetsky completely missing the boat. But totally, it's not a shocking occurrence that mediocre films get a pass when something with a modicum of ambition or daring gets its flaws focused on... (which doesn't really apply to HF2, cuz I don't even agree about any of its alleged "major flaws"... but that's beside the point...).

EDIT: In any case, I do think HF2 is just that good (unless you hated HF1), and people here seem to agree with me.

[transmogrifier]

I felt the same thing about the first Happy Feet, which I found insufferable and headache-inducing, but most others seemed to love.

[Rowland]

Excerpts (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSqnFxVaIx4&feature=youtu.be) from Arnold and John Milius' commentary for Conan the Barbarian.

:lol::lol:

[Dukefrukem]

This really is the best DVD Commentary ever.

ncR2_pnzngM

[NickGlass]

Attack the Block on the way in. Excited for that one.

Think I'll save Hugo for the weekend and check out Melancholia tomorrow afternoon.

My Week With Marilyn seems like its worth a shot too.

Good movie weekend lined up.

My Week with Marilyn is horrible. It's both lightweight and heavy-handed--like a TV movie with prettier cinematography. Williams tries her best, but the source material fails her; the film is constructed on the concept of an assistant director's sprecious, self-aggrandizing memoir. More like My Week with a Boner.

[Raiders]

More like My Week with a Boner.

'Tis true... I imagine he's an ass in person.

[BuffaloWilder]

I can honestly say I've never been so baffled by a critical response to a film before. I'm particularly taken aback that I've found no reprieve from sources I trust, what with everyone from Slant to Ignatiy Vishnevetsky completely missing the boat. But totally, it's not a shocking occurrence that mediocre films get a pass when something with a modicum of ambition or daring gets its flaws focused on... (which doesn't really apply to HF2, cuz I don't even agree about any of its alleged "major flaws"... but that's beside the point...).

EDIT: In any case, I do think HF2 is just that good (unless you hated HF1), and people here seem to agree with me.

Yeah, it's confusing. I mean, one of the bigger complaints is "we've seen it all before, and it's the same as the last one." Well, no - I mean, there's not all that many dance sequences, there's a more impending sense of dread with the iceberg trapping the colony, there's a larger emphasis on out-and-out large scale action sequences with the skua scene and elephant seal rescue, and Mumble's kid's journey isn't even about "finding himself," after all. And then we get to see all of this through basically a worm's eye view with the krill, giving it a whole other dimension.

And strangely enough, mention of death is far more prevalent. Not just with the colony stuff, but with the elephant seal's brutal fall into the cliffs, or Mumble and his kid's argument up top the trapped colony about their fate, or even the confrontation with the elephant seal where he takes on the seal's way of thinking, saying that he "should've left him in that hole!"

It's very much the "Pig In the City" to the first film's "Babe," I think. I do believe the critics will come around, after a while. This is just the initial backlash.

[Sven]

Watched both Iron Man 2 and Sherlock Holmes yesterday. Both films define polished, expensive mediocrity, except in moments when they dip into embarrassing. Downey Jr.'s nu-schtick is already starting to feel floppy.

[Spun Lepton]

This really is the best DVD Commentary ever.

ncR2_pnzngM

DIS IZ ME POSTING TO MATCH-CUT, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE I AM TYPING DEH WEURDZ, "DIS IZ ME POSTING TO MATCH-CUT, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE I AM TYPING DEH WEURDZ, "DIS IZ ME POSTING TO MATCH-CUT, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE I AM TYPING DEH WEURDZ,"' UH.

AND HERE IS ME REPEATING MY POST BECAUSE ...

[Bosco B Thug]

I felt the same thing about the first Happy Feet, which I found insufferable and headache-inducing, but most others seemed to love. "Glee penguins" has become my better-judgment's favorite descriptor for the films.


Yeah, it's confusing. I mean, one of the bigger complaints is "we've seen it all before, and it's the same as the last one." Well, no - I mean, there's not all that many dance sequences, there's a more impending sense of dread with the iceberg trapping the colony, there's a larger emphasis on out-and-out large scale action sequences with the skua scene and elephant seal rescue, and Mumble's kid's journey isn't even about "finding himself," after all. And then we get to see all of this through basically a worm's eye view with the krill, giving it a whole other dimension.

And strangely enough, mention of death is far more prevalent. Not just with the colony stuff, but with the elephant seal's brutal fall into the cliffs, or Mumble and his kid's argument up top the trapped colony about their fate, or even the confrontation with the elephant seal where he takes on the seal's way of thinking, saying that he "should've left him in that hole!"

It's very much the "Pig In the City" to the first film's "Babe," I think. I do believe the critics will come around, after a while. This is just the initial backlash. One can only hope. Agreed on everything - it's a weighty, serious movie, as the first one was.

[Qrazy]

This really is the best DVD Commentary ever.

ncR2_pnzngM

This man was a governor.

[Derek]

This man was a governor.

That was the exact thing running through my head as well, unfortunately with the addition of "of the state I live in".

[MadMan]

Excerpts (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSqnFxVaIx4&feature=youtu.be) from Arnold and John Milius' commentary for Conan the Barbarian.

:lol::lol:Utterly hilarious. Its no Kurt Russell-John Carpenter The Thing commentary, though.

[BuffaloWilder]

One can only hope. Agreed on everything - it's a weighty, serious movie, as the first one was.

Give it a bit of time, they'll get around to it eventually. With films like this, and it's predecessor "Pig In the City" is another good example here, they always do in some measure or another.

On the plus side, however, it's actually still a pretty serious contender for Warner Bros., at the Oscars and BAFTAs.

At the BAFTA's, it's surprisingly being put up for consideration in everything from "Best Film" to "Best Director" and "Best Cinematography," right alongside Eastwood's J. Edgar, which received similarly mixed reviews. I'm intrigued to see how this pans out.

[Ezee E]

It's a great commentary for those people that are like, "What's happening? Oh..."

[Izzy Black]

DIS IZ ME POSTING TO MATCH-CUT, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE I AM TYPING DEH WEURDZ, "DIS IZ ME POSTING TO MATCH-CUT, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE I AM TYPING DEH WEURDZ, "DIS IZ ME POSTING TO MATCH-CUT, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE I AM TYPING DEH WEURDZ,"' UH.

AND HERE IS ME REPEATING MY POST BECAUSE ...

ahhhaha

[MadMan]

J. Edgar (2011) sports a fine cast, all of who do a great job, and it is well shot and finely directed. However I must confess that Eastwood doesn't bother to go too deeply into who he was, and is content to just showcase events and Edgar's paranoia, letting the viewer have a final say about the man. Needless to say, he was an asshole, but he also gave turned the FBI into a modernized unit, for better and for worse. If Leo doesn't get some attention come Oscar time that would a shame, considering his excellent performance.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) is a really entertaining movie. I liked how it captured the feel of the 1940s period, and it was good solid fun. Chris Evans got the role down pretty well, and I was surprised at who turned up in certain roles throughout the movie, also. Hopefully we get more Red Skull in the future-Hugo Weaving made for an awesome, sneering villain.

I'll admit it had the effect of making me more excited for The Avengers movie, which doesn't come out until next year.

[Spinal]

I just came across the IMDb keyword "mismatched bra and panties".

Who is cataloging this stuff?

[kuehnepips]

Who is cataloging this stuff?

number8.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Who is cataloging this stuff?

I don't know about this, but I'd be willing to bet that Empire Records has that keyword attached.

[Sven]

Paused thirty minutes into Thor for a bathroom break and I'm seriously considering not unpausing. It's terrible.

[MadMan]

I liked Thor, but it was my kind of superhero movie.


All That Heaven Allows (1955) - **1/2I'd give it ***, but I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who didn't find it great. The Criterion essay I read made it seem like a masterpiece, but I just couldn't completely overlook its cheesy soap opera type storyline. Great visuals, good direction and fine performances, but I really wish that Sirk had not been limited by the studio.

[Spinal]

Paused thirty minutes into Thor for a bathroom break and I'm seriously considering not unpausing. It's terrible.

Metamucil?

[MadMan]

Equinox (1970) defines not only logic and explanation, but also ratings. I'm not even sure what to think about it, really. Utterly crazy, outlandish movie that is part horror film, part dark nightmarish fantasy, but in the end perhaps its best summed up as a bizarre weird journey into utter insanity.

Plus those stop motion monsters were really cool.

I'm continuing to go through my DVR so that I finally may have space for more movies. After all, Ivan The Terrible Parts I and II are on Sunday night on TCM.

[B-side]

Harvey (1950) - ****

It really is quite enjoyable. Jimmy Stewart is charisma.


All That Heaven Allows (1955) - **1/2

Bah.

[Watashi]

Metamucil?

:lol:

[Sven]

I do agree that bowel movements are a more interesting topic than that movie.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Bah.

At this point, I'm pretty sure Sirk really isn't for me. His melodramatic style carries no emotional weight, and this one felt so entirely anticlimactic. It seemed to rush to a predictable conclusion, almost as if the story was as sick of itself as I was. It's absolutely gorgeous, and has some great moments, but it fell flat in the end.

[MadMan]

All That Heaven Allows' ending didn't completely suck, as there's something interesting in that final shot, but it certainly wasn't good. Had the goddamn studio not forced Sirk to end it the way the movie ended, the film would have been great, but at the same time I recognize that in some sly way perhaps he didn't completely give the studio and audiences what they wanted or expected.

[Bosco B Thug]

Glad to see from the Disney Consensus thread that people here appreciate Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It's a fine film, and goes to show that you can make engaging, stimulating, fun children's entertainment that is actually harmless. I felt Miyazaki vibes instead of Disney vibes.

[Russ]

I'm not sure if this will be of much interest around here, but I recently saw these three Guy Maddin shorts from 2009.

Danger, Will Robinson: this is Maddin in XXX gay porn mode. Proceed with due caution, if you must.

Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair - no porn here, just Isabella Rosselini as the one in the chair. Still, pretty crazy and funny stuff. **½

The Little White Cloud That Cried - Maddin's tribute to Jack Smith's Flaming Creatures is a very bold phantasmagoria that's very much in the spirit of Smith's underground classic. If you can make it past the all the transsexual porn (and that's a mighty big if) you'll discover one of Maddin's most inspired (not to mention best) creations. ****

Glorious - Sexy gangsters with very challenged shoes, and their deranged ghost of a father -- who likes to...aw hell, Guy, why don't you just go see a damn therapist already? *½

[B-side]

The Little White Cloud That Cried - Maddin's tribute to Jack Smith's Flaming Creatures is a very bold phantasmagoria that's very much in the spirit of Smith's underground classic. If you can make it past the all the transsexual porn (and that's a mighty big if) you'll discover one of Maddin's most inspired (not to mention best) creations. ****

Yup. This one's real good. Haven't seen Flaming Creatures yet due to the crappy print, but I'll probably have to give in.

[Izzy Black]

Been revisiting the films of Abel Ferrara lately. I recently watched The Funeral and New Rose Hotel, and I'm set to watch The Addiction again soon.

Ferrara has made an interesting career of examining Christian ethics, existentialism, and moral philosophy, and never are these themes more blatant than they are in The Funeral. This is perhaps why I am slightly partial to New Rose Hotel. I think Ferrara tends to be at his best when the Christian symbolism and references are at a minimum, and where subtlety is at the forefront, this allows him to engage these moral themes from a more objective, almost secular point-of-view. For example, Christopher Walken's character in New Rose Hotel claims he was interested in questions of "virtue" and the "examined life" prior to to his seedy career in corporate espionage, but has long since given that interest up in favor of living for that "edge." This contrast between the moral life and "the edge" is reflected on throughout the film in largely subtle strokes. Unlike in Bad Lieutenant, where the "edge" is entirely unattractive and abominable, Walken's character seems to have more confidence and a better handle on his lifestyle than Keitel's character, as he actively and consciously engages with his chosen role in life, even if only at arms-length. It's also never blatantly suggested - in the end - that he lived an unfulfilled life, as it is for Defoe's character, or Keitel's character in Lieutenant.

The Funeral on the other hand is in many ways Bad Lieutenant in different clothes. The difference in the end is that Walken doesn't make the sacrifice that Keitel's character does in BL. And, presumably, he pays the price for it (in traditional Judeo-Christian style justice). It's perhaps a better constructed film in terms of style and tone than New Rose Hotel, in fact it's a wonderful exercise in atmosphere and mood, but the overt theism is slightly less appealing here than the subtle gestures of New Rose Hotel, which, I think, is a slightly more philosophical treatment of Christian morality (by side-stepping the issue of justice altogether).

[Dead & Messed Up]

Fantastic Planet (1973) is a deceptively magnificent little film, a fable-like sci-fi story that's overstuffed with imagination and not short on deeper themes. The story deals with the conflict between gigantic blue humanoids called Traags and vermin called "Oms"...who just happen to be human beings abducted from a strange world called Terr. Although the movie deals with the escalating tension between the Traags and Oms, most of what I saw was unhinged monster-making and world-building. The designers of the film always seem two steps removed from an understandable reality. An alien "spring" consists of crystals blooming from the dust, and bat-like predators attack the refugee Oms with head-wings and toad-like tongues.

http://shewalkssoftly.files.wordpress .com/2010/05/fantasticplanet7.jpg
The thing in the cage tricks alien-birds into think its nose is a branch, and then it shakes them dead and throws them to the ground. Why? Because it's weird, that's why.

This isn't to sell the film's ideas short. The fight with the omnipresent Traags carries obvious totalitarian similarities, with them seeing the Oms more as a nuisance than worthwhile enemies, and given the film's Czech origins, there's likely some fear of Cold War Russia invading the film. At the least, the connection to real-world genocides makes the casual extermination at the end of the film much more horrifying. I kept wanting to shout "The Oms are people! Stop killing them!" Oddly, the Oms, who learn Traag language under the guidance of the main hero (also named Terr), never think that direct communication with the Traags is a viable option. Of course, if somebody's lived their life with a boot eternally stamping on their face, why would they expect mercy?

A-

PS: I gotta think that this film inspired the rows and rows of pale faces in Dark City. Both images refer to distant aliens who consider themselves superior to the rodent-like humans scurrying around.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews33/a%20fantastic%20planet/r1%20fantastic%20planet%20PDVD _010.jpg

http://neatnik2009.files.wordpress.co m/2010/11/dark-city-11.jpg

PS 2: For those of you who've seen this movie, Chris Justice at Senses of Cinema (http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2005/cteq/fantastic_planet/) has a thoughtful breakdown of the film's politics and style.

[Sven]

It's no wonder I don't get excited about watching movies anymore. Over the past few days, I've been catching up on superhero movies (and a few similar ones in between) and it's been such a slog. This is how it breaks down:

The Incredible Hulk
<--------------- good movie
Lethal Weapon
Iron Man 2
Captain America
Sherlock Holmes
<-------------- unwatchably bad movie
The Island
Thor

But I did also rewatch Seven Samurai, a film with nearly enough greatness to make up for the slough of detritus through which I've been wading.

[B-side]

Been revisiting the films of Abel Ferrara lately. I recently watched The Funeral and New Rose Hotel, and I'm set to watch The Addiction again soon.

Ferrara has made an interesting career of examining Christian ethics, existentialism, and moral philosophy, and never are these themes more blatant than they are in The Funeral. This is perhaps why I am slightly partial to New Rose Hotel. I think Ferrara tends to be at his best when the Christian symbolism and references are at a minimum, and where subtlety is at the forefront, this allows him to engage these moral themes from a more objective, almost secular point-of-view. For example, Christopher Walken's character in New Rose Hotel claims he was interested in questions of "virtue" and the "examined life" prior to to his seedy career in corporate espionage, but has long since given that interest up in favor of living for that "edge." This contrast between the moral life and "the edge" is reflected on throughout the film in largely subtle strokes. Unlike in Bad Lieutenant, where the "edge" is entirely unattractive and abominable, Walken's character seems to have more confidence and a better handle on his lifestyle than Keitel's character, as he actively and consciously engages with his chosen role in life, even if only at arms-length. It's also never blatantly suggested - in the end - that he lived an unfulfilled life, as it is for Defoe's character, or Keitel's character in Lieutenant.

The Funeral on the other hand is in many ways Bad Lieutenant in different clothes. The difference in the end is that Walken doesn't make the sacrifice that Keitel's character does in BL. And, presumably, he pays the price for it (in traditional Judeo-Christian style justice). It's perhaps a better constructed film in terms of style and tone than New Rose Hotel, in fact it's a wonderful exercise in atmosphere and mood, but the overt theism is slightly less appealing here than the subtle gestures of New Rose Hotel, which, I think, is a slightly more philosophical treatment of Christian morality (by side-stepping the issue of justice altogether).

Always nice to see someone else enjoying Ferrara's work. I knew you were a fan, but it's cool to see him discussed at any length. I wasn't all that taken with The Funeral, actually. Definitely one of my least favorite Ferrara's, along with King of New York and The Blackout. The latter two strike me as more formally ambitious and interesting, but not entirely successful. Their themes and ideas elevate them. I enjoyed New Rose Hotel more than any of them.

[Watashi]

It's no wonder I don't get excited about watching movies anymore. Over the past few days, I've been catching up on superhero movies (and a few similar ones in between) and it's been such a slog. This is how it breaks down:

The Incredible Hulk
<--------------- good movie
Lethal Weapon
Iron Man 2
Captain America
Sherlock Holmes
<-------------- unwatchably bad movie
The Island
Thor

But I did also rewatch Seven Samurai, a film with nearly enough greatness to make up for the slough of detritus through which I've been wading.
Dude. The Hulk remake is one of the worst superhero movies out there.

[B-side]

Humanité. Subtle, sexual suggestion in everyday activity. A 2 and a half hour plea for an answer with a suspect as a protagonist. His big, sad eyes illuminated with childlike innocence, and yet those same eyes linger in a slyly suggestive fashion. The ending hardly solves anything, but says everything. Great film.

[Rowland]

I'm rewatching the Harry Potter series with my girlfriend as she reads through the novels (she's a bit behind the times), and so revisited Cuarón's Prisoner of Azkaban for the first time since the theater. The dramatic shift in cinematic sensibilities from the Columbus adaptations is as striking and satisfying now as it was then, but because of this remarkably improved formal texture and all-around jazzier vibe, the jagged, contrived plotting (still arguably an improvement over the book in many respects) and sometimes-dopey action/slapstick set pieces are rendered in an even harsher contrast. The first two movies had their fair share of lame crap, but nothing felt as out of place as the Knight Bus sequence that was significantly expanded upon by Cuarón for this film, which I appreciate in theory for the spirit of imbuing the text with eccentric embellishments, but in practice this set piece is a dreadfully unfunny waste of time that could have been better spent fleshing out certain characters/conflicts/what have you later in the film. Other curious embellishments clash throughout, including a choir singing the witches' incantation from Macbeth upon the students arriving to Hogwarts, which is an awfully clever and macabre touch, but makes absolutely no sense and proves merely distracting in its implementation, whereas other such idiosyncrasies like the whomping willow being used as both a visual motif to signify the passing of time and as a particularly morbid source of black humor (squash those chirping birds!) work beautifully.

[Sven]

Dude. The Hulk remake is one of the worst superhero movies out there.

It's a Marvel monster movie; Hulk isn't a superhero. That's splitting words though, I know what you mean. Still, it's made with succinct craft, well-directed and economical. Not great, as the titanic clash at the end was too boring, and Norton's Banner is too bare-bones, reducing the film's function to mere plot. It's not about much (as opposed to the Lee film, which is definitely better), but it's excitingly told.

Pitting it against other Marvel movies like Iron Man 2 (which is about CG and personality cult) and Thor (I can't think of a more poorly mounted movie with the same budget), it's tremendously more satisfying as cinema. The visual structure reveals thematic connectivity, the action is kinetic and coherent, it's paced nicely--nothing plods. The supporting cast helps.

[Rowland]

Hmm, maybe I'll rent The Incredible Hulk someday. I was a strong supporter of Leterrier's work in his Transporter movies and Unleashed, but avoided Hulk due to the toxic word of mouth.

[Sven]

Hmm, maybe I'll rent The Incredible Hulk someday. I was a strong supporter of Leterrier's work in his Transporter movies and Unleashed, but avoided Hulk due to the toxic word of mouth.

My experience is the exact opposite. The films you mention were all limp and ridiculous to me. I avoided Hulk for the same reasons, but am definitely glad I saw it. The best part about it is the direction, which makes me want to reappraise the aforementioned.

[transmogrifier]

I can't imagine rewatching the Harry Potter films. Life's short, you know?

It took me 6 films to realise I was wasting my time. I'm a slow learner, though.

[MadMan]

While I have not viewed the last one split into two parts and with the exception of the forth one (which I thought was still good, btw) the Harry Potter movies get better as the series goes along.

And this is coming from someone who doesn't overly love the series. I have yet to give any of them a 90, even. My favorite is still Prisoner of Azkaban.

The Incredible Hulk was a pretty solid film, although granted I haven't seen the Eric Banna Hulk yet. Its not better than the Iron Man movies, Thor, or even Captain America, though. I'd say that the best superhero movie this year is X-Men First Class, and I doubt that Super or Green Lantern or The Green Hornet is better.

Avengers and TDKR will be better than any superhero movie that was released this year, anyways.

[Rowland]

It took me 6 films to realise I was wasting my time. I'm a slow learner, though.Burn!

I like some of them quite a bit, and since I've read the books and my girlfriend is reading them now, we watch the films together and chat about what does and doesn't work about them as both adaptations and separate entities. It's pleasantly spent "us" time. *shrug*

[Watashi]

Trans will be single forever.

[Mara]

Burn!

I like some of them quite a bit, and since I've read the books and my girlfriend is reading them now, we watch the films together and chat about what does and doesn't work about them as both adaptations and separate entities. It's pleasantly spent "us" time. *shrug*

You're right. Totally sounds fun.

[MadMan]

Trans will be single forever.Forever alone....





.....no I'm not posting that Internet meme. We have Brightside here to do that :P

[transmogrifier]

Trans will be single forever.

Better let my wife know. She needs to make arrangements.

Last thing my wife and I watched together was Breaking Bad Seasons 1 to 4. She rocks.

Oh wait, we watched Transformers 3 together. But just focus on the Breaking Bad part.

[Spinal]

Oh wait, we watched Transformers 3 together.

Just three more films until you realize you're wasting your time!

[Russ]

This blog (http://christophecourtois.blogspot.co m/search/label/affiche) puts forth pretty a pretty convicing argument as to why most modern movie posters SUCK.

[EyesWideOpen]

I quite liked Incredible Hulk. It's far better then the original Hulk and Iron Man 2 and I'd put it on even footing with Thor.

[transmogrifier]

Just three more films until you realize you're wasting your time!

Well, to be fair, I slept through the second half of T2, and parts of T1, so the fact that this one was the first one that kept me awake is a bonus.

With the Harry Potter movies, I was waiting for a point where the deus ex machinas disappeared and the genuine emotional core kicked in (while appreciating the fact that some of the most amazing actors appeared for one or two minutes at a time every now and then), but it never happened.