28 Film Discussion Threads Later [Archive] - Page 59

Rowland

06-09-2008, 02:00 AM

Black Book was okay. Dunno why this comes so highly praised. Feel like it might have something to do with Ms. Carice van Houten and her propensity towards removing her clothes but really, an attractive woman frequently naked in a motion picture, why is that a good thing?I didn't get what the big deal was all about either. It was generally engaging, and some of the cheekier moments gave me a chuckle, but it seems to be teetering between Verhoeven's proclivities towards pop-tinged provocation and his seeming desire for a more outwardly respectable acceptance that struck me as moderately unsatisfying, and the last twenty minutes or so are a drag that is either too preposterous or not preposterous enough. The last shot is audacious, but it doesn't feel earned. In any case, it has nothing on Robocop, which I'd probably argue as the man's masterpiece.

Spinal

06-09-2008, 02:07 AM

.... an attractive woman frequently naked in a motion picture; why is that a good thing?

Everybody wants nudity. That's why it's called nudity.

Winston*

06-09-2008, 02:11 AM

Everybody wants nudity. That's why it's called nudity.I don't understand. You like seeing nudity in a cinematic prodction? As in the prospect of the presence of nudity being something that would potentially interest you?

Qrazy

06-09-2008, 02:25 AM

I didn't get what the big deal was all about either. It was generally engaging, and some of the cheekier moments gave me a chuckle, but it seems to be teetering between Verhoeven's proclivities towards pop-tinged provocation and his seeming desire for a more outwardly respectable acceptance that struck me as moderately unsatisfying, and the last twenty minutes or so are a drag that is either too preposterous or not preposterous enough. The last shot is audacious, but it doesn't feel earned. In any case, it has nothing on Robocop, which I'd probably argue as the man's masterpiece.

Turkish Delight and Soldier of Orange are both significantly better than Robocop.

Raiders

06-09-2008, 02:27 AM

Zhang Yimou certainly likes his colors and set design. Curse of the Golden Flower is so garish it is ugly... but wait, that's the point! All this decadence is meant to hide the real corruption and moral decay of the royal family. Fine, it's an OK concept, and the film's Greek tragedy-inspired plot is all soap and suds (seriously, I'm pretty sure "General Hospital" has had a storyline just like this). But, the wu xia requirements here feel unnecessary and tacked on and distract from the histrionics. The finale, a massive battle of ids, has thousands of men dying, but feels smaller and less epic than one frame of Hero. A very entertaining affair, but one that is so overblown I was laughing by the end at the constipated characters' attempts at emotion in the face of such bombast.

Qrazy

06-09-2008, 02:34 AM

When Worlds Collide was pretty sucky. I didn't get much out of the experience. Just a collection of uninteresting characters doing a collection of uninteresting things in preparation for doomsday. There aren't really any stand out scenes, performances or even shots... one shot of tankers in a flooded city was alright I suppose. I do still want to see DOA.

Rowland

06-09-2008, 02:39 AM

Turkish Delight and Soldier of Orange are both significantly better than Robocop.Respectfully disagree and such.

Zhang Yimou certainly likes his colors and set design. Curse of the Golden Flower is so garish it is ugly... but wait, that's the point! All this decadence is meant to hide the real corruption and moral decay of the royal family. Fine, it's an OK concept, and the film's Greek tragedy-inspired plot is all soap and suds (seriously, I'm pretty sure "General Hospital" has had a storyline just like this). But, the wu xia requirements here feel unnecessary and tacked on and distract from the histrionics. The finale, a massive battle of ids, has thousands of men dying, but feels smaller and less epic than one frame of Hero. A very entertaining affair, but one that is so overblown I was laughing by the end at the constipated characters' attempts at emotion in the face of such bombast.*thumbs up*

monolith94

06-09-2008, 03:26 AM

Well, L'atalante wasn't quite what I expected... but still good, and inspiring. Very pretty, even if the gorgeous shots were a bit more intermittant than I expected.

Qrazy

06-09-2008, 03:32 AM

Well, L'atalante wasn't quite what I expected... but still good, and inspiring. Very pretty, even if the gorgeous shots were a bit more intermittant than I expected.

The unique tone of the film is I think what cements it's status... whimsical without being cloying... romantic without being manipulative.

Spinal

06-09-2008, 03:35 AM

I don't understand. You like seeing nudity in a cinematic prodction?

In a cinematic production, at a cinematic projection. In a house, with a mouse. Near or far, here or there. I will seek it everywhere.

Qrazy

06-09-2008, 03:41 AM

Battle of the young filmmakers daughters:

Samira Makhmalbaf vs. Sophia Coppola

Choose... and rate/rank films.

monolith94

06-09-2008, 04:08 AM

The unique tone of the film is I think what cements it's status... whimsical without being cloying... romantic without being manipulative.
I think that I expected a more dreamy, ethereal Cocteau-like film. What I got was much more verité than I expected, but still lovely. There are a few sections where the film drags a little bit, but all in all it was a good film to feed the cinematic imagination.

Sven

06-09-2008, 04:28 AM

Spinal, the wife just watched Thelma and Louise while I was at work and thought that what she had to say would tickle your fancy:

"Man, "Thelma & Louise" is interminable AND incomprehensible. If that's what being a woman is all about, just call me Mr. McHasapenisnow."

Spinal

06-09-2008, 04:35 AM

Kristen is my favorite poster who has never actually posted.

Grouchy

06-09-2008, 04:36 AM

I don't understand. You like seeing nudity in a cinematic prodction? As in the prospect of the presence of nudity being something that would potentially interest you?
Depends on who's naked. If it's a hot German chick by the name Carina Van Houten, well, yes.

Just saw True Grit. It has a very annoying score, from the opening song to the overbearing music that drowns some otherwise excellent scenes. Other than that, the movie is a truly gritty western (hawr!). I was irritated to murderous levels with the chick who played Mattie, but that's beyond the quality of the movie. Wayne has had more complex performances than this Oscar-winning one, but I guess it's better than nothing that he got recognized for it. Glenn Campbell, Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper are all excellent on supporting roles. Although the movie is a tender coming-of-age story, in terms of blunt violence it has nothing to envy from The Wild Bunch, released the same year, although its subtext is clearly more Hollywood-like than in Peckinpah's masterpiece.

Winston*

06-09-2008, 04:49 AM

Depends on who's naked. If it's a hot German chick by the name Carina Van Houten, well, yes.

But what if it's a physically attractive Dutch woman known as Carice Van Houten?

Grouchy

06-09-2008, 05:05 AM

But what if it's a physically attractive Dutch woman known as Carice Van Houten?
Well, then, I'd like to have them both naked and rubbing egg sauce on each other.

Emmanuelle in Auschwitz, I'd call it.

Qrazy

06-09-2008, 05:44 AM

The Apple (Samira Makhmalbaf) was quite good. However I often find myself with somewhat mixed emotions coming away from Iranian New Wave films (Mirror, Close-up)... that is to say I almost always quite enjoy and admire the work but I also come away slightly underwhelmed by the minimalist approach... blurring the line between documentary and fiction is only interesting to me for a certain amount of time and when it becomes a cornerstone of a movement ehh... as an aside, the film would make a great companion piece with The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser and Nobody Knows... provides some compelling thematic linkage between the two.

Boner M

06-09-2008, 03:52 PM

Man I hate writing essays on films I love... I end up laboring over it so much, to the point that I end up remembering the films through the faux-academic perspective I've afforded them. Bah.

Yxklyx

06-09-2008, 05:28 PM

I quickly needed to see a movie Saturday night and a couple of you rated The Fall highly so went to see that - however, I didn't care much for it. The writing was all over the place - actually a lot of everything was all over the place - a definite lack of focus. The acting from the girl was fine but ... the whole thing was a mishmash of ideas (some good, some bad) that never really coalesced. I thought it was a poorly written story. Was that a Brothers Quay segment hashed into it there too?

Reminded me of ... Pan's Labrynth, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, and the Fifth Element - all superior and more focused films.

Spinal

06-09-2008, 05:39 PM

Yxklyx

06-09-2008, 05:40 PM

There's a thread for this film at the top of the front page.

I beat it by 8 minutes:)

Qrazy

06-10-2008, 01:53 AM

Yeah... Meatballs kind of just sucked. You'd think it would have the nostalgia factor going for it but since every character and situation is basically a stereotype, it sort of just doesn't.

Qrazy

06-10-2008, 02:06 AM

Speaking of Meatballs... rate/rank Ivan Reitman's filmography.

Winston*

06-10-2008, 02:08 AM

Speaking of Meatballs... rate/rank Ivan Reitman's filmography.
Can't wait two weeks?

transmogrifier

06-10-2008, 02:08 AM

Speaking of Meatballs... rate/rank Ivan Reitman's filmography.

Right after I count my pubic hairs, I promise.

Qrazy

06-10-2008, 02:11 AM

Can't wait two weeks?

Don't get it.

Qrazy

06-10-2008, 02:13 AM

Right after I count my pubic hairs, I promise.

There are no Ghostbusters, Stripes, Meatballs, Dave, Kindergarten Cop fans here? I thought these were fairly loved films... in some circles.

Sven

06-10-2008, 02:14 AM

Don't get it.

Director's consensus, homey.

Qrazy

06-10-2008, 02:15 AM

Director's consensus, homey.

Oopsy doodle.

Ezee E

06-10-2008, 03:38 AM

Davis and I are huge Ghostbusters fans. I'm not sure of the rest though.

I assume it's well liked. If someone doesn't like it, they should be slapped in the face.

Qrazy

06-10-2008, 03:58 AM

Davis and I are huge Ghostbusters fans. I'm not sure of the rest though.

I assume it's well liked. If someone doesn't like it, they should be slapped in the face.

Just once or until they like it?

Ezee E

06-10-2008, 04:01 AM

Just once or until they like it?
Well, hopefully they come to their senses after the first slap. Then it's a fist.

Dead & Messed Up

06-10-2008, 05:05 AM

Davis and I are huge Ghostbusters fans. I'm not sure of the rest though.

I assume it's well liked. If someone doesn't like it, they should be slapped in the face.

It's pretty much my favorite movie ever.

Derek

06-10-2008, 05:39 AM

Finally got to a non-historical drama of Rohmer's that I can fully embrace. The Green Ray continues his trend of a fairly invisible style (not aided here by a bullshit DVD transfer), but the brilliance of his protagonist, Delphine, more than makes up for it here. She's such a wonderful concoction, full of contradictions and both rigidly confined and strengthened by her moral code. I'm not entirely sure you can call being picky a moral code, but Delphine's behavior and interactions suggest that it most certainly can be, as it comes with the pain of loneliness yet the rewards of true, meaningful connection. The naturalistic way Rohmer develops her avoids any typical character arc (even though the ending certainly suggests an end to the journey or perhaps a new beginning) and instead plumbs the depth of her soul to explore the intricacies of her feelings and behavior. The final 8-10 minutes are quite easily the most enrapturing segments I've seen from the man so far.

Bosco B Thug

06-10-2008, 07:19 AM

I have an irrational prejudice against Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade ever since I re-watched the trilogy approximately three years ago. I constantly belittle it in comparison to the other two during the most casual of conversations and I don't know why (the viewing having been three years ago).

So I completed my Joe Wright experiment. I read Atonement, loved it, then disapproved of the movie. Now I finally finished reading Austen's book and found it clever and diverting, if a bit steeped in superficialities and much ado about nothing (perhaps I should extract a thorough irony from Austen's prose?). Anyway, literature's a bit beyond me. As for the film, I still think it's exquisite, especially the first hour or so. Much more sensitively paced and staggered, and Wright's directing is really amazing. His crowd scenes are amazingly done, he has this great directorial gesture where his camera does this weird, slight hiccup of a zoom in when emphasizing characters lost in a moment, it's really cool, and then he takes the time to illustrate moments of hypersensitivity, like an obvious example when Knightley is swinging around in a tire swing and he spends some time giving us some POV for effective pacing and emotional development.

Anyway, unfortunately, the movie began to lose me this time towards the end, when Knightley and Darcy finally begin to realize their feelings for each other. The film suddenly becomes very languorous, somber, and serious and loses the sharpness and bite the first few acts had. The eventual coming together of Knightley and Darcy, which makes up the final quarter maybe, is kind of interminable, kind of boring.

And strike two for Tobe Hooper. :cry: His DTV horror film Crocodile is low-rent all the way. It really sucked. No scares, no sexiness, no carefully constructed thrills, no good kills, zip. Man.

Wryan

06-10-2008, 05:01 PM

There are no Ghostbusters, Stripes, Meatballs, Dave, Kindergarten Cop fans here? I thought these were fairly loved films... in some circles.

Don't forget Evolution.

Qrazy

06-10-2008, 05:21 PM

Don't forget Evolution.

Right, how could I forget that.

Sycophant

06-10-2008, 05:28 PM

No one in movies is any good at searching for porn.

Qrazy

06-10-2008, 08:09 PM

Ok no more Johnny To romance dramas for me... I've learned my lesson... sticking to his action/adventure output.

Grouchy

06-10-2008, 08:55 PM

No one in movies is any good at searching for porn.
Please elaborate.

lovejuice

06-10-2008, 09:05 PM

Shall We Dance? is positively lovely.

it's really is. it's a movie that literally changes my life; now i've been an amateur ballroom dancer for ten years.

sumo do, sumo don't is also a very lovely film.

Russ

06-10-2008, 10:20 PM

Trivia: What film holds the record for having the longest production time in motion picture history?

Ezee E

06-10-2008, 10:26 PM

Trivia: What film holds the record for having the longest production time in motion picture history?
The Up Documentaries?

Russ

06-10-2008, 10:28 PM

The Up Documentaries?
Film (singular), not project.

Derek

06-10-2008, 10:30 PM

Trivia: What film holds the record for having the longest production time in motion picture history?

I'm sure something has this beat, but I'll guess Apocalypse Now.

Raiders

06-10-2008, 10:33 PM

Trivia: What film holds the record for having the longest production time in motion picture history?

Leni Riefenstahl's Tiefland.

I'm full of useless knowledge.

Winston*

06-10-2008, 10:36 PM

Seems like kind of a hazy record. I mean, does Tiefland actually count as being in production for all of that time?

Russ

06-10-2008, 10:38 PM

Leni Riefenstahl's Tiefland.

I'm full of useless knowledge.
I was going to say...WRONG...but...how long was Tiefland down for?

Raiders

06-10-2008, 10:40 PM

I was going to say...WRONG...but...how long was Tiefland down for?

Well, I'm not sure of the exact time, but it holds the Guinness World record for longest production time. In checking with wiki, it appears the script was started in 1934 and the film released in 1954.

Of course, knowing what I know about Tarsem's The Fall, seems like that ought to have it beat.

Ezee E

06-10-2008, 10:44 PM

But writing counts as preproduction. Production should be considered when filming begins to ending. Not including editing, which is also another reason why the Leni film was delayed so long.

Raiders

06-10-2008, 10:45 PM

We can squabble over this, but I was citing what I assumed had to be the answer. If not the Guinness world record holder, what standard in Russ going by?

Russ

06-10-2008, 10:46 PM

The one I'm thinking about started production in 1964 and continued up until its release inthe early 90's.

Need hints?

Sycophant

06-10-2008, 10:47 PM

Please elaborate.
Like, I was watching Joshua, and Sam Rockwell's character decides to hop on the Internet and look for porn. So he goes to Google and types in something like "hot nasty young nurse sex" or something. Searching for porn on Google in such generic terms is a good way to get you a computer virus. And it's something I've noticed in movies before. Unless all these characters are supposed to just now be thinking "Hey, maybe it's a good time for me to be checking out the pornography" for the first time since the dawn of the Internet. Which I doubt.

But this may have something to do with the larger, overall lack of real-world understanding of computers and the series of tubes we all know and love in a lot of media depcitions.

Sycophant

06-10-2008, 10:49 PM

it's really is. it's a movie that literally changes my life; now i've been an amateur ballroom dancer for ten years.

sumo do, sumo don't is also a very lovely film.

That's awesome. It's weird to me that this film was adapted with an American setting, in that what is largely motivating the characters throughout this is that Japanese sense of shame. In America, married couples are expected to go to garish square dances all throughout middle age and into retirement.

I'll be sure to check out some more of his work. I'll check around for the availability of Sumo Do, Sumo Don't.

Sycophant

06-10-2008, 10:50 PM

The one I'm thinking about started production in 1964 and continued up until its release inthe early 90's.

Need hints?I really think I knew this once. It's on the tip of my mind, but I refuse to search for it.

Whatever it is, I want Kore-eda Hirokazu to attempt to break it.

Grouchy

06-10-2008, 10:51 PM

Like, I was watching Joshua, and Sam Rockwell's character decides to hop on the Internet and look for porn. So he goes to Google and types in something like "hot nasty young nurse sex" or something. Searching for porn on Google in such generic terms is a good way to get you a computer virus. And it's something I've noticed in movies before. Unless all these characters are supposed to just now be thinking "Hey, maybe it's a good time for me to be checking out the pornography" for the first time since the dawn of the Internet. Which I doubt.

But this may have something to do with the larger, overall lack of real-world understanding of computers and the series of tubes we all know and love in a lot of media depcitions.
Yeah, while that's a funny example, I'd say the depictions of people using internet and computer programs in most movies are very skewed and unrealistic, not just when they're looking for something to spank the monkey with.

Russ

06-10-2008, 10:55 PM

I really think I knew this once. It's on the tip of my mind, but I refuse to search for it.
You should. I think we sourced it from the same place.

Raiders

06-10-2008, 11:00 PM

Hint, please.

Russ

06-10-2008, 11:04 PM

Hint, please.
Animated.

Sycophant

06-10-2008, 11:12 PM

Oh, duh!

The Thief & the Cobbler!

Russ

06-10-2008, 11:17 PM

Oh, duh!

The Thief & the Cobbler!

Yeah. For people who aren't aware of the fascinating backstory, I'll just direct them to this Wikipedia writeup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thief_and_the_Cobbler).

Winston*

06-10-2008, 11:39 PM

Yeah. For people who aren't aware of the fascinating backstory, I'll just direct them to this Wikipedia writeup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thief_and_the_Cobbler).

This one (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Overcoat_%28animated_film% 29) looks like it's giving it a run for it's money.

Sycophant

06-11-2008, 01:22 AM

This one (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Overcoat_%28animated_film% 29) looks like it's giving it a run for it's money.Oh, like Richard Williams really needs the prestige of this "accomplishment" taken away from him, too.

Sycophant

06-11-2008, 02:04 AM

One more thing about Shall We Dance? I want Koji Yakusho to be in everything Japanese forever. Between this and Tampopo, I've come to love him for more than just his perfect embodiment of world-weariness found in Kiyoshi Kurosawa films. He rules.

Sven

06-11-2008, 02:06 AM

So I went and saw Blue Planet tonite, an Italian film made in 1982 by Franco Piavoli, who was there and who was very insightful. It was introduced by Godfrey Reggio. Because I'm an intern at the theater in which this event took place, I got to meet him.

I totally nerded it up:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/iosos/matchcut%20misc/koyaanis.jpg
It says "For Dear Patrick w/Affection - Godfrey Reggio"

It is violently clear now, after seeing this picture, as well as being reminded of the quality of Reggio's trilogy, that Planet Earth is hackwork of the greatest degree. There's no ideal behind Planet Earth--it's just slick shots taken with a really expensive camera. The whole thing looks like a postcard.

Qrazy

06-11-2008, 02:08 AM

Film (singular), not project.

Norstein's The Overcoat... when it's finally released... ought to give it a run for it's money (started in 1981).

edit: Fuck, beat to it.

Sven

06-11-2008, 02:16 AM

I saw The Thief and the Cobbler "Recobbled" and thought it was exhausting and hardly worth the effort. Still, some nice flourishes.

origami_mustache

06-11-2008, 02:21 AM

Planet Earth is hackwork of the greatest degree. There's no ideal behind Planet Earth--it's just slick shots taken with a really expensive camera. The whole thing looks like a postcard.

seriously?

Sven

06-11-2008, 03:26 AM

seriously?

Is it surprising that someone would make such a comment about the visuals of Planet Earth?

Frankly, I'm a bit surprised myself, because at work we have the coffee table book based on the series and some of the photos in that thing are incredible. I don't know if it's just that the style works better as a coffee table book (hardly a compliment, I would think, for something attempting to be so novel). There was some cool stuff: I dug the Birds of Paradise. Funky little creatures.

Sven

06-11-2008, 03:27 AM

I watched the rest of Trapped in the Closet. I hope Kelly's acquitted, because I want more.

MadMan

06-11-2008, 03:30 AM

I watched the rest of Trapped in the Closet. I hope Kelly's acquitted, because I want more.According to The Boondocks he already got off thanks to Adam West ;)

megladon8

06-11-2008, 03:36 AM

I've still never seen "The Boondocks".

I should get around to that.

megladon8

06-11-2008, 03:44 AM

Is this picture fake, or perhaps an old poster for a project that got scrapped?

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/9630/robocopexpoia8dq2.jpg

origami_mustache

06-11-2008, 03:46 AM

Is it surprising that someone would make such a comment about the visuals of Planet Earth?

Frankly, I'm a bit surprised myself, because at work we have the coffee table book based on the series and some of the photos in that thing are incredible. I don't know if it's just that the style works better as a coffee table book (hardly a compliment, I would think, for something attempting to be so novel). There was some cool stuff: I dug the Birds of Paradise. Funky little creatures.

Hack-work just seemed a bit strong and an unjust comparison. Planet Earth doesn't have any sort of agenda other than to showcase beautiful images and a pure form of nature that is rarely, if ever witnessed by humans. I don't think it needs to offer anything more than stunning imagery, but if nothing else it puts the world in perspective in a Carl Sagan kind of way.

Sven

06-11-2008, 03:57 AM

Hack-work just seemed a bit strong and an unjust comparison. Planet Earth doesn't have any sort of agenda other than to showcase beautiful images and a pure form of nature that is rarely, if ever witnessed by humans. I don't think it needs to offer anything more than stunning imagery, but if nothing else it puts the world in perspective in a Carl Sagan kind of way.

I dunno... "beautiful" is such an aesthetically loaded word that I would probably argue that even in showcasing "beauty" it comes up short because I was rarely elated by the picturesque quality of the images. It is possible (hell, even probable) to photograph nature evocatively and interestingly, but the sheen on the images in Planet Earth reminded me of the airbrushing of fashion magazine models.

There's still a couple of episodes I need to see, though, so who knows? Maybe they'll pull out the stops.

NickGlass

06-11-2008, 03:59 AM

So I went and saw Blue Planet tonite, an Italian film made in 1982 by Franco Piavoli, who was there and who was very insightful. It was introduced by Godfrey Reggio. Because I'm an intern at the theater in which this event took place, I got to meet him.

So, umm, how was Blue Planet? It's going to be parading around NYC for the next month (hopping from Walter Reade to Anthology Film Archives to Two Boots Pioneer), and I've been wondering for the past week whether I should check it out during its time in Manhattan.

origami_mustache

06-11-2008, 04:02 AM

I dunno... "beautiful" is such an aesthetically loaded word that I would probably argue that even in showcasing "beauty" it comes up short because I was rarely elated by the picturesque quality of the images. It is possible (hell, even probable) to photograph nature evocatively and interestingly, but the sheen on the images in Planet Earth reminded me of the airbrushing of fashion magazine models.

There's still a couple of episodes I need to see, though, so who knows? Maybe they'll pull out the stops.

Fair enough, I guess I'm just one of those people who is easily enticed by nature...I thought that was the norm, but maybe not.

Qrazy

06-11-2008, 04:34 AM

Hack-work just seemed a bit strong and an unjust comparison. Planet Earth doesn't have any sort of agenda other than to showcase beautiful images and a pure form of nature that is rarely, if ever witnessed by humans. I don't think it needs to offer anything more than stunning imagery, but if nothing else it puts the world in perspective in a Carl Sagan kind of way.

The man dismisses an epic nature series off handedly and then proceeds in the next post to praise, of all things, Trapped in the Closet...

For those seeking comparison:

Planet Earth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObzQOztMaZ4

Trapped in the Closet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUVLNghzLtI

Qrazy

06-11-2008, 05:14 AM

Has anyone seen any of David Yates non Harry Potter work? It almost all seems remarkably well received... primarily British TV stuff.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0946734/

monolith94

06-11-2008, 05:38 AM

I watched the rest of Trapped in the Closet. I hope Kelly's acquitted, because I want more.
As a drama, it sucks. But as a comedy, it cracks me up. I hope that that was what he was going for.

origami_mustache

06-11-2008, 05:46 AM

As a drama, it sucks. But as a comedy, it cracks me up. I hope that that was what he was going for.

wow, just watched it all...not sure how it could be taken seriously.

:lol:

"I tried my best to quickly put it on viiiiibrraaaaatteeee."

Raiders

06-11-2008, 09:31 AM

Kurosawa Fan

06-11-2008, 01:04 PM

Yxklyx

06-11-2008, 01:09 PM

As a drama, it sucks. But as a comedy, it cracks me up. I hope that that was what he was going for.

I don't think so. I think he thinks it's a drama - not a comedy. Kind of makes it even funnier.

Raiders

06-11-2008, 01:19 PM

I don't think it really matters if Kelly is taking himself seriously or not. It seems somewhat unlikely given his mannerisms, some of the phrases and some of the actions that happen in the series that he doesn't at least grasp the over-the-top ridiculousness of it. He may have intended it to be a serious drama, but considering the press and the way it was been dubbed a soap opera, I imagine he's well aware, if not intended, that it is playing for hysteria as opposed to serious drama (a midget that shits himself?--not a serious drama).

Either way, it's freakin' epic.

transmogrifier

06-11-2008, 01:31 PM

The Warriors

Silly hair and gangs
Try to approximate style;
Thus kind of funny

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Darkness wears better
Than shiny modern tech-spazz;
Screeching blonde femme not that bad

Sex and the City

Shoe porn label porn
Distinct lack of real porn (Yay!);
Golden Girls prequel

Harold and Maude

Preciousness gone wild
Saved by soul by age by verve;
Wes Anderson's crack

Ezee E

06-11-2008, 04:36 PM

I don't care for haikus.

balmakboor

06-11-2008, 05:17 PM

I must say I'm pretty much obsessed with I'm Not There. I've watched it five times since picking it up last Friday and it's still in my DVD player.

Sycophant

06-11-2008, 05:18 PM

I must say I'm pretty much obsessed with I'm Not There. I've watched it five times since picking it up last Friday and it's still in my DVD player.Wow. I haven't done that with a movie since The Royal Tenenbaums.

Grouchy

06-11-2008, 05:31 PM

I must say I'm pretty much obsessed with I'm Not There. I've watched it five times since picking it up last Friday and it's still in my DVD player.
I remember doing that with O Brother, The Big Lebowski and Scarface. I've watched other movies the same amount of times but with some time passing between viewings.

I started watching The Graduate yesterday but fell asleep on the couch so I stopped. I'm gonna try again today or tomorrow, but I'm filming a short movie on Saturday so, most likely, I won't have the time.

Raiders

06-11-2008, 05:41 PM

This post is so right it's beyond awesome.

Plus, if you want to talk visual elegance, the gazelle chase is a remarkable sequence. The camera is merely panning, but the up-and-down momentum, the physicality and the tension is as good as or better than anything by Friedkin.

I don't know, maybe iosos expected something else, but its a completely different experience than anything by the likes of Reggio.

ledfloyd

06-11-2008, 06:02 PM

I must say I'm pretty much obsessed with I'm Not There. I've watched it five times since picking it up last Friday and it's still in my DVD player.
not five times here but i've watched it three times in the last week or two. and look forward to watching it again shortly.

and planet earth is one of the best things ever televised. up there with the wire and the moon landing.

Sven

06-11-2008, 06:26 PM

The man dismisses an epic nature series off handedly and then proceeds in the next post to praise, of all things, Trapped in the Closet...

For those seeking comparison:

Planet Earth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObzQOztMaZ4

Trapped in the Closet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUVLNghzLtI

First, I'd be careful about criticizing others for offhand dismissals, for obvious reasons.

Secondly, the two are not even comparable. And you know as well as I do that comparing the disparity of someone's responses to two different things (particularly boiling it down to positive/negative as you have) is a fool's gauge of accuracy or sanity or validity (or whatever you're trying to demonstrate) of opinion.

Sven

06-11-2008, 06:33 PM

As for Trapped in the Closet, anybody with any ability to discern the nature of a moving image in ANY capacity should be able to see that Kelly is absolutely NOT attempting "drama" (in the sense of "opposite of comedy"). It's totally and absolutely trying to be funny, as well as existing as a very personal expression of gangster lifestyle--nothing is without consequence, guns, AIDS, homosexuality, race (my favorite thing in the entire series was the episode with the Italians), prison life, drugs, adultery, crooked cops, suicide, religion, pimpery... Kelly nobly and fully concerns himself to each situation, with wit, compassion, silliness, and insight.

Wryan

06-11-2008, 06:38 PM

Planet Earth makes me weepy. It really does. Best line in the whole thing?

It must be..

"Wild ass."

...with generous pauses before and after, courtesy of Richard Attenborough.

Sven

06-11-2008, 06:53 PM

Jeez... Planet Earth contains so many unique creatures and pieces of nature we have never seen before, and does so in gorgeous, still frames. That someone could call something like this hackwork just makes me laugh. To say so is to miss the entire purpose, in my opinion. It fits with what the Discovery channel is all about, and is sensational in its findings and wealth of nature's peculiarities and beauty. The compositions aren't the point, and to compare it to a model's brushwork is to make it seem like the beauty people find comes from its HD, when in fact it is the sights, the strange animals and the far reaches of the Earth, that make it so stunning. There's so much brilliance right next to idiosyncrasy throughout the series.

I don't care about resolution, I care about resonance. The comparison with airbrushing was regarding the gloss, which in my mind is much like finding the parade of Cosmo cover girls to be uniformally attractive, which is to say, to find the image of femininity to be beautiful as opposed to the woman itself. Sure the image of vast plains and clouds obscuring sun rays and waterfalls and lush forests and little creatures may be beautiful as images, but I was unable to detect any concern for the entities themselves. For example: yes, the image of a great white shark capturing a seal in midair in super super slow motion is lovely, but the whole time I couldn't help but think about how the creators of the image wanted me to think the image was beautiful itself, rather than think about what the image meant. Why not show it in regular motion as well, to illustrate both the primitivity as well as the majesterial? Create a conflict there. I don't know... DO something besides cart out postcard after postcard.

Yes, its scope is impressive, but I think that more effectively demonstrates the programs budget rather than its findings.

As for your comment about the gazelle stampede, I don't see it. Visual tension is nothing divorced from consequence. Where's the tension when we're seeing something that's supposed to be happening? There's nothing to relate to but the gazelles running. That's not tension--it's organic.

Perhaps I am letting the hype get to me. I was expecting a revelation; I got National Geographic.

Raiders

06-11-2008, 07:07 PM

As for your comment about the gazelle stampede, I don't see it. Visual tension is nothing divorced from consequence. Where's the tension when we're seeing something that's supposed to be happening? There's nothing to relate to but the gazelles running. That's not tension--it's organic.

What? You're seeing the ups and downs of the chase as the wolf chases the gazelle. He gets close and the gazelle makes a sharp turn. I love the geography and natural choreography of the chase. The physicality as both have expended themselves. It's fascinating stuff to me.

I can't fathom your argument at all. You bring up the shark moment as if Discovery ought to be attempting some sort of conflict in their image. Why? To what purpose does that serve for a film that is looking to capture creatures and sights we might almost never see? The image of the shark is there as a slow motion dedication to their prowess, skill and the fragility of all life. In general, that's always what I get from Discovery stuff. That life, in all its forms, is beautiful, unique and endless in its peculiarities and differences, and that nature is as deadly as it is delicate.

You say they are carting out postcards, as if these creatures and locations aren't worthy of your interest if the filmmakers aren't manipulating the image to provide context you do find interesting. Well, that's on you. I think the wealth of absurdities, unique moments and creatures, aerial shots of the Earth and its inhabitants, and all around endless scope of "life", in general and in all its beauty, is breathtaking.

EDIT: Sorry, it's a caribou being chased by the wolf, not a gazelle.

Sven

06-11-2008, 07:20 PM

I think the wealth of absurdities, unique moments and creatures, aerial shots of the Earth and its inhabitants, and all around endless scope of "life", in general and in all its beauty, is breathtaking.

I would too, if it didn't seem like I had already seen everything that it showed me. Which is, I think, the fundamental issue.

And this gazelle/caribou slip-up... are you speaking of the instance where it dodges right and heads into the water? Because that was an impala. At any rate, I don't feel the tension in those sequences, I think, because I can feel that it's fabricated, which is another problem I had with the series: its demonization of the predators. Every other series does is, and this was no exception.

Raiders

06-11-2008, 07:30 PM

I would too, if it didn't seem like I had already seen everything that it showed me. Which is, I think, the fundamental issue.

And this gazelle/caribou slip-up... are you speaking of the instance where it dodges right and heads into the water? Because that was an impala. At any rate, I don't feel the tension in those sequences, I think, because I can feel that it's fabricated, which is another problem I had with the series: its demonization of the predators. Every other series does is, and this was no exception.

I don't remember it move for move, but it was something like five to ten minutes long and nothing but an aerial, moving shot of a wolf chasing a lone caribou (I'm pretty positive it was a caribou, but maybe it was an impala). It was certainly not in any way fabricated. I don't even know how this would be possible. As the crew described it, they were like a news helicopter watching a car chase. As for demonization of predators, really? I didn't notice. They didn't pull for the caribou and the thirty second slo-mo of the shark seemed just as impressed by the shark as the now dead seal.

Qrazy

06-11-2008, 07:30 PM

As a drama, it sucks. But as a comedy, it cracks me up. I hope that that was what he was going for.

He isn't, look for his behind the scenes stuff... he's really just batshit crazy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdaAWFoWr2c

Sven

06-11-2008, 07:31 PM

I don't remember it move for move, but it was something like five to ten minutes long and nothing but an aerial, moving shot of a wolf chasing a lone caribou (I'm pretty positive it was a caribou, but maybe it was an impala). It was certainly not in any way fabricated. I don't even know how this would be possible. As the crew described it, they were like a news helicopter watching a car chase. As for demonization of predators, really? I didn't notice. They didn't pull for the caribou and the thirty second slo-mo of the shark seemed just as impressed by the shark as the now dead seal.

Watch the first episode again. Whenever it shows the impala, you hear gentle flute music, then, when the dogs show up, you hear this rumbly hissing sound. Happened throughout. Ridiculous.

Qrazy

06-11-2008, 07:33 PM

Raiders

06-11-2008, 07:36 PM

Watch the first episode again. Whenever it shows the impala, you hear gentle flute music, then, when the dogs show up, you hear this rumbly hissing sound. Happened throughout. Ridiculous.

Is that really pulling? I mean, it's a chase. It's one against many. The flute music is there to underline the fluid, beautiful movements of the impala. The rumbling music is there to accentuate the more brutish mob, the charging wolves. It is what it is. I don't think flute music belongs next to a wolf nor vice-versa.

Qrazy

06-11-2008, 07:37 PM

First, I'd be careful about criticizing others for offhand dismissals, for obvious reasons.

Secondly, the two are not even comparable. And you know as well as I do that comparing the disparity of someone's responses to two different things (particularly boiling it down to positive/negative as you have) is a fool's gauge of accuracy or sanity or validity (or whatever you're trying to demonstrate) of opinion.

I have no problem with someone criticizing my offhanded dismissals. I have a problem with them getting offended by them. Such a dismissal is only a statement of opinion, not an in depth criticism and as such can itself be easily dismissed.

Nah I think it's pretty accurate. You think one is hackwork and the other is good in a not just so bad it's good way. Don't blame me for shooting yourself in the foot.

Sven

06-11-2008, 07:40 PM

Such a dismissal is only a statement of opinion, not an in depth criticism and as such can itself be easily dismissed.

Right, so you admit, here, then, that the majority of what you say is dismissable. I'll agree with that.

Nah I think it's pretty accurate. You think one is hackwork and the other is good in a not just so bad it's good way.

Certainly those are the opinions I have. I just don't know why you were lumping them together as though it was proof of anything.

Qrazy

06-11-2008, 07:40 PM

Sven

06-11-2008, 07:42 PM

Is that really pulling? I mean, it's a chase. It's one against many. The flute music is there to underline the fluid, beautiful movements of the impala. The rumbling music is there to accentuate the more brutish mob, the charging wolves. It is what it is. I don't think flute music belongs next to a wolf nor vice-versa.

Laaaaaaame... this is the kind of bland adhering-to-convention stuff I'm referring to when I call it the work of a hack (or, in this case, many hacks, or rather, existing as the product of a channel devoted to homogenized depictions of nature).

Qrazy

06-11-2008, 07:45 PM

Right, so you admit, here, then, that the majority of what you say is dismissable. I'll agree with that.

Most of what I post is not off hand dismissals although you certainly get off on thinking that. Have fun living in your fabricated bubble world where the stereotypes you've created in your own mind are reality.

Certainly those are the opinions I have. I just don't know why you were lumping them together as though it was proof of anything.

You posted them one after the other, it's not like I dove into the annals of match-cut to find a singular opinion of yours I found absurd. I found both opinions absurd and find their absurdity all the more resonant when contrasted with each other.

Winston*

06-11-2008, 07:47 PM

Don't like the way this thread is going today. I think we need to find something we can become more united on. Howabout this:

I find Monty Python's Life of Brian to be a movie that brings many lulz to my body. What say you Match Cut, does it provide you with a similar sense of hilarity?

Sven

06-11-2008, 07:50 PM

Most of what I post is not off hand dismissals although you certainly get off on thinking that. Have fun living in your fabricated bubble world where the stereotypes you've created in your own mind are reality.

It appears that's all you've done with Trapped in the Closet. Plus, I can think of several instances where you've had to go great lengths to explain your pithy form of internet expression when people have expressed irritation with it. You've been better, certainly, but when you first arrived, more than every other post of yours was a variation on why whatever film that was being discussed either a) sucked or b) was better than this other film, which sucked.

You're a very confusing (and apparently confused) person.

You posted them one after the other, it's not like I dove into the annals of match-cut to find a singular opinion of yours I found absurd. I found both opinions absurd and find their absurdity all the more resonant when contrasted with each other.

So you're trying to prove that my opinions about these things are absurd when you haven't even bothered to engage a real discussion about them. Typical dismissive Qrazy.

Watashi

06-11-2008, 07:50 PM

Trapped in the Closet is awesome.

But Planet Earth is better.

Therefore iosos is crazy.

Grouchy

06-11-2008, 07:54 PM

Raiders

06-11-2008, 07:57 PM

Laaaaaaame... this is the kind of bland adhering-to-convention stuff I'm referring to when I call it the work of a hack (or, in this case, many hacks, or rather, existing as the product of a channel devoted to homogenized depictions of nature).

OK. Well, I'm finished with this. I don't understand and am happy to enjoy the hackwork as wonderful moments that celebrate the vastness of life and nature.

Now excuse me, my copy of Vogue has arrived.

Sven

06-11-2008, 07:58 PM

Now excuse me, my copy of Vogue has arrived.

I knew it!!

Qrazy

06-11-2008, 08:00 PM

It appears that's all you've done with Trapped in the Closet. Plus, I can think of several instances where you've had to go great lengths to explain your pithy form of internet expression when people have expressed irritation with it. You've been better, certainly, but when you first arrived, more than every other post of yours was a variation on why whatever film that was being discussed either a) sucked or b) was better than this other film, which sucked.

You're a very confusing (and apparently confused) person.

In your head maybe, go catalogue all of my posts and tabulate them into the two categories and then maybe we'll talk. Otherwise limit your criticisms to my opinions and not my posting style. Or I'll start systematically shitting all over your posting style and we'll see how you like it.

So you're trying to prove that my opinions about these things are absurd when you haven't even bothered to engage a real discussion about them. Typical dismissive Qrazy.

Pot.Kettle.Black. 'Planet earth is hackwork'... sound familiar? If you think I'm going to engage in a protracted argument about the merits of Trapped in the Closet... you've got another think coming. I'd rather discuss the ins and outs of dogshit for five hours.

Grouchy

06-11-2008, 08:07 PM

Pot.Kettle.Black. 'Planet earth is hackwork'... sound familiar? If you think I'm going to engage in a protracted argument about the merits of Trapped in the Closet... you've got another think coming. I'd rather discuss the ins and outs of dogshit for five hours.
Dogshit can be very beneficial to the ground's fertility.

Sven

06-11-2008, 08:11 PM

In your head maybe, go catalogue all of my posts and tabulate them into the two categories and then maybe we'll talk. Otherwise limit your criticisms to my opinions and not my posting style. Or I'll start systematically shitting all over your posting style and we'll see how you like it.

Pot.Kettle.Black. 'Planet earth is hackwork'... sound familiar? If you think I'm going to engage in a protracted argument about the merits of Trapped in the Closet... you've got another think coming. I'd rather discuss the ins and outs of dogshit for five hours.

Haven't I accused you of anti-intellectualism before? This practice of refusing to engage in a work and then belittle others for liking it is pretty despicable.

You will see that Raiders and I had a rather long discussion about Planet Earth. I'm not saying dismissal's aren't appropriate, and as you have said before, they often lead to discussion if people care enough to ask about them. But here it appeared that you were attempting a mockery (by your own admission, accenting the absurdity) of my juxtaposed posts. Nobody likes being mocked. I don't mind being criticized, but made fun of... that's pretty annoying.

Spinal

06-11-2008, 08:22 PM

I find Monty Python's Life of Brian to be a movie that brings many lulz to my body. What say you Match Cut, does it provide you with a similar sense of hilarity?

Oh, golly, yes.

Kurosawa Fan

06-11-2008, 08:28 PM

I find Monty Python's Life of Brian to be a movie that brings many lulz to my body. What say you Match Cut, does it provide you with a similar sense of hilarity?

I say yes. Yes indeed!

Sycophant

06-11-2008, 08:31 PM

I find Monty Python's Life of Brian to be a movie that brings many lulz to my body. What say you Match Cut, does it provide you with a similar sense of hilarity?

Boy howdy! Which I think at least kind of means "Why, hell yes!"

Sven

06-11-2008, 08:34 PM

You guys don't have to follow Winston*, you know. You are all individuals.

Sycophant

06-11-2008, 08:44 PM

You guys don't have to follow Winston*, you know. You are all individuals.I'm n--

[is struck by lightning]

Sven

06-11-2008, 08:49 PM

I do wish Qrazy and I weren't so doggedly similar when it came to devotion to our respective causes. I promise I sha'nt (shant? shan't?) let it happen again. However Q-dawg wants to reply, that'll be the last word on the matter.

At least this time I was able to kill some time at my relatively workless internship. It's fun as hell, but I can't say there's a pressing need to get stuff done quickly.

Qrazy

06-11-2008, 08:49 PM

Haven't I accused you of anti-intellectualism before? This practice of refusing to engage in a work and then belittle others for liking it is pretty despicable.

If in your world not wanting to engage in a lengthy discussion of Trapped in the Closet makes me an anti-intellectual then I guess that's what I am. It's another absurd notion, but if it makes you feel good to believe in it, by all means.

You will see that Raiders and I had a rather long discussion about Planet Earth. I'm not saying dismissal's aren't appropriate, and as you have said before, they often lead to discussion if people care enough to ask about them. But here it appeared that you were attempting a mockery (by your own admission, accenting the absurdity) of my juxtaposed posts. Nobody likes being mocked. I don't mind being criticized, but made fun of... that's pretty annoying.

Any reasonably cognizant film buff should expect to be teased (mocked is too strong) for certain beliefs... one being that Uwe Boll is a master filmmaker, another that Rob Schneider is the height of comedy, and finally that Trapped in the Closet is representative of compassion, wit and insight. By all means hold any or all of these beliefs, but be aware enough to realize that you're not going to get a... 'well I respect your opinion but Trapped in the Closet just doesn't fit my schema for high art.'

DavidSeven

06-11-2008, 08:55 PM

Sven

06-11-2008, 08:57 PM

This is very Armond-ish of you.

How so? I don't even know if he likes Trapped in the Closet...

Sven

06-11-2008, 09:03 PM

How so? I don't even know if he likes Trapped in the Closet...

Turns out he does! In his positive review of Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? In the same paragraph, he also praises Norbit. Sweet.

http://nypress.com/20/42/film/ArmondWhite.cfm

But Perry dares—and wins—as an artist mindful of an audience whose problems and wishes are underserved. Married? isn’t an Oprah sermon; much of its humor and punch comes from Perry’s expose of domestic secrets. This happens to be the basis of R. Kelly’s extraordinary music-video opera, Trapped in the Closet—a work of true genius that the media has also underrated and ridiculed. The media mocks R. Kelly’s vernacular (calling it “crazy” is the easiest way to avoid its daring and brilliance) just as Perry’s comedy and Eddie Murphy’s in Norbit are disdained as unsophisticated or vulgar. (Though what could be less sophisticated or more vulgar than the R&B-grooving nerds in Superbad?)

Qrazy

06-11-2008, 09:06 PM

Harold Ramis could be Christian Bale's father I've decided.

DavidSeven

06-11-2008, 09:08 PM

How so? I don't even know if he likes Trapped in the Closet...

I don't know. It seems like you're reading a whole lot into something that is just ...bad. And regressive. However, I've never bothered to look at it as anything other than a train wreck, so maybe I'm missing something.

But then again, this is the man who's defining song is called "Bump N' Grind" and who wore various colored Zorro masks as a statement of fashion. So ....yeah.

Wryan

06-11-2008, 09:12 PM

I promise I sha'nt (shant? shan't?) let it happen again.

Did not = didn't
Shall not = shan't

Sven

06-11-2008, 09:15 PM

I don't know. It seems like you're reading a whole lot into something that is just ...bad. And regressive. However, I've never bothered to look at it as anything other than a train wreck, so maybe I'm missing something.

But then again, this is the man who's defining song is called "Bump N' Grind" and who wore various colored Zorro Masks as a statement of fashion. So ....yeah.

I don't see the arguments of its regression. I see it as quite progressive, actually. It is as accepting of gayness as it is homophobic, and it is this conflicted element, as well as its larger embrace of the issue, that makes it more satisfying as a work about the issue.

And in all honesty, I have no idea, literally, no matter how much I read about it, NO idea how people can actually call it "bad". I'm trying and continuing to fail to see how it is people are overlooking the intentional humor, the intentional oddness, the intentional difficulty--I fail to see why people are laughing AT Kelly rather than WITH him.

Qrazy

06-11-2008, 10:24 PM

I don't see the arguments of its regression. I see it as quite progressive, actually. It is as accepting of gayness as it is homophobic, and it is this conflicted element, as well as its larger embrace of the issue, that makes it more satisfying as a work about the issue.

And in all honesty, I have no idea, literally, no matter how much I read about it, NO idea how people can actually call it "bad". I'm trying and continuing to fail to see how it is people are overlooking the intentional humor, the intentional oddness, the intentional difficulty--I fail to see why people are laughing AT Kelly rather than WITH him.

Oh god I can't believe I'm actually going to have this conversation.

Maybe because...

a) Every scene ends on a ridiculously stupid cliffhanger.
b) Nothing is actually funny in the content, the stupidity of the entire affair is what is funny.
c) The song itself is god awful... not only the lyrics but the beat, melody, everything.
d) The stupidity even if it was intentional would still be stupid but it's not intentional! This is apparent if you've seen any of the behind the scenes stuff with Kelly, listened to any of his other music or know anything about him.
e) Watch the Real Talk clip... the guy actually think he's 'keeping it real'.
f) Soap operas in general are awful. This is a soap opera with a bad R and B track playing over the top of it.
g) The characters lip-sync to Kelly's inanities. They don't even have their own voices! Have you ever been to an opera where one voice is singing all the parts? No? Why do you think they haven't done this? Because it's a terribly ill conceived idea and Trapped in the Closet is the proof of that.
h) There is nothing insightful about 'revealing' a character impregnated another character, or is cheating on someone, or is going to pull out there gat and light the place up.
i) There is nothing. Nothing. Nothing possessing a semblance of artistic integrity in this 'experiment'.

Ezee E

06-11-2008, 11:16 PM

Planet Earth is masterful. To join in on the argument of the shark, it makes perfect sense to me as to why we see it in slow motion. Without it being in slow motion, we don't see the small details, the muscles that the shark has, how high it gets off the water. We're seeing what makes the animal such a magnificent being. If it were played in normal speed, it would be a boring shot that was hardly noticeable. There is nothing beautiful about it. In fact, I think they show it in normal speed in a special feature, and you don't see anything.

Spinal

06-11-2008, 11:30 PM

Watched Trapped in the Closet 1-5. Kinda funny. Kinda tedious. Humor does not strike me as intentional. Drama is inept. Misogyny is troubling. I'll watch the rest later out of morbid curiosity.

Scar

06-11-2008, 11:37 PM

Damn my stubborness....

I got Lady in the Water from blockbuster.com, and accidentally returned it. Then I got it on Blu-Ray, and it didn't work in the PS3. Then I got it on regular DVD.

Yeah, I should've known better.

Spinal

06-12-2008, 12:09 AM

I take it back. I do believe the midget poo humor to be intentional. :|

Winston*

06-12-2008, 12:16 AM

So, Spinal, you would agree that R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet" does not manage reach the artistic heights present in Chuggo's "Come on Fuck a Guy"?

Spinal

06-12-2008, 12:17 AM

So, Spinal, you would agree that R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet" does not manage reach the artistic heights present in Chuggo's "Come on Fuck a Guy"?

Oh, man. You guys are killing me. What is this I have to watch now?

Spinal

06-12-2008, 12:25 AM

Trapped in the Closet was nominated for a Grammy? :crazy:

EDIT: Twice! :crazy: :crazy:

Spinal

06-12-2008, 12:53 AM

Pirates of the Caribbean 3 is nearly 3 hours long? Oy, I think I have made a significant queuing error.

Watashi

06-12-2008, 12:58 AM

Weird Al's parody of "Trapped in the Closet" is awesome as well. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT060JGp9sQ&feature=related)

Winston*

06-12-2008, 01:24 AM

Oh, man. You guys are killing me. What is this I have to watch now?
AHHH CMON FUCK A GUY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPeHk4WMWpY)

Spinal

06-12-2008, 01:28 AM

Weird Al's parody of "Trapped in the Closet" is awesome as well. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT060JGp9sQ&feature=related)

Excellent. One of his best. It's impressive that he can hit all those notes.

Spinal

06-12-2008, 01:35 AM

AHHH CMON FUCK A GUY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPeHk4WMWpY)

Painful. Just painful.

Winston*

06-12-2008, 01:41 AM

Painful. Just painful.
He puts mayonnaise on everything, that's how he eats.

megladon8

06-12-2008, 01:41 AM

Drowning Mona had all the makings of a bad movie...except it was actually kind of okay.

Spinal

06-12-2008, 03:10 AM

OK, I've watched this whole Trapped in the Closet thing now and I can see no legitimate defense for this having any merit beyond minimal camp value. The absurdity of the venture is amusing for about five minutes, but after that it becomes predictable and tedious. The most bewildering aspect of the whole enterprise is that it is a so-called R&B opera without any songs. It's 100% recitative. Perhaps if these goofy exchanges were used as connecting material leading up to ... oh, I dunno ... actual music, then they might be forgivable. Instead they lead up to inane plot twists that have seemingly been drawn out of a hat. Lazy, tasteless, a waste of time and brain cells.

Watashi

06-12-2008, 03:12 AM

Sycophant

06-12-2008, 03:14 AM

Painful. Just painful.
I made it to 1:45 with a healthy pause break in the middle.

Winston*

06-12-2008, 03:18 AM

I made it to 1:45 with a healthy pause break in the middle.
When I first came across it I watched it through like 4 times in the same day.

Sycophant

06-12-2008, 03:25 AM

When I first came across it I watched it through like 4 times in the same day.Your fortitude is astonishing.

monolith94

06-12-2008, 03:40 AM

Weird Al's parody of "Trapped in the Closet" is awesome as well. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT060JGp9sQ&feature=related)
Thanks for posting this wats! I didn't even know he had done this!

monolith94

06-12-2008, 03:41 AM

Drowning Mona had all the makings of a bad movie...except it was actually kind of okay.
Whoah... you and me both, buddy. Loved Casey Affleck in this flick. I thought it was a good time. Underrated like Gigli.

Ezee E

06-12-2008, 04:04 AM

Your fortitude is astonishing.
Couldn't even finish it.

Grouchy

06-12-2008, 04:09 AM

He puts mayonnaise on everything, that's how he eats.
The kids buy his shit, that's how he gets cash.

megladon8

06-12-2008, 04:44 AM

Whoah... you and me both, buddy. Loved Casey Affleck in this flick. I thought it was a good time. Underrated like Gigli.

I agree it's underrated.

There were several times when I laughed pretty hard.

Neve Campbell was hot.

Bosco B Thug

06-12-2008, 05:26 AM

Oh god I can't believe I'm actually going to have this conversation.

Maybe because...

a) Every scene ends on a ridiculously stupid cliffhanger.
b) Nothing is actually funny in the content, the stupidity of the entire affair is what is funny.
c) The song itself is god awful... not only the lyrics but the beat, melody, everything.
d) The stupidity even if it was intentional would still be stupid but it's not intentional! This is apparent if you've seen any of the behind the scenes stuff with Kelly, listened to any of his other music or know anything about him.
e) Watch the Real Talk clip... the guy actually think he's 'keeping it real'.
f) Soap operas in general are awful. This is a soap opera with a bad R and B track playing over the top of it.
g) The characters lip-sync to Kelly's inanities. They don't even have their own voices! Have you ever been to an opera where one voice is singing all the parts? No? Why do you think they haven't done this? Because it's a terribly ill conceived idea and Trapped in the Closet is the proof of that.
h) There is nothing insightful about 'revealing' a character impregnated another character, or is cheating on someone, or is going to pull out there gat and light the place up.
i) There is nothing. Nothing. Nothing possessing a semblance of artistic integrity in this 'experiment'. I won't argue with i), I don't think it's much more than R. Kelly having a gas and there's probably a dozen episodes too many (the new set that was shown on IFC got tedious fast and isn't as funny as the original 12 or so), but... the lip-syncing is the funniest thing about it! His vocal job with a number of the characters (e.g. the Southern girl) is admirably game. And yeah, he is a bit eccentric, but going from eccentric/batshit-crazy to "He's unaware of the stupidity of TitC"? I mean, if he made this because he's crazy, his craziness must then be a craziness with a crazy priceless sense of humor, you know?

Qrazy

06-12-2008, 07:21 AM

I won't argue with i), I don't think it's much more than R. Kelly having a gas and there's probably a dozen episodes too many (the new set that was shown on IFC got tedious fast and isn't as funny as the original 12 or so), but... the lip-syncing is the funniest thing about it! His vocal job with a number of the characters (e.g. the Southern girl) is admirably game. And yeah, he is a bit eccentric, but going from eccentric/batshit-crazy to "He's unaware of the stupidity of TitC"? I mean, if he made this because he's crazy, his craziness must then be a craziness with a crazy priceless sense of humor, you know?

No, I don't know. When I watched it I didn't laugh much and when I do laugh it's because I'm thinking about what an idiot R Kelly is.

Watch some Behind the Scenes stuff (if you can find it, I couldn't on youtube anymore) and you'll see how socially important and honest he thinks this project is.

Grouchy

06-12-2008, 07:34 AM

I just wasted most of my night watching the entire Trapped on the Closet series thanks to you morons.

It's awesome. The midget, the pasta-eating italians, "I'm fucking her now...", Pimp Luscious. One way or the other, even if R. Kelly thinks he's Martin Luther King and the Broadway Spike Lee, there's a lot of intentional humor in it. And I laughed my fucking heart out. Still, he's straining very hard to keep this shit going. I'd say after episode 14, the few stuff that still made sense stopped making sense. And yeah, most of the fun is in the awkward but well made lip-synching.

origami_mustache

06-12-2008, 08:39 AM

Oh god I can't believe I'm actually going to have this conversation.

Maybe because...

a) Every scene ends on a ridiculously stupid cliffhanger.
b) Nothing is actually funny in the content, the stupidity of the entire affair is what is funny.
c) The song itself is god awful... not only the lyrics but the beat, melody, everything.
d) The stupidity even if it was intentional would still be stupid but it's not intentional! This is apparent if you've seen any of the behind the scenes stuff with Kelly, listened to any of his other music or know anything about him.
e) Watch the Real Talk clip... the guy actually think he's 'keeping it real'.
f) Soap operas in general are awful. This is a soap opera with a bad R and B track playing over the top of it.
g) The characters lip-sync to Kelly's inanities. They don't even have their own voices! Have you ever been to an opera where one voice is singing all the parts? No? Why do you think they haven't done this? Because it's a terribly ill conceived idea and Trapped in the Closet is the proof of that.
h) There is nothing insightful about 'revealing' a character impregnated another character, or is cheating on someone, or is going to pull out there gat and light the place up.
i) There is nothing. Nothing. Nothing possessing a semblance of artistic integrity in this 'experiment'.

I agree with everything here...Trapped in the Closet is really only valuable to a small degree if and only if it was meant to be some sort of satire, but even then it just goes on for far too long. If Kelly takes this serious likes you claim, then the guy truly must be insane and if he was actually trying to create an epic over the top dramatic comedy hip-hopera then he is equally insane for investing so much time and effort into something so ridiculous.

Winston*

06-12-2008, 10:23 AM

The Bird People in China was a nice movie, I liked it quite a bit.

I'll write something proper about the next movie I watch; srs analysis. Promise. Either that or a sarastic comment. One of the two for sure.

Sven

06-12-2008, 11:49 AM

Grouchy

06-12-2008, 12:17 PM

You know, Qrazy, you keep bringing up "check out the behind the scenes stuff" as though it's some kind of proof that the project is serious, but when I had the DVDs, I did watch them, and it looked like a bunch of people having a great time, making something fun. I have no idea what you're talking about.
I got the same vibe from the IFC bookending the later chapters. Those with the nerd with those fucking glasses.

And, sorry, iosos, but the series is not insightful on anything. It's about a lot of black people cursing each other and a midget shitting on himself. Nice black asses on display, too.

DavidSeven

06-12-2008, 02:54 PM

I'm honestly astonished that this has actually become the subject of what appears to be an earnest debate in this thread. There are no words. Really.

Mysterious Dude

06-12-2008, 03:27 PM

I'm honestly astonished that this has actually become the subject of what appears to be an earnest debate in this thread. There are no words. Really.

Seriously. I watched thirty seconds of it once and decided it wasn't worth finishing or even thinking about. But apparently it's worth at least four pages of discussion.

Rowland

06-12-2008, 03:38 PM

Um, I watched the chapter with the hiding midget. I laughed... and that was enough.

origami_mustache

06-12-2008, 03:38 PM

Seriously. I watched thirty seconds of it once and decided it wasn't worth finishing or even thinking about. But apparently it's worth at least four pages of discussion.

Qrazy-Iosos debates tend to do that. :lol:

Sycophant

06-12-2008, 03:40 PM

Whatever world considers Trapped in the Closet as valid for discussion as artistic expression is the one I want to live in. I've still only seen the first round of it and that was nigh on three years ago. However! What iosos says rings true with me, as I remember finding its heightened and exaggerated depictions of modern anxieties quite worthwhile.

Sycophant

06-12-2008, 05:12 PM

Weekend:

Trivial Matters
The Seventh Seal
The Happs
Flight of the Red Balloon
Maborosi

I've also got Bully and The Shining from Netflix, but am having a hard time imagining myself watching either this weekend.

Raiders

06-12-2008, 05:43 PM

Week End:

The Animation Show
La Chinoise
Level 5

Spinal

06-12-2008, 06:19 PM

Midget humor is a hard thing for me to get behind. If I am expected to laugh simply because a person looks different from me, I just can't get down.

However, what's kinda funny about that section is how R. Kelly acts as if that's just the wildest, craziest thing that could ever happen.

Rowland

06-12-2008, 06:30 PM

However, what's kinda funny about that section is how R. Kelly acts as if that's just the wildest, craziest thing that could ever happen.That's what I thought was funny about it. Still, not enough so to watch the entire series.

Grouchy

06-12-2008, 06:54 PM

Qrazy

06-12-2008, 07:40 PM

Qrazy-Iosos debates tend to do that. :lol:

When someone defends such inanities it's hard not to say anything.

Scar

06-12-2008, 07:43 PM

Midget humor is a hard thing for me to get behind. If I am expected to laugh simply because a person looks different from me, I just can't get down.

But midget wrestling.....?

Watashi

06-12-2008, 07:44 PM

The best part of Trapped in the Closet are the cliffhangers.

"That was ho was meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"

Watashi

06-12-2008, 07:45 PM

Weekend:

The Happening
The Incredible Hulk
Safe (hopefully this time!)

Qrazy

06-12-2008, 07:45 PM

You know, Qrazy, you keep bringing up "check out the behind the scenes stuff" as though it's some kind of proof that the project is serious, but when I had the DVDs, I did watch them, and it looked like a bunch of people having a great time, making something fun. I have no idea what you're talking about.

Yeah well if we don't see eye to eye on the greater or lack of merit of Trapped in the Closet I suppose there's no reason to presume we would see eye to eye on it's behind the scenes footage.

Bosco B Thug

06-12-2008, 07:50 PM

Anyways...

Week(end?): Syndromes and a Century, Hannah Takes the Stairs, The Happening, maybe Hulk...

Qrazy

06-12-2008, 07:52 PM

Anyways...

Week(end?): The Happening

Masochist?

Qrazy

06-12-2008, 07:56 PM

Neon Genesis Evangelion fans... you need to see Rebuild of Evangelion... it's basically the first few episodes of the series with much more detailed and jaw dropping animation... a streamlined and more clear cut script... better aesthetic balance... improves on the original in every respect really. Next film should come out sometime this year.

Rowland

06-12-2008, 08:05 PM

The Director's Cut of Battle Royale is a lot sillier than I recalled. Sooo much overcooked melodrama, and sooo many useless flashbacks that pad the runtime far beyond the breaking point. There is still enough to like so that I don't necessarily dislike the movie, but I do question its reputation and the extent of my appreciation for it so many years ago. I imagine the shorter cut must be superior.

The Fountain is still amazing. It baffles me that so many viewers, critics and otherwise, were confused by its structure and how the three timelines connect, when Aronofsky's visual storytelling lays it all bare with such precision.

Bosco B Thug

06-12-2008, 08:07 PM

Masochist? I'm still hoping for the best. But yes, or at least the best sort of hurtin'. I'm actually quite excited!

MadMan

06-12-2008, 09:10 PM

Pirates of the Caribbean 3 is nearly 3 hours long? Oy, I think I have made a significant queuing error.I was pretty disappointed with the film, but I found enough merit in it to give it a 70. I was feeling generous that day. Oh and most of the major stuff really isn't resolved, thus leaving things open for a forth film which sadly didn't surprise me.

Diary of the Dead - AThoughts? It was a pretty pleasant surprise, and it showed that Romero still has something left to say, age and critics be damned. I still need to see "Land."

On Her Majesty's Secret Service was fairly entertaining, although it was a break from the mode and was different from much of the series. If anything it reflected the last time that the series attempted to be faithful to the Ian Fleming books, and be really non-campy until Casino Royale(2006) came out. While I do like the camp aspect of the Bond series the best Bonds contained a great deal of realism and usually went beyond the typical cliches, or at least reworked them into something truly exceptional.
That said, I don't think that this film is the best in the series (that honor goes to From Russia With Love), although its certainly in my Top 5 Best Bond flicks. I thought that George Lazerby deserved more time with the part, and that the action sequences (such as the bob slide and ski chases) were really cool. I also liked that the film dared to feature a rather different finale, plus show a side of Bond that we really only got to see finally in Casino Royale as well. This film is the only one in the series to have a depressing ending, one that is rather stark and emotional in all the right ways. Finally, Diana Rigg was really quite lovely, and awesome-she had the right kind of spunk for a Bond girl. Plus great to see Bloomfield back-I'm still hoping that SPECTRE re-emerges in the next set of Bond films. 90

Spinal

06-12-2008, 09:46 PM

I didn't find The Fountain to be baffling. I found it to be trite.

Qrazy

06-12-2008, 10:02 PM

I didn't find The Fountain to be baffling. I found it to be trite.

Yeah, trite's too strong a word for my reaction to the film but I found it's goal exceeded it's reach.

Rowland

06-13-2008, 01:43 AM

I didn't find The Fountain to be baffling. I found it to be trite.*shrug* I thought it explored its themes in a compelling, thoughtful, and moving manner.

transmogrifier

06-13-2008, 01:49 AM

*shrug* I thought it explored its themes in a compelling, thoughtful, and moving manner.

Apply this sentence to the movie you criticised right before you mentioned The Fountain and you are on to something.

Qrazy

06-13-2008, 01:51 AM

Apply this sentence to the movie you criticised right before you mentioned The Fountain and you are on to something.

Nah, The Fountain is an all around better and more thoughtful film than Battle Royale.

transmogrifier

06-13-2008, 02:10 AM

Nah, The Fountain is an all around better and more thoughtful film than Battle Royale.

Yeah, there's not a syllable in this sentence that even threatens to approach the outer limits of correctness.

Winston*

06-13-2008, 02:14 AM

Yeah, there's not a syllable in this sentence that even threatens to approach the outer limits of correctness.

You know, that arrow isn't really pointing to your name.

Watashi

06-13-2008, 02:15 AM

You know, that arrow isn't really pointing to your name.
Nor is it pointing to the things he say.

Winston*

06-13-2008, 02:19 AM

Nor is it pointing to the things he say.
It does in the non-"Yr movie tastes r wrong" posts.

transmogrifier

06-13-2008, 02:20 AM

You know, that arrow isn't really pointing to your name.

Nor is it pointing to the things he say.

Yeah, well, your guys' faces aren't pointing.....at.....stuff.

General direction is good enough for me. It's better to be in the ballpark than to be completely off the planet (like Qrazy's opinion re: The Fountain and Battle Royale)

transmogrifier

06-13-2008, 02:22 AM

It does in the non-"Yr movie tastes r wrong" posts.

Only if I don't quote those fuls who r wrong.

Winston*

06-13-2008, 02:27 AM

When we reach 15,000 posts can we change the title of this thread? I'm sick of this one.

Spinal

06-13-2008, 02:29 AM

When we reach 15,000 posts can we change the title of this thread? I'm sick of this one.

Sure.

Philosophe_rouge

06-13-2008, 02:30 AM

I like Battle Royale and the Fountain.

Sycophant

06-13-2008, 02:30 AM

When we reach 15,000 posts can we change the title of this thread? I'm sick of this one.
Yeah, I'm with Winston*, here.

In fact, I'd be in favor of changing it to something as simple as "The Film Discussion Thread." Unless someone else has some amazingly witty title that'll keep us entertained for six months.

Spinal

06-13-2008, 02:30 AM

How's that?

Sycophant

06-13-2008, 02:31 AM

I'd like to see a sequel where John Goodman and Chim-Chim form a detective agency.

Winston*

06-13-2008, 02:33 AM

Spinal's trying to kill Pop Trash.

transmogrifier

06-13-2008, 02:33 AM

When we reach 15,000 posts can we change the title of this thread? I'm sick of this one.

Agreed. Let's pay homage to a good movie for a change.

Spinal

06-13-2008, 02:33 AM

I liked the part where the monkey was driving through the segways. That was cool.

transmogrifier

06-13-2008, 02:36 AM

I like Battle Royale and the Fountain.

Ugh, moderates.

;)

Winston*

06-13-2008, 02:40 AM

I liked the part where the monkey was driving through the segways. That was cool.
Dude, spoilers. Some of us still have yet to view the film Speed Racer.

Philosophe_rouge

06-13-2008, 02:40 AM

Ugh, moderates.

;)
If ever anyone needs a moderate, I'll be sitting in the corner. Just flash the everything's good-symbol and I'll be there.

Spinal

06-13-2008, 02:43 AM

Dude, spoilers. Some of us still have yet to view the film Speed Racer.

Fixed.

dreamdead

06-13-2008, 04:01 AM

The Conformist (Bertolucci, 1970) **1/2

Well, that's a depressing score right there. Any thoughts for the lackluster opinion? Too Freudian dependent or not emotionally engaging or...

Meanwhile, I knocked off Hubert Selby Jr.: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow from the 'flix instant viewing feature. As a feature it's a bit too perfunctory, despite quality interviews with the heavyweights of music (Lou Reed) and minorweights (Richard Price) of contemporary literature. I think my main beef with it is its adherence to traditional documentary format, tracing Selby's life, art, and influence (or lack thereof in literary academe). Yet the answers to that last one, where the interviewed try to contend that Selby portrayed a vision of America that is too negative for America to respond positively to the author, strike me as a bit too facile and dismissive; rather, it seems as though they refuse to grant that academe is all about categorization and that Selby doesn't neatly fit into any snug category of contemporary American literature. Basically, it feels a bit too cursory of a view, and thus feels limited. Nice Downey Jr. narration, though, if that's beneficial to anyone looking to document a precursor to Downey's attempt to clean up his life (as Selby's a asic model of Downey's personal life with drugs thus far)....

Qrazy

06-13-2008, 04:02 AM

Yeah, there's not a syllable in this sentence that even threatens to approach the outer limits of correctness.

Hold my hand, I will help guide you through the valley of denial.

Qrazy

06-13-2008, 04:03 AM

I like Battle Royale and the Fountain.

Fence sitter oner.

Qrazy

06-13-2008, 04:04 AM

Agreed. Let's pay homage to a good movie for a change.

How I learned to Stop Worrying and Discuss Film?

Winston*

06-13-2008, 04:19 AM

Thread title should be:

We're gonna have a film discussion, We're about to have a film discussion, Now we're starting a film discussion, Now we're having a film discussion, discussion discussion discussion ...

Dead & Messed Up

06-13-2008, 04:32 AM

Finally watched Ratatouille last night. Was absolutely enamored of it, with one (1) small caveat:

I know Linguini isn't the main character, but why not give him a moment of redemption. He pretty much just defers to Remy at the end, without any sort of closure. "I've been an enormously successful cook, but now...let's just roller-skate and serve tables." Why not try to successively build something that Linguini is good at?

Even then, very fun movie. Beautifully animated, some funny gags, a killer sense of action direction.

Spinal

06-13-2008, 04:40 AM

Well, that's a depressing score right there. Any thoughts for the lackluster opinion? Too Freudian dependent or not emotionally engaging or...

Don't have much useful to say. As with Bertolucci's other work, I found the whole thing to be dramatically inert. Just utterly lifeless. Some pretty shots, but it made me really sleepy.

Boner M

06-13-2008, 04:44 AM

Weekend home options:

Fists in the Pocket
The Woman Next Door
Artists and Models

Festival:

Ballast
Come Drink With Me
Chop Shop
Fear(s) in the Dark
The Square

Qrazy

06-13-2008, 04:48 AM

Don't have much useful to say. As with Bertolucci's other work, I found the whole thing to be dramatically inert. Just utterly lifeless. Some pretty shots, but it made me really sleepy.

Yeah he's a fairly poor dramatist. Still the cinematography here is more than just pretty, it was both revolutionary and is incredibly meaningful (in relation to the film's ideas). For these reasons I found the film more rewarding on an intellectual rather than an emotional level. But yeah I understand and agree (but less strongly) with your criticisms.

Philosophe_rouge

06-13-2008, 05:12 AM

Weekend
Jamaica Inn
Moolade
The Bad Seed

monolith94

06-13-2008, 05:14 AM

This weekend I'm going to see an actual play!

Spinal

06-13-2008, 05:37 AM

Yeah he's a fairly poor dramatist. Still the cinematography here is more than just pretty, it was both revolutionary and is incredibly meaningful (in relation to the film's ideas). For these reasons I found the film more rewarding on an intellectual rather than an emotional level. But yeah I understand and agree (but less strongly) with your criticisms.

If it were my first experience with Bertolucci, I would doubt myself more, but I've had virtually the same reaction to each one of his films. Everything looks great, but the film always strikes me as being dead inside. Brando in Last Tango is a notable exception, but I chalk that up to an extraordinary actor in his prime. I'll leave it to film scholars to go gaga over the revolutionary cinematography. I certainly believe you, but it is not my chief concern as a viewer.

transmogrifier

06-13-2008, 06:41 AM

Yeah, I'm not sure I like the new title.

Bosco B Thug

06-13-2008, 06:54 AM

Mums on if Battle Royale's the better or more thoughtful film (than The Fountain), but it's definitely the more interesting and challenging one.

Finally watched Ratatouille last night. Was absolutely enamored of it, with one (1) small caveat:

I know Linguini isn't the main character, but why not give him a moment of redemption. He pretty much just defers to Remy at the end, without any sort of closure. "I've been an enormously successful cook, but now...let's just roller-skate and serve tables." Why not try to successively build something that Linguini is good at? I would have enjoyed that too, but I thought it was just one of many admirably discerning and shrewd decisions the film chose to make, and it works in context of the film as "Credit-where-credit-is-due" fantasy where at the end, all the attention and praise is centered on Remy and the girl chef, both of whom have proven the struggle, determination, and desire they have had to get that attention.

Spinal

06-13-2008, 07:27 AM

Yeah, I'm not sure I like the new title.

Think of it as incentive to come up with something better.

transmogrifier

06-13-2008, 07:29 AM

Faster, Film Discussion! Kill! Kill!

Philosophe_rouge

06-13-2008, 07:31 AM

Faster, Film Discussion! Kill! Kill!
This is excellent.

transmogrifier

06-13-2008, 07:34 AM

This is excellent.

It works on so many levels.

Well, one at least.

Spinal

06-13-2008, 07:35 AM

What happened to paying homage to a good movie?

transmogrifier

06-13-2008, 07:39 AM

What happened to paying homage to a good movie?

F,P!K!K! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> YTMT

Qrazy

06-13-2008, 08:32 AM

Mums on if Battle Royale's the better or more thoughtful film (than The Fountain), but it's definitely the more interesting and challenging one.

I would have enjoyed that too, but I thought it was just one of many admirably discerning and shrewd decisions the film chose to make, and it works in context of the film as "Credit-where-credit-is-due" fantasy where at the end, all the attention and praise is centered on Remy and the girl chef, both of whom have proven the struggle, determination, and desire they have had to get that attention.

Yeah I thought the ending was fine as is... I mean he gets the girl, gets to be with his friends, he has a steady job and he never had any talent for cheffing in the first place... it works better this way than a) Title card style and five years later Linguini discovered become an olympic polevaulter or b) Setting up another talent for him to discover and capitalize on within the films runtime... would have to devote too much time to that.

Qrazy

06-13-2008, 08:33 AM

What happened to paying homage to a good movie?

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Film Discussion

monolith94

06-13-2008, 04:00 PM

Y tu R. Kelly Discussion también???

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa233/shredtastical/I-see-what-you-did-there.jpg

Ezee E

06-13-2008, 04:09 PM

Weekend:
Melvin & Howard
Harold & Maude
Hulk & Night?

John Adams & himself

Sven

06-13-2008, 05:08 PM

I'm definitely going to see the new Herzog either tonite or tomorrow. Can't wait.

Spinal

06-13-2008, 05:51 PM

F,P!K!K! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> YTMT

Madness.

balmakboor

06-13-2008, 05:56 PM

Chris Marker thoughts please. I'm thinking of picking up one or two of the DVDs on this page:

http://store.wexnercenterstore.com/chrismarkerstore1.html

Anyone seen any of them (besides the Criterion one which I already own).

Yxklyx

06-13-2008, 07:04 PM

R. Kelly is minutes away from being found guilty or not guilty. Slightly on topic.

Weekend:

Pierrot Le Fou
House of Bamboo

Pop Trash

06-13-2008, 07:15 PM

R. Kelly found not guilty! Yeaaaaahhhhh bitches!!! More episodes of Trapped in da Closet fo' shizzle!!!

Sven

06-13-2008, 07:32 PM

R. Kelly found not guilty! Yeaaaaahhhhh bitches!!! More episodes of Trapped in da Closet fo' shizzle!!!

You get rep for being the bearer of excellent news.

ledfloyd

06-13-2008, 07:46 PM

i love the thread title.

Ezee E

06-13-2008, 07:48 PM

i love the thread title.
same here

Qrazy

06-13-2008, 07:50 PM

You people are the philistines philistines.

Spinal

06-13-2008, 08:09 PM

Every page of this thread must now end in a cliffhanger.

Derek

06-13-2008, 08:22 PM

Every page of this thread must now end in a cliffhanger.

http://www.northeastdecals.com/Calvin%20Peeing%20decal.gif

What's Calvin peeing on? A tree? One of Hobbes prized possessions? A 15-year old girl? Tune in next page to find out!

Rowland

06-13-2008, 08:48 PM

I can't believe it's mid-June and the best new release I've seen this year is Cloverfield, which was entertaining, but c'mon...

Spinal

06-13-2008, 08:51 PM

http://www.northeastdecals.com/Calvin%20Peeing%20decal.gif

What's Calvin peeing on? A tree? One of Hobbes prized possessions? A 15-year old girl? Tune in next page to find out!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/11JohnWaters_jpg.jpg

Why, it's indie auteur John Waters! What a sport!

Pop Trash

06-13-2008, 09:04 PM

I can't believe it's mid-June and the best new release I've seen this year is Cloverfield, which was entertaining, but c'mon...
Yeah I feel you. Cloverfield is also the best film I've seen this year but I'd still only rank it a 7/10. Last year by this point I saw Grindhouse, Away From Her, Knocked Up and Zodiac, all of which I ranked an 8/10. I have a feeling this will be an off year for film. Looking ahead there aren't that many great looking films or the ones that are toted as possible Oscar nominees are by filmmakers I'm generally not that into (like Baz Luhrman) Also, most people felt that Cannes was underwhelming, which is generally where a lot of the years supposedly better films debut.