Just finished watching Amores Perros.
Wow...
I need to rent both of those -- haven't seen "El Norte" since it was released. Thanks for reminding me -- I love movies from Spanish speaking countries and especially Brazil (well, Portuguese).
I was cajoled into watching the latest Star Wars in the theaters.
It was a very tortuous 2.5 hours, so goddamn boring.
Craven de Kere wrote:I was cajoled into watching the latest Star Wars in the theaters.
It was a very tortuous 2.5 hours, so goddamn boring.
I enjoyed it, but it was pretty sad at the end.
I recently rented kill bill II (watched it, loved it) and Team America (haven't watched it yet).
Craven, I refuse to watch any of the prequells. I may someday in the comfort of my own home - but not at a theater.
The only reason I would go to a theater to see the new "Star Wars" is for the curiosity of seeing a digital projection and 5.9 Dolby Digital sound. Otherwise, my pic on my big screen and my sound system is way more than adequate. My nephew might try and convince me to go so we'll see.
But let's put this picture in prospective -- it's based on the lowly concepts of the 40's and 50's space opera -- Lucas' paltry attempt to make the series into some kind of future history Heinlein or Azimov "Foundation" series socio-political statement was weakly contrived. Just shows why some of the best sci-fi films have been based on a real writer, Philip K. Dick.
However, expecting anything more than a video game, special effects soaked extravaganza is nieve.
I saw the Kill Bills at the weekend and was pleasently surprised.
My friend just emailed to say Star Wars 3 is naff
"Finding Neverland" was excellent, and Johnny Depp did a great job. Watching that movie led me to read all about James Barrie and I was totally stunned at the man's life, as well as the children upon who he based Peter Pan.
Today, I'm renting "The Aviator".
Mr. Wizard, isn't it a little unusual to have these movies come out on DVD and video so quickly?
As I've pointed out elsewhere, cable and DVD account for over 60% of a film's profit, maybe even close to 70%. Films leave the multiplex as soon as attendance lags off and there certainly are enough, true enough to very good films, to replace them. The DVD reviews give "The Aviator" a "B." I disagree -- it's a strong A-. When Scorcese can appandon some of the affectations of American movie making (which weren't present in films like "Mean Streets"), he can again make A more film masterpieces. "The Aviator" is a flawed masterpiece and I will still relish in the early scenes of the making of movies and the scenes at the Coconut Grove.
Well, as you also observed, Mr. Wizard. 2004 was a lackluster movie year, and that probably figures into the formula as well.
"Ray" was fantastic, however, and deserved all that it got in the oscar category.
I'm not sure whether 2004 was average or worse than average. The boxoffice this year has so far been dissapointing to Hollywood. SWIII is bringing it out of the doldrums but there's some big ones coming -- actually the Spielberg "War of the Worlds" looks good, especially if it can overcome some of the self-conscious corniness of the original (I still love it, but much of the dialogue and those read ruby lips on the heroine made her look like Maria Montez). I just hope Spielberg can evoke the atmosphere of the novel.
OK I gotta confess something. I went to see Mr and Mrs Smith (yes, on my own, at the midnight screening. Man's gotta do what hes gotta do). And I loved it. It was funny, it was cute, and the soundtrack was really clever.
Looks like a good flick to see on DVD but if it's still at the theaters in the next few weeks, I might take it in.
Hey, Craven, where are you? I know you've likely seen a lot of movies through NetFlix and have recommendations or thumbs down?
Mr. Wizard." Kinsey" is really good. Don't know where Craven is, however.
"Kinsey" is an excellent biopic with some superlative characterizations and acting.
I wrote this on the most boring movie thread, but perhaps it's worth repeating here:
I sat down and watched "Million Dollar Baby" last evening. I immediately found myself fidgeting and mainly because of that damn, infernal over-narration. Many filmmakers have stated that narration is a crutch and should be avoided (witness the theatrical release of "Blade Runner" and then the director's cut sans the narration). I'm afraid it hasn't changed. I don't believe, other than it is a successful tear jerker and has some superb dramatic moments, and a noble theme that it deserved the Oscar. It was not particularly entertaining to me and I found myself compelled to open the laptop and surf the web! Great acting but I always find the acting to be the highpoint of any of Eastwood's films so that's a given. The acting in "Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil" was top notch but he lost something in the continuity of the story (not to mention a gross distortion of the actual case). I would likely watch "Midnight" again in the future but this film would have been one I would have buyer's remorse if I had purchased it (I usually do buy the Oscar winner). I can see why it generally was not a crowd pleaser and I'm going to have to go along with the crowd on this one and against the critics who overly praised this movie (including Ebert).
Then again, it could be because I just dislike boxing.
You know, Mr. Wizard. I had no desire to watch Million Dollar Baby. I think you are right; It's the boxing thing (the cruel sport).
As for Midnight, the music is what I best liked, although I'm a Mercer and Aiken fan as well.
The film builds up some momentum despite the narrative (it's a letter of the character Morgan Freeman portrays to his daughter) and is very well crafted. Eastwood's performance is one of his best of recent years but he is essentially playing a crusty old man -- been there, done that. The movie began to creak for me after the accident (?) and takes on the complexion of a tear jerker and, for me, couldn't shake that off.
I was ok with the movie until the ending. Thought is was bad.
