http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/08/AR2008050801047.html
I was a HUGE Speed Racer fan as a kid. Even today I still say "Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer, go Speed Racer goooooooooo" for no good reason at all (you can ask Suzy to confirm this). I was initially excited that this was going to be made into a movie. I'm always weary about live-action adaptations of anime, but I thought this could be good. Good anime, cars, a monkey.. how could you go wrong?
But, then I saw the first trailer. Frankly, it didn't impress me. It seemed like a Tron meets Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, meets a pinball machine. I got a feeling it would disapoint people who actually grew up enjoying the show. Based on the reviews I've read, I'm right.
Watched this movie last night (and into early this morning), and really really liked it. I'm not exactly sure how long the extended version was, but it was pretty frikkin' long. But, worth it!
I watched this last night and laughed my ass off. I generally do that for the regular show, and the movie didn't disappoint. Great flick.
Doesn't seem to be playing anywhere around aside Albany, 40 miles away. Sucks.
Finally saw this movie last night. Pretty damn good, and I really enjoyed it. Was sort of odd, though, seeing it for the first time so close to 9/11 and rooting for the terrorist. Lots of good discussions could come about from this movie. If only I had someone to have discussions with! pfffft.
Anyways.. great flick.
CNN.com - Review: Why mess with 'The Omen?' - Jun 6, 2006
Everything I have read about The Omen remake says pretty much the same thing.. Why? I also asked that when I heard that it was being redone. There are one of two thing that a remake can do.. 1) change it so much from the original that it just totally isn't the same and generally sucks (think of ANY Texas Chainsaw remake) or 2) they keep so much to the original movie that the remake it pretty much pointless.
The Omen is a great film. It could have just been re-released, and from what I read, maybe it should have. I guess this remake is pretty much close to the original script.
Some movies just shouldn't be remade. The Shining, Apocolypse Now, The Blues Brothers, etc.. and other classics should be left alone. Want to remake Turner and Hooch, go right ahead!
CNN.com - 'V' victorious at weekend box office - Mar 19, 2006
Anyone go see this? I have been wanting to as it looks pretty kick ass.. but, so did the second and third Matrix. And, you know how those turned out to be like.
I re-watched this movie over the weekend. Since I still hear people say how good it is, I figure maybe I missed something the first time I watched it. Well, I didn't. I'm still not exactly clear why people think this is a good movie. It's not very funny (overt or black comedy), it doesn't make you "think" or really evoke any feelings aside "Now that's a second evening wasted." From what I hear people say about it, it's like a new Fargo or Raising Arizona. Not.
What's the big deal about this movie? What am I missing?
We went and saw the movie last night. We all enjoyed it. I've always been a Depp and Burton fan, as well as a Wonka fan. It was good to see the squirrels.
I watched 'Saved!' last night. The movie centers around several self-righteous youths in a Christian High School. The plot primarily revolves around a self-identified Christian, named Mary, who has a hallucination after surviving a swimming accident. She interprets it as a vision in which Jesus tells her to have sex with her boyfriend in order to save him from homosexuality. Soon after, she becomes furious with God for betraying her by allowing her to become pregnant. The film finishes with a scene of the boyfriend crashing the school dance with his gay lover and exclaiming, "I know in my heart that Jesus still loves me!"
I can see that many Christians would hate this movie. Of course, many Christians don't mind some mockery of others, but not at themselves. One main thing struck me while watching it. Mary asked if God would ever want you to have sex instead of waiting for wedlock. The principal/preacher didn't understand the question. But, I do wonder if/when many Christians would think it's ok to go against the accepted word of God. For example, people are told they shouldn't lie. I think honesty is a pretty constant theme of religion. If you were in the woods and saw a deer run to your left, and a hunter walks up and asks if you saw a deer.. would you be sinning if you said it ran to the right? You have lied, but you have also saved a life. Would God be angry with you? If the answer is 'no', then the rules don't always apply and people should be taught about the 'greater good' and that God can accept you.
Another thing said in the movie was how if God wanted us all the same, he wouldn't have made us all so different. Implying that God doesn't want sheep, because if he did, that's what he would have created. Or, is the plan of God to see how many free-thinkers can be conformed to a certain belief system? That would seem like a cruel Pavlovian-esque God.
I sometimes want to sit down with a priest and ask questions I have. Not that I'd ever accept anyone as my saviour, but that I have so many questions which don't make sense. For example, I'm still not understanding the "getting into Heaven" thing. If you don't accept Christ, you can't.. but he is still all forgiving, but can't seem to forgive that. But, if you're an ax murderer and accept him you get a ticket in? How about those who kill in the name of God (doing "Gods will")? They are sinning in the name of Christ, which they have accepted.. but think they will get into Heaven since they believe they are doing His will. But, a Jew can't get in even though Jesus was a Jew, and I don't recall hearing that he denounced Judaism. I'm sure I'd quotes some lines from the bible which I could then say "But, that may mean X or Y, not Z as you say." When people interpret the bible how much do they take into account that it was a book written for simple people, using many parables and metaphores? I don't think God would preach to uneducated folks 2000 years ago using 'big words'. Things would be simple, so that the common folks could understand. Also, how much do they take into account mis-translations? Or, words/phrases used 2000 years ago which have different meaning today? Or, that a word may have had many uses back then? (think of the word "bad" today. There is bad meaning bad and bad meaning good) For example, the word 'Rock' which is used many times.
So many questions, so little answers. Sometimes, when I have asked people questions, the answers seem canned as if they just repeat what they were told. Blind faith, if you will. Or, they get angry and feel attacked. Or, it simply becomes "because the bible says so" and there is no answer to be found (blind faith, again).
I think it's important to ask questions. I think it's important to try to understand. I think it's important to not think your God is exclusionary, after all that wouldn't be very Christian, would it? :-) I think it's important to understand a central message of a prophet, but not think God will smite you if you try your best to be a good person.
Suzy may think I'm crazy, but maybe I will call a few churches around here and see if someone can try to answer my questions without trying to convert me.
Wow.. this turned into a longer post than I expected! In either case, I liked the movie :-)
Remember I made fun of the Kabbalah Red String? Seems I'm not the only one who thinks it's dumb. I guess Ashton Kuchter wore one during the filming of his latest original film 'Guess Who'. Test audiences hated seeing it so much, the movie company is paying to have it digitally removed.
Test audiences “were really annoyed” by the sight of the emblem of the trendy religious movement favored by Kutcher and his sweetie Demi Moore, according to a source.
Watched this last night. Wasn't too bad. Pretty screwed up concenpt, but there are some sickos out there so it's still marginally believable. I'm not sure if the bad acting by Leigh Wannell, Danny Glover and Cary Elwes was meant to be or not. I did like the thought of a killer who doesn't actually kill. Just puts people in situations. In fact, I think the movie should have been called Jigsaw, or Killer Choices (ok, that one sucks). I see there is Saw 2 going to be made, so I'll check that out when it's out. Hopefully, the stick to this formula of being more of a horror-thriller and not decline into a BOO-fest which most horror seems to be these days (Rings, for example).
We watched this last night. I really wish I knew it wasn't supposed to be scary. I thought it was going to be a "startle to scare" movie, instead of an eerie scary. But, wasn't much of either. I'm not sure what the big deal was about this film, as it was somewhat average, the first "twist" I figured out as soon as I saw a hedgehog seemingly dressed as Red Riding Hood, and the second twist wasn't exactly an "oh my gosh" twist.
I already mention I, Robot and that I, wasn't too impressed.
Home For The Holidays - I think that was the name. Ben Affleck rents a family and all. Couple funny parts, overall, pretty bad.
Racing Stripes - I took Kyla to see this on Saturday. Was pretty cute, and we both enjoyed it.
Passion of the Christ - Was pretty good. Hell, I didn't know it was a comedy! Kidding, kidding. Since it was based off the gospels, I can't say it was anti-semetic like so many did. If the movie is, then the gospels were. I think it shows a lot of the fear in people of anything different. And, I'd expect people who are looking for their Messiah to want to kill anyone who says they are it. Eh, too early to wax philisophical. I enjoyed the movie and thought it was well done. I do think that it could have been a little longer to better introduce the WHY he was being persecuted. WHY the Jews wanted him dead. Not just "he's a blasphemer". Heck, is probably everyone reading this. What set him apart as THE blasphemer. Maybe we'll get a prequel!
Watched this last night. It was.. hmmm.. unoriginal may be the word I'm looking for. Parts of Ghost In The Shell, 2001, The Matrix and about every other movie which deals with "what is alive" when it comes to robots.
In itself, the movie wasn't that bad. But, if you took out all the non original parts, it would be a 20 minute show. So, not overly impressed although it was fun to watch. Entertaining, but typical uninspired Hollywood flash.
Watched this last night in all it's widescreen glory. Awesome movie. Of course, I love about anything Japanese, and Samurai. Good acting, good story, samurai AND ninjas, lovely scenery, fun battle scenes. Good stuff. I actually still understood some of the Japanese parts. Not that I didn't need the subtitles, but enough to know the translations were Americanized.
Even though it's a fictional story, I think it showed some of what was happening during the Meiji era in Japan. This is when Japan started coming out of isolation, and the Samurai, with nobody to fight in 200 years, were antiquated. Western things were all the rage. And, Katsumoto was based, sort of loosely, on Takamori Saigo. Katsumoto, like Saigo, supported the emporer during the Meiji era.. but then led a revolt against him in 1877. Saigo also died during the battle, but committed suicide in true Samurai fashion. Katsumoto had Cruise deal the blow.
Anyhow.. great flick, if you haven't seen it yet.
We went to see this on Saturday. I really liked it, and Kyla really liked it. We're big SpongeBob fans around here, so see the movie was a lot of fun.
Went to see this over the weekend. It wasn't exactly a great movie for 6 year old girls, so Kyla didn't like it (her and Suzy left maybe halfway through). But, I liked it. Not a laugh-a-minute movie, but was fun and enjoyable.
Watched this movie last night. Was really good. I was a skater for many years, and still have my board collecting dust in the garage. Here's part of the stock description:
In the early 1970s, a group of young surfers from a tough neighborhood south of Santa Monica took up skateboards and offhandedly changed the world. At least it appears so after watching Dogtown and Z-Boys, a documentary about how twelve 'Z-Boys' (including one girl) resuscitated a dead sport and created a lifestyle that spread infectiously to become a worldwide counterculture phenomenon, namely high-flying 'vert' (i.e. vertical) skateboarding and punk rock abandon. Director Stacy Peralta, one of the original Z-Boys, and Craig Steyck, the photographer whose publicity first made them famous, would have you believe that with empty pools as their springboard, the clan single-handedly carved a niche that grew into what is now referred to as 'extreme sports'...
If you're a skater, you'd enjoy this. If you're a snowboarder, you'd enjoy this. Good old footage from "back in the day", as skating vert was discovered and the beginings of the skating (r)evolution.
I'm usually a few years behind on movies, aren't I? :-) Watched this last night. Was pretty good. I do know Moore movies sort of stretch/twist/spin the truth a bit.. or use truth with other truth to make new truth (make sense?) by splicing things together in the movie.
What I actually found most interesting were the (real?) stats between gun deaths here and everywhere else. Him speaking with the Canadians about safety and gun, and what is different between us and everyone else where more people here kill eachother. If those stats are real with the number of killings, and number of guns, gives us something to think about.
Why I'm watching this movie right now isn't the question.. the question is why I haven't yet changed the channel. They movie sucks so far, and I know it won't get better.. yet like a car wreck, I can't look away.
Well, maybe I'll flip Monk on at midnight and stop staring at this mess.
Watched this Friday night. Bad. It seems like it could have been good, but it wasn't. The ending sucked. No real closure, and there should have been since this didn't seem like a movie which would or could have a sequel.
Went to see this today, and enjoyed it. Since the 1:30 was sold out, and we got tickets to the 2:30 I spent some time in the book store. Picked up a Samurai Deeper Kyo, and Eyes of the Dragon (Stephen King). I read Eyes of the Dragon back when I was in high school. My neighbor had a signed hardcover copy of it and loaned it to me. I don't remember it, but recall I enjoyed it.
Now, debating a trip to Lowes or Home Depot for some new light fixtures for the bathrooms. And of course, The Sopranos (which better be frickin good tonight) and Deadwood.
Watched this movie last night (the 2003 one) with Suzy. I haven't seen the original for eons and don't even remember it much. I'm sure I was scared when I saw it, since I had to be fairly young. But, this one wasn't very scary... well, it was non-scary. A few "startling" parts, but that's not scary.. that's, well, startling. Kyla yelling "BOO" can have the same effect. The best thing about the movie was the actress with the lead role, her white shirt, and all the rain. But, it was nice watching a movie with Suzy. She was scared. The tagline about being based on actual events actually made her think it was. I told her it wasn't, and that it was loosely based on a guy in Wisconsin (Ed Gein). Not sure if she believed me or not. I used to be into the whole psychological aspect of serial killers, so I read about him long ago.
Gein was a real sicko. Norman Bates (Psycho) was partly inspired by him. Also Buffalo Bill (Silence of the Lambs). Gein was found with 15 mutilated female bodies in his farmhouse, and admitted to killing two other women. He said that the other bodies were from graves.. he was more of a grave robber than a killer (well, aside the, at least, 2 people he admitted killing). He used to use the skin and bones of people to make furniture, jewelry, drums, lampshades, clothing (for example, a full suit made of human skin and a belt made of nipples), etc... He didn't use a chainsaw or chop up live victims. He did have a corpse hanging from a meat-hook thing in his farmhouse though (also seen in the movie, but the guy was alive when hung).
I think "based on actual events" is a bit of a longshot here, as it was with the original.
Watched this on Saturday night. I enjoyed it. I've been a fan of Cage since Raising Arizona (still one of my favorite movies), and will watch most movies he is in.. even Con Air!
What I liked about this movie is that it actually tricked me! I didn't once think he was being conned. The only other movies which I didn't figure out the twist with full confidence were Unusual Suspects and Primal Fear (both also on my top movie list).
If you haven't seen this movie, you should.. even though I just ruined it :-)
Watched this last night. Good movie, but I'm not sure what all the hubbub was about. I guess we're supposed to ponder on what he whispered in her ear at the end. Not sure. Good flick, people should see it.. but I'm missing what the hype was all about.
FOXNews.com - Foxlife - R-Rating Sought in Some Smoking Films
Well, I think this is dumb. It's not like kids don't see parent smoking, or people smoking outside a theater.
I was watching Pinnochio with Kyla the other night and there is pipe and cigar smoking in that. As well as the word "jackass" used a few times. I guess Pinnochio would deserve an R rating. As well as the Dalmation movies. The Lord of the Rings movies also have pipe smoking.
I don't think movies would lend to kids smoking, killing sprees, flipping cars, joining a circus or anything else seen in movies. And treating tobacco use as offensive language is going a bit too far, in my opinion.
'Hobbitt,''Rings' Prequel, in the Work
Enough said.
Yahoo! News - 'Lord of the Rings' Sweeps Oscars
Well deserved. It's also the first fantasy genre movie to win this award. I'm not sure, but I'd guess it is also the first 3rd installment of a movie to win it, if not the first sequel.
We just got it on iControl. Very good! I'm glad I finally got to see it.
On a side note.. do you say "Care-e-be-an" or "Ka-rib-ee-an"? I think I say "Ka-rib-ee-an Sea" but "Pirates of the Care-e-be-an" and "Ka-rib-ee-an cruise". Not sure why people (like me) use different pronunciations for the same word with the same meaning.
Another word is "route". "Row-t" or "Root"? "Go down 'root' 50" but "I have a paper 'row-t'. But, that's a tangent on a tangent. Good movie :-)
I had DVR'd Samurai 2 and 3 (about Musashi), but 2 seems to have been erased!!! I'm not sure how that happened :-( I was ok with missing the first episode, but watching the 3rd without seeing 1 and 2 is kind of lame. I'll keep 3 on there and see if I can rent 1 and 2 somewhere. I wasn't going to watch it until I finish the book... which is awesome. I may have deleted it by accident when I was deleting a bunch of Hack/Sign episodes I watched. Oh well :-(
Nit-Pickers Guide to The Lord of the Rings
Good (and long) list of differences between the movies and books. Some things I noticed while watching the movies, and some I read now and say "oh yeah!" Good list, especially if you haven't read the books and want to know what was Hollywood and what was from the book. The 2 main things I didn't like in the movies was that Frodo never dropped the ring while climbing Caradhras, and therefore Borimor never picked it up. But, I somewhat understand trying to show the "power of the ring" or something. Even worse, is the role of Arwen in the movie, which was very much played up. That I don't agree with, but I realize it's Hollywood.
Anyways.. good list of nit-picks.
Suzy DVR'd this movie and we watched it this afternoon. Terrible. This movie actually got awards? The movie was slow, boring, predictable and a waste of film.
Just got back from this movie. It's terrific. I highly suggest it is the next movie you go see (unless you haven't seen Return of the King yet). Simply a great movie.
FINALLY! I got to go see it. Between the weather, car issues and Kyla being sick I hadn't gotten to go see it until the 9:30 showing last night. Well worth the wait.. loved it.
Since I'm loving the maga, I got the Battle Royale movie and watced it tonight.
Battle Royale, a film by the veteran Japanese director Kinji Fukasaku, tells the story of a dystopic future in which each year, a randomly-selected 9th grade class is kidnapped and sent to a deserted island where they are equipped with weapons and are forced to kill each other until one survivor is left. The movie, which premiered in Japan on December 16, 2000 amidst much controversy, is based on a bestselling novel by Koushun Takami.
Imagine that. Being put on an island with 42 of your classmates and having to only have 1 survivor after 3 days time. The catch, if after 3 days more than one person is alive, the explosive necklaces which are locked on you will explode... and nobody survives.
Since the movie isn't released in the US, I have a Korean version of it. The movie is really good. Some minor differences than the manga, and likely the novel, but fun to watch. The subtitles aren't bad, but really poor in some spots. A mix of Engrish and just bad translation. I don't think it took away from the movie, and is much better than not seeing it at all.
I'll say this one is worth seeing.
Just watched this. Not too bad. It wasn't an amazing thriller, but was good enough to keep my attention and not be pissed off by the way it ends. Robin Williams' character wasn't a very good psycho. Not that he doesn't play one well, just that his character was a better passive psycho. A good psycho wouldn't have been caught. Anyways, wasn't bad.
Cannonball Run 2 is on now. I know I like this one :-)
My Battle Royale Directors Cut (live action) just arrived! I'm so excited! Of course, it will ruin the surprise of reading the manga... but I hear this movie kicks ass.
Horrible. Terrible. Don't go see it! If your kid wants to see it, tell them to wait until it is on video or HBO. I'm a huge Dr. Suess fan, and think this movie never should have been made. The cartoon version of this was enough, and making this bastardized version should never have been done. The voice of the Cat (Mike Myers) was a mix between an old Jew and Dr. Evil with a hint of the Cowardly Lion. Terrible. The fish, which has a "big" part in the real story, was useless in the movie. The story was barely similar to the book, and there was barely any rhymes from the book. If, at the very least, the dialog of the movie was 70% rhymes, maybe it could have been tolerable. The good Dr. Suess must be spinning in his grave.
The only good thing about going was seeing the trailer for Shrek 2.
For some dumb reason I watched Feardotcom last night. Counting chest hairs would have been more productive and stimulating. What a terrible movie. It's like a poor remake of The Rings (which is a decent remake of Ringu). Add in the cliche little girl ghost, bad acting and general make-no-sense issues. Like, the chick somehow swallowed a lipstick applicator (is that what it's called?) with a note inside of it with the killers address. It's somehow explained as "She must have swallowed it before he killed her." Yet, the killer seemed to keep his victims pretty bound up and tortured. So, how in the world did she have the time to dispose of the lipstick, get some paper and a pen, write a note on it, roll it up and swallow it?! STUPID!!
If you haven't seen it, don't. If you have, you should have told me not to watch it!!
Non Spoiler Part:
I liked it. Not as good as the first movie, much better than the fairly crappy Revolutions.
Spoiler Part:
I've read a lot of luke warm reviews about this movie. Some by critics, and some by fans. I'm not sure what those who didn't like it were expecting, or even sure if they could have gotten what they expected.
The dialog in the movie isn't terrible. Not great, but it does it's job. The action is good, but not as good as the first movie. They sort of replicated the awesome lobby fight scene from the first movie.. just not as good. And Machine City sort of looked like the Death Star.. but cooler. I only got annoyed at one part.. when Trinity was dying, Zion was minutes from destruction, and Neo and Trinity sit there pining over eachother. I was thinking "HELLOOOOOOO! ZION!! EARTH CALLING NEO!!"
Not all the question from the second movie were blatantly answered. But, I think if you read between the lines, and connect some dots.. they were. I think that enough things were answered, and the rest can be discovered by self-thought if it is important enough.
Who now know the purpose of the Architect and Oracle. We know what Smith is, and why he is replicating... although we didn't see that he entered the Matrix via a Microsoft Word macro virus (I figured that out via self-thought).
Anyways.. this is just a mini-review.. and I pretty much like the movie and am not too disappointed.
It opens tomorrow! I'm looking forward to the trilogy ending, and being there to see it. I hope it is better than Reloaded. But, I'll like it no matter what since I enjoy the series. Unless, of course, the ending sucks :-) I'll probably either try to make the 9am showing after Kyla gets on the bus, or the 10:20 showing in Glens Falls or 10:40 in Saratoga.
Once this movie is done, it means the next big thing is Return of the King.. which I CAN'T WAIT FOR!
Went to get Finding Nemo today for Kyla (and me). First went to B&N, the guy handed it to me and I see $30! I said "I like the movie, but $30 is quite a ripoff" and handed it back. The guy says back "I agree". So, went across the street to Wal-Mart.. $14.99.
There is no reason for a DVD of a single movie to be $30, no matter if it has a second disk with special features or not. The media, printing and packaging probably costs around $1 for the movie companies. Places like B&N probably buy each disk for about $10-$12 if that. I know for books they pay roughly 45-65% off of retail, I assume it's roughly the same for DVDs and CDs.
So, either B&N is trying to rip you off, or Wal-Mart has 100% more buying power. Maybe next week the Wal-Mart price will be $20 or $25, I'll check.
CNN.com - Lightning strikes Gibson's 'Christ' - Oct. 24, 2003
The guy playing Christ was struck by lightning during shooting. An assistant director has been struck twice so far.
Gives some backing to when people say "May God strick me down...." I guess he will!!
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Trailer is out.. 'nuff said.
KILL BILL - THE 4TH FILM BY QUENTIN TARANTINO
I like Taratntino... looking forward to this one!
I watched this movie last night. Dear lord, does Speilberg have a way with turning a 90 minute movie into a WAY TOO LONG movie or what?! I thought it was supposed to be funny, but it wasn't. It wasn't bad, but was too damn long for what it should have been. So, see it if you have some time, and don't expect to laugh... or be overly entertained.
If you liked the first one, go see this! Better than the first! The effects were good, acting wasn't bad, bits of humor, and plenty of action. We lose a mutant, and gain a mutant. There was lots of cheers and applause from the audience. A good time. And, of course, Mystique... purrrrrrrr.
So, without giving any spoilers I'll say to go check it out of you are an X-Men fan
Going to an advanced showing tonight. Can't wait!!
The trailer is no online! Looks awesome!
Took Kyla to see Jungle Book 2 today since Suzy was at work and we needed something to kill time. Kyla got a little scared at some points.. but most Disney animation seems to needlessly have scary parts. Anyways, she enjoyed it overall. I thought it was just ok... nothing special at all. But, then again, it wasn't made for me ;-) The best thing about it was spending the time with Kyla.
So, went to see an advanced showing of Daredevil last night. It is hard to think of this movie, and not compare it to Spider Man, which rocked. But, Spider Man raised the bar for all comic book based movies. In all, Daredevil wasn't too bad. I don't think they gave enough time to get to know, or care about, the characters. Some of the scenes were too dark, there was a scene which reminded me of Tomb Raider and, of course, the obligatory The Matrix-esque scene. Also, something I don't know if I liked was that the story obviously happened in present day (Daredevil had a PDA on his table in one of the first scenes.. what does a blind man need with a PDA, and that obviously places the time period as now.. among other things). Spider Man did a good job of not giving away the time in which the movie took place... see, hard to not compare it to Spider Man. There were some other discrepancies from the comic.
The good things. Pretty action packed. Jennifer Garner in tight leather. Decent casting. The dialog was pretty good. Jennifer Garner in tight leather. Kevin Smith had a good cameo. And, Jennifer Garner in tight leather.
If Spider Man is a 10, this movie is a 6 or 7. I'd suggest people wait until it is on DVD, unless you really need to go see it.
Watched a fair amount of anime this weekend. It was a nice relaxing weekend, so it was a good time to do it. The end of last week started with Akira. This is a classic anime. Was good to watch again, since it had been a while. Great movie, although the voice over work isn't the best. Friday night I watched Princess Mononoke. Stunning artistry, but slightly slow at times. But, a good story and worth seeing. Saturday I watched Ninja Scroll. Fantastic movie! I'll likely be watching this one a few more times. Sunday I watched Berserk - War Cry (Episodes 1-5) and Berserk - Immortal Soldier (Episodes 6-9). Really cool series. I have to finish watching episodes 8 and 9, and plan to follow the rest of the series. Was a lot of fun. Thanks to Alan for lending these to me.
Alan alerted me to
this great deal for the Fellowship of the Ring 4 Disk set. It is $25.99 (%35 off), with a $10 mail-in rebate and a $10.50 certificate towards seeing The Two Towers. Also, since it is over $25, the shipping is free! Can't beat that with a bat!
My birthday is next month, so feel free to purchase this for me. You know you want to. I know you do too. So, let's just cut the bullshit and you can order it for me.
Last night the Sundance Channel showed Baraka. I haven't seen it in quite some time, and still love it. It is truely a great film. Watching "Baraka" is an unusual experience, closer to a mystic trance than to a common film-going.
In this hypnotic visual essay, the relationship between Man and the Earth is explored by photographer Ron Fricke, by means of careful editing and a haunting series of musics from around the world.
There is no dialogue, no plot, to characters. No actors.
Filmed in 24 countries and set to an ever-changing global soundtrack, the movie draws some surprising connections between various peoples and the spaces they inhabit, whether that space is a lonely mountaintop, a crowded cigarette factory or a busy crossroad somewhere in the US.
The word Baraka means "blessing" in several languages; watching this film, the viewer is blessed with a dazzling barrage of images that transcend language.
Amazing connections are proposed to the viewer by careful editing: for instance, an early sequence segues between the daily devotions of Tibetan monks, Orthodox Jews, and whirling dervishes, finding more similarity among these rituals than one might expect.
Other amazing moments include sped-up footage of a busy Hong Kong intersection revealing a beautiful symmetry to urban life that could only be appreciated from the perspective of film.... The director also invented new photographic devices to be able to obtain the effects he wanted, playing with slow and fast motion in pictures, to bring out the regularities in them.
The sense of mesmerizing confusion and de-location is entirely wanted. Cinematographer Ron Fricke explains that the effect was intentional: "It's not where you are that's important, it's what's there." And what's here, in Baraka, is a whole anthropological essay summed up in 104 minutes... definitely, to be seen!
The soundtrack is also great (listening to it right now, in fact). I would recommend the movie and sountrack to everyone!
Yay! There is a Lord of the Rings: Two Towers teaser online! I think it is dumb showing Gandalf in it, since people who have not read the books may think he is dead based on Fellowship of the Ring. But, if you haven't read the books, well, you suck.
Here you can see the first teaser for Matrix 2, "The Matrix: Reloaded". I saw it in the theater last night before Star Wars. I CAN'T WAIT! Of course, my eyes are on The Two Towers right now :)
Let me start by saying that I did enjoy seeing this movie. It was MUCH better than Phantom Menace.. but 10 folds. Of course, this is mainly due to the fact that Jar Jar isn't in the whole movie.. only about 10 minutes (some people did boo when Jar Jar first came on). HOWEVER, Jar Jar is given an important role.. which I am not sure I liked.. but oh well. Let's move past Jar Jar Stinks...
The Acting
Well, um.. the acting... I think there was some acting in this movie. It surely wasn't done by Hayden Christensen (Anakan Skywalker), and it was barely done by Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan) whenever he was with Anikan. Some of the dialog is trite, and was worthy of being on a high school stage, rather than a large screen. I'm not a huge fan of love stories (since they are all the same), so I didn't like the lovey dovey crap with Anakan and Amidala (Natalie Portman). Basically, if you need to pee, or get some popcorn, you are safe to do so within the first half any time it is only Anakan and Amidala in a scene. Even if you like the lovey dovey junk, you know he gets the girl anyways, unless you are completely clueless as to who Anakin and Amidala become.
The Plot
Not too much to say on the plot, since the plot is known :) Basically moves along nicely, and some of the pieces start falling into place. I won't say what pieces, since I don't want to give any spoilers. We can see how Anakin is moving more to the Dark Side, and some clues to why. Of course, if I was a hot-shot Jedi wannabe, and everyone kept calling me 'Anni', I would move to the Dark Side as well. I will say (semi-spoiler here) I did like knowing how Lord Vader lost his arm.
The Fetts
I'll tell ya, Boba Fett was always my favorite. In AotC we get to meet his dad (well, he calls him dad but he is really... well, you will see) Jango Fett. He's a pretty bad-ass guy, until... well, you will see. But, the whole Fett thing is very important, and is something that fills in some pieces of backstory from the orginal movies.
The Clones
A million order taking Jango Fetts.. what else could you want? We've all seen the clones before, we already knew (some) resembled Fett, so this isn't much of a spoiler. Actually, the attacking of the clones in this movie is minimal. We learn what they are, why they are, and can piece together who they become. The do kick some droid ass.
The Action
Good action. Good space scenes, some good chases, and some good lightsaber action. Much more action than Episode I, which is good since Anakin can't act.
R2-D2/C3-PO
R2 and C3 are up to their old antics. It was good seeing the usual banter between the two, and reminded me of when I was a child seeing Star Wars for the first time. We didn't need a Jar Jar as kids, we had these two lovable driods. One thing that was cool, R2 flies in this one... I don't recall him flying in any of the other movies, and wonder why.
Yoda
Yoda rocks. He is the #1 Jedi, cute, lovable, wise, and a wonder with his lightsaber. That's right, he uses a lightsaber in this movie. I don't care if that is a spoiler, it was cool. I do wish Yoda was still a muppet. He was ok computer generated, but I like him as a muppet. My opinion only, this is.
Mace Windu
Samuel L. Jackson.. what can you say about this motherfucker? He is a bad ass motherfucking Jedi, motherfucker. This motherfucker doesn't back down, and will whip your motherfucking ass with his light-motherfucking-saber. "What you say to me Jango Motherfucking Fett? Take this!" Of course, I kept expecting Mace to act like he is Jules from Pulp Fiction, but he didn't. But, it is motherfucking funny pretending he did! Seriously, he did a great job. Samuel is a great actor, and a great Jedi.. he kicks some ass.
The Computer Generated Stuff
The scenery was good, the space screnes were terrific. But, it was sort of too much of a good thing. I would have liked it if some of the characters were people in costumes, muppets, or mechanical things instead of computer generated. Why? Well, you can tell they are computer generated. For me, this takes a little bit away from the fantasy when you can see how unnatural the movements are. In my opinion, if it walks on two legs, it doesn't need to be computer generated.
As well, there were some scenes which it appeared that the actors were computer generated. In a scene where Anakin and Obi-Wan have to jump on to the back of a 10 foot creature (4 legged, dinosaurish thing), it looked so fake. It didn't look like they had people doing the actual movements in front of a blue screen, then added the creature. Looked more like it was done the other way around, and poorly. I figure if you can create this creature (which was very well done) you can do a cleaner job of having people jump on it. This happens a few times, like when Anakin is riding (surfing) the back of this overgrown-tick looking thing in a field.. looked so fake they should have just cut it out.
Natalie Portman
Of course, I need to comment on the leading lady. She was good. Good acting, and again played the part of Amidala well. I found it odd that she apparantly didn't age one bit in the 10 year span between Episode I and Episode II. But, she was good. Of course, she is also a hottie :) Let me know if you find it the same way, but the part of the movie where her belly is showing when the movie (momentum) really kicks in. This is an afterthought, but I think it is true. And remember kids, there are no bras in space! (the sound stage was cold in one scene, hint hint)
Summary
Overall, I liked it. I am much happier than I was with Episode I (which I really didn't like). Aside from Anakin, the acting is pretty good. Aside from the love story crap, the dialog isn't too bad. Less Jar Jar (yay!), more Fett (yay!). Kick ass Yoda (yay!), kick ass Mace (yay!). Overdone computer generated creatures (boo!), but good action (yay!). This movie is definately worth seeing if you are a Star Wars fan. If you aren't a Star Wars fan, well, you should be! Shame on you!
This movie leaves me with 2 questions:
1) Why is it that everyone in space seems to have a Britsih accent?
2) Why does Yoda need that cane to walk? Is he collecting workmans comp? We can plainly see he can kick ass without it.
I'm going to a Star Wars: AotC advanced showing tonight. Assuming all goes well, I will be putting a brief review up here tomorrow.
There was a (joke) petition out there saying Peter Jackson should rename the upcoming "The Two Towers" to something less "offensive". Referring to the WTC, of course. So, dozens of counter petitions popped up. So, I made one asking for Peter Jackson to change his name to Peter "Action" Jackson. Pretty stupid, I know (I'm somewhat bored right now).. but go sign it anyways.
Last night I saw an advanced showing of Spider-Man. Let me tell ya, it rocked! Tobey Maquire made a great Spider-Man, and a great Peter Parker. I just hope he keeps up with the Spider-Man movies (I know he is doing Spider-Man 2). I'd hate to see what happened with Batman happen with Spider-Man. And, Kirsten Dunst... all I need to say its 'wet t-shirt'! Man, she is hot. She also does a terrific job as Mary Jane. Both of them were great for their roles.. the casting crew needs a big kudos for this movie.
Willem Dafoe (why can't his name just be William??) is a really good Green Goblin. He has a good enough "Am I a psycho or am I a nice guy" look to pull off the Norman Osborn/Green Goblin character.
I won't give any spoilers, since the movie doesn't open until tonight. If you like Spiderman, you should go see this. If you like action, you should go see this. If you like Kirsten Dunst, you should go see this.
In summary, there was good action, good acting, and good effects. They basically stuck to the storyline of Spider-Man, except for a few minor changes (like he shoots webbing from his wrist, instead of wearing something which does it). I give this movie a hearty thumps up.
P.S. If you want to hear the original Spider-Man theme (Spiderman, Spidernam, does whatever a spider can...) keep seated during the credits. It was the third or fourth song played.