Movie Log 2007:80-82
Superbad - I really wanted them to knock this out of the park. I can live with a ground-rule double. I read one review calling it a remake of Eyes Wide Shut, in that a couple's relationship is tested during an increasingly surreal walk through town, culminating in a wild party with alcohol acting as the masks. I'm not sure how McLovin' fits in there...
My Favorite Wife - Cary Grant/Irene Dunne screwball comedy. Also featuring Randolph Scott, and made while Grant & Scott were housemates.
Body - What Kirsti said. Take Body Heat, replace the sex with KISSING(!), and add musical numbers. I'm always amused at the details Bollywood doesn't need to steal from originals, yet does: here we have the wind chimes, white dresses, the same method of covering up the crime, and the wacky friend (updated to karaoke from Ted Danson's tapdancing D.A.). Oh, and an impassioned break-in, only instead of throwing something through the glass door, he...sorta...jiggles the door until the latch opens. Or something. I'm pretty sure that doesn't work like that. I'll try it next time I'm at Bipasha Basu's place.
So now we've seen Bollywood ripoffs of:
Body Heat
Sense & Sensibility (I don't know if that really counts, since adapting a public-domain work is fair game)
On the Waterfront
While You Were Sleeping
Pretty Woman
...and a crazy hybrid of E.T. and Forrest Gump
Showing posts with label movie log. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movie log. Show all posts
Monday, September 17, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Movie Log 2007: #70-79
The Broadway Melody (1929) - the second-ever Best Picture Oscarwinner, and the first talkie to win. Good Freed & Brown songs (including "You Were Meant For Me," which later found its way into Singin' in the Rain), but limp overall.
Double Dare - Documentary about Zoe Bell (most recently seen in the "Death Proof" half of Grindhouse) coming to the States. She's so on the list. I think she's on Kirsti's list too, which is okay by me.
The Man Who Came To Dinner - Took a while to get going, but was generally hilarious. This should have been one of our high-school plays instead of the bummers we had to drag out. David & Lisa? Good Christ...
Pie in the Sky: The Brigid Berlin Story - I used to be ambivalent about Andy Warhol. Now I actively dislike him. Berlin's photography did look like it could have been interesting, but the film just concentrated on how bugf%^k crazy she is.
Sunshine - Smarter science fiction than I expected.
Stardust - Princess Bride with better stunt casting.
Road House - Great movie, or the greatest movie?
Fuck - Documentary about the F-bomb. In league with The Aristocrats, and maybe slightly better.
Shut Up & Sing - This was a good look at band dynamics and crisis management, though one death threat notwithstanding, I never really bought their plight. So, Home sells 7 million while Taking the Long Way only goes a piddling double platinum? Hrm...talk to the Dead Kennedys or Negativland about career suicide. Anyway, I'll see anything Barbara Kopple puts out.
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters - Look, I am into some nerdy shit. There's no way around it. Just look at the post before this one. But anyway, along comes a movie like The King of Kong to put my life in sweet, sweet perspective. It's no cinematic spectacle, but this documentary about people vying for the world-record Donkey Kong high score demands to be seen in a crowded theatre.
The Broadway Melody (1929) - the second-ever Best Picture Oscarwinner, and the first talkie to win. Good Freed & Brown songs (including "You Were Meant For Me," which later found its way into Singin' in the Rain), but limp overall.
Double Dare - Documentary about Zoe Bell (most recently seen in the "Death Proof" half of Grindhouse) coming to the States. She's so on the list. I think she's on Kirsti's list too, which is okay by me.
The Man Who Came To Dinner - Took a while to get going, but was generally hilarious. This should have been one of our high-school plays instead of the bummers we had to drag out. David & Lisa? Good Christ...
Pie in the Sky: The Brigid Berlin Story - I used to be ambivalent about Andy Warhol. Now I actively dislike him. Berlin's photography did look like it could have been interesting, but the film just concentrated on how bugf%^k crazy she is.
Sunshine - Smarter science fiction than I expected.
Stardust - Princess Bride with better stunt casting.
Road House - Great movie, or the greatest movie?
Fuck - Documentary about the F-bomb. In league with The Aristocrats, and maybe slightly better.
Shut Up & Sing - This was a good look at band dynamics and crisis management, though one death threat notwithstanding, I never really bought their plight. So, Home sells 7 million while Taking the Long Way only goes a piddling double platinum? Hrm...talk to the Dead Kennedys or Negativland about career suicide. Anyway, I'll see anything Barbara Kopple puts out.
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters - Look, I am into some nerdy shit. There's no way around it. Just look at the post before this one. But anyway, along comes a movie like The King of Kong to put my life in sweet, sweet perspective. It's no cinematic spectacle, but this documentary about people vying for the world-record Donkey Kong high score demands to be seen in a crowded theatre.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Movie Log 2007 #23-24
There are about ten movies I need to write up.
This Film is Not Yet Rated - about how the MPAA, a studio tool, generally puts the screws to independent filmmakers. Distributed by Red Envelope, an arm of Netflix -- which itself did away with its "mature" titles years ago and will capriciously pull films from stock. The most interesting revelation to me wasn't even dealt with: the fact that Kirby Dick's appeal board included the head of the Landmark Theatres chain, which specializes in indie/arthouse films. The private investigators seem more competent after listening to the commentary, but the film isn't the expose it wants to be. If you want recommendations of movies with decent sex scenes, this film gives you plenty of options.
The problems of the artists in TFINYR seemed so insignificant after watching The Lives of Others the next day. I still don't know how it stacks up against Pan's Labyrinth, but this was solid and suspenseful throughout.
There are about ten movies I need to write up.
This Film is Not Yet Rated - about how the MPAA, a studio tool, generally puts the screws to independent filmmakers. Distributed by Red Envelope, an arm of Netflix -- which itself did away with its "mature" titles years ago and will capriciously pull films from stock. The most interesting revelation to me wasn't even dealt with: the fact that Kirby Dick's appeal board included the head of the Landmark Theatres chain, which specializes in indie/arthouse films. The private investigators seem more competent after listening to the commentary, but the film isn't the expose it wants to be. If you want recommendations of movies with decent sex scenes, this film gives you plenty of options.
The problems of the artists in TFINYR seemed so insignificant after watching The Lives of Others the next day. I still don't know how it stacks up against Pan's Labyrinth, but this was solid and suspenseful throughout.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Movie Log 2007: #19-22
Chandni - A downside of having 500 movies in the Netflix queue is you forget just how some things got in there. This Bollywood film starred none of our favorite actors, and the musical numbers were nothing I would have seen on Namaste America and filed for future reference. So it must have been an "if you liked..." suggestion. It wasn't bad...predictable, yet entertaining through its 3 hours.
Sophie's Choice - It's nigh-impossible to watch this and accept Kevin Kline's role after seeing A Fish Called Wanda. All the Meryl Streep worship makes sense, though.
A Face in the Crowd - Fans of The Andy Griffith Show should rent this to see their boy play a total SOB, a hobo who gets transformed into a Will Rogers-esque homespun pundit/political tool. It's in the vein of Network and Sweet Smell of Success. Few extras, but it was a bit shocking to hear Matlock drop an F-bomb in the featurette.
Klute - Everyone talks about Jane Fonda's performance, but the film itself is suspenseless. Characters other than Bree & Klute are so underdeveloped that the whodunit becomes obvious early on.
Chandni - A downside of having 500 movies in the Netflix queue is you forget just how some things got in there. This Bollywood film starred none of our favorite actors, and the musical numbers were nothing I would have seen on Namaste America and filed for future reference. So it must have been an "if you liked..." suggestion. It wasn't bad...predictable, yet entertaining through its 3 hours.
Sophie's Choice - It's nigh-impossible to watch this and accept Kevin Kline's role after seeing A Fish Called Wanda. All the Meryl Streep worship makes sense, though.
A Face in the Crowd - Fans of The Andy Griffith Show should rent this to see their boy play a total SOB, a hobo who gets transformed into a Will Rogers-esque homespun pundit/political tool. It's in the vein of Network and Sweet Smell of Success. Few extras, but it was a bit shocking to hear Matlock drop an F-bomb in the featurette.
Klute - Everyone talks about Jane Fonda's performance, but the film itself is suspenseless. Characters other than Bree & Klute are so underdeveloped that the whodunit becomes obvious early on.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Movie Log 2007 9-18: B-Fest wrapup
I was pretty pleased with B-Fest this year. The few things I'd seen before were either things I wanted to see again, or were placed in places where I could get a little sleep. Or else they were the first movie, The Brain that Wouldn't Die. Meh. A censored print, and a brittle one to boot-- the film broke right when the proto-Sloth creature got out. Next up was that TBS classic The Beastmaster. I hadn't seen it since I was a kid, and was surprised at how well it held up.
After a terrific Ub Iwerks Flip the Frog cartoon, it was Revenge of the Creature in sorta 3-D. I admire the NU folks for trying, but their projection equipment and poor print quality available to them make 3-D efforts a headache-inducing nightmare. I had the glasses off through most of the movie.
Off to sleep during Wizard of Speed and Time and Plan 9 From Outer Space before...Savage Sisters, this year's exploitation offering. Pseudo-exploitation, that is. A grab-the-cash caper film set in a banana republic (though the auto plates clearly say PHILIPPINES); Savage Sisters was notable for its constant near-nudity. I think it ended up more entertaining than if it had served up real T&A.
Invasion of the Star Creatures - For many people, this was the fests' soul-crusher. And indeed, there was not much to recommend in this tale of horrible comedy stylings and aliens wearing leotards and vegetables (seriously). I did find one running gag sorta funny: the characters all belonging to a serial-hero fan club, and displaying the decoder ring at a moment's notice. I dunno...at an event that's all about bonding over geekiness, I'll buy into similar actions onscreen.
Street Trash - This year's Troma-esque offering was a vile tale of a box of ancient hooch causing homeless people to melt. There were some worthwhile bits, plus one guy whom Vincent Gallo has apparently based his entire persona upon.
The Hypnotic Eye - Women are inexplicably lighting their hair on fire or washing their faces with acid. The incidents get traced to a hypnotist's act. This was one of the more coherent films shown, except for an extended fourth-wall scene. I'd see it again. It was better than Cats.
Tarantula - Seen it before, so I slept. I needed to stay awake for...
Krull. Through means I don't remember anymore, in 1982 or so I acquired movie posters for three upcoming Columbia Pictures attractions: Blue Thunder, later a TV show eclipsed in popularity by Airwolf; Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone, a 3-D flick starring Peter Strauss and a newcomer named Molly Ringwald; and...Krull. Somehow of those three, Krull is the one film I'd missed until this year, so I was eagerly anticipating it.
Yeah, that was a mistake. Krull was a real-time travelogue about walking, climbing, walking, riding horses (so why all the walking earlier?!), walking some more, climbing a little, capturing and riding new horses (what about the old horses?!), letting the new horses catch fire and fly (that was actually sorta cool), and a little more climbing for good measure. It was also about not bothering to use the ultimate weapon that the hero recovers in the first act for most of the film.
Invasion USA - Chuck Norris beating back communists, who manage to launch an invasion less plausible than the one in Red Dawn. No small feat, that.
Teenage Doll - Roger Corman gives us the straight dope on girl juvenile delinquents.A girl is on the run from a rival girl gang and the cops. I like Corman. He manages to create silk-like purses, and I'm still not sure if one character's "kid sister" was actually supposed to be her kid.
Incredible Melting Man - Neither Jack Black in Heat Vision and Jack, nor Bob Denver on Far Out Space Nuts can top Alex Rebar's ridiculous astronaut performance. The best thing that can be said for IMM is it doesn't waste time becoming an effects extravaganza.
King Kong vs. Godzilla - Classic guys in suits. Shown via DVD; probably a harbinger of B-fests to come.
I was pretty pleased with B-Fest this year. The few things I'd seen before were either things I wanted to see again, or were placed in places where I could get a little sleep. Or else they were the first movie, The Brain that Wouldn't Die. Meh. A censored print, and a brittle one to boot-- the film broke right when the proto-Sloth creature got out. Next up was that TBS classic The Beastmaster. I hadn't seen it since I was a kid, and was surprised at how well it held up.
After a terrific Ub Iwerks Flip the Frog cartoon, it was Revenge of the Creature in sorta 3-D. I admire the NU folks for trying, but their projection equipment and poor print quality available to them make 3-D efforts a headache-inducing nightmare. I had the glasses off through most of the movie.
Off to sleep during Wizard of Speed and Time and Plan 9 From Outer Space before...Savage Sisters, this year's exploitation offering. Pseudo-exploitation, that is. A grab-the-cash caper film set in a banana republic (though the auto plates clearly say PHILIPPINES); Savage Sisters was notable for its constant near-nudity. I think it ended up more entertaining than if it had served up real T&A.
Invasion of the Star Creatures - For many people, this was the fests' soul-crusher. And indeed, there was not much to recommend in this tale of horrible comedy stylings and aliens wearing leotards and vegetables (seriously). I did find one running gag sorta funny: the characters all belonging to a serial-hero fan club, and displaying the decoder ring at a moment's notice. I dunno...at an event that's all about bonding over geekiness, I'll buy into similar actions onscreen.
Street Trash - This year's Troma-esque offering was a vile tale of a box of ancient hooch causing homeless people to melt. There were some worthwhile bits, plus one guy whom Vincent Gallo has apparently based his entire persona upon.
The Hypnotic Eye - Women are inexplicably lighting their hair on fire or washing their faces with acid. The incidents get traced to a hypnotist's act. This was one of the more coherent films shown, except for an extended fourth-wall scene. I'd see it again. It was better than Cats.
Tarantula - Seen it before, so I slept. I needed to stay awake for...
Krull. Through means I don't remember anymore, in 1982 or so I acquired movie posters for three upcoming Columbia Pictures attractions: Blue Thunder, later a TV show eclipsed in popularity by Airwolf; Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone, a 3-D flick starring Peter Strauss and a newcomer named Molly Ringwald; and...Krull. Somehow of those three, Krull is the one film I'd missed until this year, so I was eagerly anticipating it.
Yeah, that was a mistake. Krull was a real-time travelogue about walking, climbing, walking, riding horses (so why all the walking earlier?!), walking some more, climbing a little, capturing and riding new horses (what about the old horses?!), letting the new horses catch fire and fly (that was actually sorta cool), and a little more climbing for good measure. It was also about not bothering to use the ultimate weapon that the hero recovers in the first act for most of the film.
Invasion USA - Chuck Norris beating back communists, who manage to launch an invasion less plausible than the one in Red Dawn. No small feat, that.
Teenage Doll - Roger Corman gives us the straight dope on girl juvenile delinquents.A girl is on the run from a rival girl gang and the cops. I like Corman. He manages to create silk-like purses, and I'm still not sure if one character's "kid sister" was actually supposed to be her kid.
Incredible Melting Man - Neither Jack Black in Heat Vision and Jack, nor Bob Denver on Far Out Space Nuts can top Alex Rebar's ridiculous astronaut performance. The best thing that can be said for IMM is it doesn't waste time becoming an effects extravaganza.
King Kong vs. Godzilla - Classic guys in suits. Shown via DVD; probably a harbinger of B-fests to come.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Monday, February 5, 2007
notes
*went off to a bonspiel this weekend. Our strategy was to build up huge leads and then piss them away in the final three ends, and we executed that strategy to near-perfection. Only once did we falter in that mission, wrecking a perfectly good streak with a victory.
*Because of post-'spiel exhaustion, and also because of the not caring about boringball, I slept through most of what had everyone else bummed at work today. I tuned into the fourth quarter, and caught the Prince show later on YT. The set demonstrated once and for all that he's a preeminent rock -- yes, ROCK -- guitarist.
*Over the weekend my teammates and other clubmates let it slip that I was on a game show. Considering I can rattle off at least ten friends and acquaintances who've done better on the show, I'm always surprised when people are impressed by this.
*Yeah, you'll have to wait for the B-Fest recap. I thought the films were more palatable on the whole, but the audience reaction was not as energetic as in the past. Anyway, there is another addition to the Movie Log 2007: #7, Hail the Conquering Hero. Eddie Bracken reunites with writer-director Preston Sturges, this time as a guy booted from the Marines on a medical discharge, who reluctantly allows himself to be regarded as a war hero when returning home. Such an odd mix of deep patriotism and equally deep cynicism. Some top-notch Sturges dialogue, as well as a usual dollop of period racism. This time the eyerolling comes from frequent references to "Japs" and "Nips." There was a war on, I suppose...
*went off to a bonspiel this weekend. Our strategy was to build up huge leads and then piss them away in the final three ends, and we executed that strategy to near-perfection. Only once did we falter in that mission, wrecking a perfectly good streak with a victory.
*Because of post-'spiel exhaustion, and also because of the not caring about boringball, I slept through most of what had everyone else bummed at work today. I tuned into the fourth quarter, and caught the Prince show later on YT. The set demonstrated once and for all that he's a preeminent rock -- yes, ROCK -- guitarist.
*Over the weekend my teammates and other clubmates let it slip that I was on a game show. Considering I can rattle off at least ten friends and acquaintances who've done better on the show, I'm always surprised when people are impressed by this.
*Yeah, you'll have to wait for the B-Fest recap. I thought the films were more palatable on the whole, but the audience reaction was not as energetic as in the past. Anyway, there is another addition to the Movie Log 2007: #7, Hail the Conquering Hero. Eddie Bracken reunites with writer-director Preston Sturges, this time as a guy booted from the Marines on a medical discharge, who reluctantly allows himself to be regarded as a war hero when returning home. Such an odd mix of deep patriotism and equally deep cynicism. Some top-notch Sturges dialogue, as well as a usual dollop of period racism. This time the eyerolling comes from frequent references to "Japs" and "Nips." There was a war on, I suppose...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
