Films... TONNES of films
Well, I've been itching to write up some info about the flicks I've watched recently (and, in some cases, finally), as I've been making more of an effort to 'study the craft'.
Some are AA noms from '05... I got passed an old list... and some are from this year.. with a few random ones that have been mentioned.
Superman Returns
- Yes, it took me a while to get around to it. I am a self professed comic nerd, but I am not a big Superman fan... I feel that the character has an undeserving spot in the modern pop culture, as it has no real grounding or motivations.
That aside, as an... enthusiast... I have watched the first 5 seasons of Smallville, and every other Superman film, so why not this one?
Because comics have matured since the last film. Because stories are no longer about dastardly villains who throw the heroine's under locomotives, all the while twirling their greasy moustaches.
And I was worried this film was going to be just that.
And dear sweet christ, it was.
The overlong opening credits that tried to ape the original films left me worried. The storyline was pathetic... especially as Emo Superman spent half the film moping. At the scene where he follows Lois home, and looks at her through the walls for HOURS, I couldn't help hearing Greenday's "boulevard of broken dreams".
The overall look of the film was... demented. Yes, he was trying to recapture the look of the original films... but there were fucking PLASMA SCREENS ON ALL THE WALLS.
But the worst element... the least thought through element of all, was the Lex Luthor plot.
"I'm going to create a giant island, sinking over half of America, killing millions, if not billions.... and then, then I'm going to sell the real estate back to them!
...
..
.
Back to who!? The people you killed? Or those that are living in the now economically defunct U.S. of A?
Cause I hate to say it, real estate is no longer a concern, now that you've sunk some of the most densely populated places on earth!
Christ!
And all of this before we beat the fuck out of supes, break off a chunk of kryptonite in his kidney, throw him off a cliff, DROWN him, and then finally manages to lift a kryptonite mountain.
I mean seriously, did they write a story, or just spin the wheel of nonsense?
War of the Worlds
- Another one I went into with a dubious mind set..
And dear lord did Spielberg manage to turn me around! That was a fantastic piece of cinema...
The changes that were made were necessary, the feel was small and intimate in an epic piece..
Sure, there were minor problems (I personally would have liked the dead to STAY DEAD), but all in all, really honestly good.
It actually made me think of Cloverfield, and gave me all of the bits I wanted from that film, all the while forming a nice and complete story.
No Country for Old Men
- I wasn't sure what to expect from this pic, and after the first 15 minutes, I still wasn't sure. I liked the idea of a modern western, and I think that's something of a genre that needs more exploration.
I say that, because there was a stark realism they went for that was somehow at odds with the over the top fantastic-ness of the concepts brought... it felt a little like running both halves of 'From Dusk Till Dawn' simultaneously, hoping they wouldn't jarr... but they did.
Despite this, I quite enjoyed the film, despite--
**CAUTION, Thar Be Spoilers!**
-- the fact that just as we were building towards the promised, nay, DESTINED final showdown between the Black hat and the White (the not so subtle undertone)... they rob us of it, killing the heroic lead (if one existed), and leaving the last few minutes to stumble awkwardly to the ending. A real shame for an overall decent pic.
The Last King of Scotland
-I'll come upfront and say it, "I don't like biopics". I'm not a fan. and yet, there was something very magical in Forest Whitaker's portrait of Amin.
James Mcavoy was also excellent in his role. I will confess, I came around quite considerably by the end of the film, which is saying something from a hater of this style of film.
The style, the acting, the direction, all very admirable. I think this one comes down to "It's not you, it's me".
Juno
- The worst thing about this film was the movie poster.
The female lead shares it with the gormless actor of Superbad fame (Yes, I haven't done my homework, even with the interwebs at my disposal.. I'm slack, deal), dressed in a ridiculous high school gym outfit.
It makes you think that the film is going to be an American Pie-esq teen comedy, filled with dick and fart jokes.
Yes, this is the WORST thing about this film.
Apart from that, it was a very well directed (so much so that I honestly want to steal from it), it wasn't overly cliched, or afraid to laugh at itself. The dialogue was snappy, but held that new style of ''Hollywood awkwardness'.
Cute, heartwarming, and oddly brilliant. I loved it.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Fuck this is a dull film. I know it's up for a huge series of awards and accolades, but it all just feels so... done. It feels a lot like Forest Gump... without the charm or whimsy. It's a slow pace, which isn't helped in the slightest by the sleep inducing soundtrack, or the 3 hour running time.
Pitt is nominated for his acting... which is basically redoing what he did in Meet Joe Black, with a New Orleans accent.
A fantastic cure for insomnia.
Slumdog Millionaire
- There is an amazing amount of buzz around this film. This and Ben Button seem to be the front runners for taking home the most Oscars.
Unlike Ben Button, this film deserves every inch of praise heaped upon it and then more.
Danny Boyle did a fantastic job, so much so that I'd call it inspired.
The premise of a homeless kid from the slums remembering portions of his life and associating them to the questions he's asked on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire is almost too simplistic, and insulting.
I haven't seen a film that I've enjoyed this much in quite a while. I honestly welled up by the end of it.
There are no more words needed, I think I'd be too biased. See it. Now.
I'm sure I'll put up another post at some point - if not something a bit more introspective, then at least another update of films!
I'm sure I should use this site more, but I don't really know what to do with it - hence the smattering of posts in the last few years.
Ah well.
Some are AA noms from '05... I got passed an old list... and some are from this year.. with a few random ones that have been mentioned.
Superman Returns
- Yes, it took me a while to get around to it. I am a self professed comic nerd, but I am not a big Superman fan... I feel that the character has an undeserving spot in the modern pop culture, as it has no real grounding or motivations.
That aside, as an... enthusiast... I have watched the first 5 seasons of Smallville, and every other Superman film, so why not this one?
Because comics have matured since the last film. Because stories are no longer about dastardly villains who throw the heroine's under locomotives, all the while twirling their greasy moustaches.
And I was worried this film was going to be just that.
And dear sweet christ, it was.
The overlong opening credits that tried to ape the original films left me worried. The storyline was pathetic... especially as Emo Superman spent half the film moping. At the scene where he follows Lois home, and looks at her through the walls for HOURS, I couldn't help hearing Greenday's "boulevard of broken dreams".
The overall look of the film was... demented. Yes, he was trying to recapture the look of the original films... but there were fucking PLASMA SCREENS ON ALL THE WALLS.
But the worst element... the least thought through element of all, was the Lex Luthor plot.
"I'm going to create a giant island, sinking over half of America, killing millions, if not billions.... and then, then I'm going to sell the real estate back to them!
...
..
.
Back to who!? The people you killed? Or those that are living in the now economically defunct U.S. of A?
Cause I hate to say it, real estate is no longer a concern, now that you've sunk some of the most densely populated places on earth!
Christ!
And all of this before we beat the fuck out of supes, break off a chunk of kryptonite in his kidney, throw him off a cliff, DROWN him, and then finally manages to lift a kryptonite mountain.
I mean seriously, did they write a story, or just spin the wheel of nonsense?
War of the Worlds
- Another one I went into with a dubious mind set..
And dear lord did Spielberg manage to turn me around! That was a fantastic piece of cinema...
The changes that were made were necessary, the feel was small and intimate in an epic piece..
Sure, there were minor problems (I personally would have liked the dead to STAY DEAD), but all in all, really honestly good.
It actually made me think of Cloverfield, and gave me all of the bits I wanted from that film, all the while forming a nice and complete story.
No Country for Old Men
- I wasn't sure what to expect from this pic, and after the first 15 minutes, I still wasn't sure. I liked the idea of a modern western, and I think that's something of a genre that needs more exploration.
I say that, because there was a stark realism they went for that was somehow at odds with the over the top fantastic-ness of the concepts brought... it felt a little like running both halves of 'From Dusk Till Dawn' simultaneously, hoping they wouldn't jarr... but they did.
Despite this, I quite enjoyed the film, despite--
**CAUTION, Thar Be Spoilers!**
-- the fact that just as we were building towards the promised, nay, DESTINED final showdown between the Black hat and the White (the not so subtle undertone)... they rob us of it, killing the heroic lead (if one existed), and leaving the last few minutes to stumble awkwardly to the ending. A real shame for an overall decent pic.
The Last King of Scotland
-I'll come upfront and say it, "I don't like biopics". I'm not a fan. and yet, there was something very magical in Forest Whitaker's portrait of Amin.
James Mcavoy was also excellent in his role. I will confess, I came around quite considerably by the end of the film, which is saying something from a hater of this style of film.
The style, the acting, the direction, all very admirable. I think this one comes down to "It's not you, it's me".
Juno
- The worst thing about this film was the movie poster.
The female lead shares it with the gormless actor of Superbad fame (Yes, I haven't done my homework, even with the interwebs at my disposal.. I'm slack, deal), dressed in a ridiculous high school gym outfit.
It makes you think that the film is going to be an American Pie-esq teen comedy, filled with dick and fart jokes.
Yes, this is the WORST thing about this film.
Apart from that, it was a very well directed (so much so that I honestly want to steal from it), it wasn't overly cliched, or afraid to laugh at itself. The dialogue was snappy, but held that new style of ''Hollywood awkwardness'.
Cute, heartwarming, and oddly brilliant. I loved it.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Fuck this is a dull film. I know it's up for a huge series of awards and accolades, but it all just feels so... done. It feels a lot like Forest Gump... without the charm or whimsy. It's a slow pace, which isn't helped in the slightest by the sleep inducing soundtrack, or the 3 hour running time.
Pitt is nominated for his acting... which is basically redoing what he did in Meet Joe Black, with a New Orleans accent.
A fantastic cure for insomnia.
Slumdog Millionaire
- There is an amazing amount of buzz around this film. This and Ben Button seem to be the front runners for taking home the most Oscars.
Unlike Ben Button, this film deserves every inch of praise heaped upon it and then more.
Danny Boyle did a fantastic job, so much so that I'd call it inspired.
The premise of a homeless kid from the slums remembering portions of his life and associating them to the questions he's asked on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire is almost too simplistic, and insulting.
I haven't seen a film that I've enjoyed this much in quite a while. I honestly welled up by the end of it.
There are no more words needed, I think I'd be too biased. See it. Now.
I'm sure I'll put up another post at some point - if not something a bit more introspective, then at least another update of films!
I'm sure I should use this site more, but I don't really know what to do with it - hence the smattering of posts in the last few years.
Ah well.