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Foe
Lorien
Mar 12 2007, 12:28pm
Post #1 of 76
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Weekly movie post! Whaddya watch?
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Remember to mahk your spoilahs and give us a mini-review/recommendation if you have time!
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Aerlinn
Lorien
Mar 12 2007, 1:55pm
Post #2 of 76
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What I watched and what I read...
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'Cause they're connected. Here's the backstory: when I was 16, I discovered Star Trek, and wanting more than the 79 episodes, I sought out the novels - soon discovering that quality varied wildly, from dead-on characterizations and very good writing to really bad generic sci fi novels couched in ST to make an extra buck. One of the good ones, though, was by Barbara Hambly - talk about your really good fanfic! Ishmael is, though I had no idea when I first read it or for a long time after, a crossover story, in which Spock is captured by Klingons and winds up through a sequence of events that make perfect sense if you're a Trekkie back in Seattle of 1867. It was only years later that I discovered (I think because of Bjo Trimble) that the characters he encounters in the tiny logging town of Seattle weren't Ms. Hambly's inventions but characters from another TV series: "Here Come the Brides". It was a series starting in 1968, starring Robert Brown, David Soul (yes, that David Soul), Bobby Sherman (yes, that Bobby Sherman) - and Mark Lenard, aka Sarek of Vulcan. (Hence part of the joy of the crossover.) I'd never heard of it, and I don't think I've heard of it since apart from fannish mentions in connection with the book.
Imagine my surprise when I saw it listed on Netflix.
The first four episodes came last week, and I've watched the first two. The basic premise: the Bolt brothers own and run a logging company on Bridal Veil Mountain in the flyspeck town of Seattle, where men outnumber women about 10 - 1. When his men start becoming ... itchy, Jason Bolt (oldest brother) agrees to go find some women-folk, and once he's convinced that he should go looking for wives and not floozies decides to go to New England, where so many men were lost to the Civil War. Since it's going to be an expensive trip, the town's richest man, the heartless Aaron Stemple (Mark Lenard) makes a wager: he will put up the money for the journey, but the Bolts must bring back 100 marriageable girls, and ensure that all 100 are not only still there but married one year after their arrival. (Actually, now I have to check that - in the book it was "married in a year", but it might have been simply "still there". Ms. Hambly was, I believe, working from memories of the show's run - the book was written well pre-internet and imdb, so some details are fuzzy.) If any of the girls take off before then, the Bolt brothers lose Bridal Veil Mountain to him.
It's a little broad, the characters a little over the top and caricature-ish. Also, where fantasy takes willing suspension of disbelief, watching this takes willing suspension of 2007 outlooks on women's rights and equality, because of both the plot (which after all takes place in 1867) but too because of its treatment (which after all takes place in 1967). Overall, the two hours I've watched so far have been fun. It's a great idea for a show; I'm a little surprised it hasn't been remade yet. But it's not bad at all. The writing is better than I expected; it's had its rather touching moments; the second episode brought in a character I completely love (who oddly was not in the book). For me it's especially cool to see the characters I've known all these years.
Of course, I had to drop what I was reading and go read Ishmael again, and it held up after all these years. It's note-perfect Star Trek. It's been a long, long time since I was hip-deep in Star Trek, and I kind of miss it: specifically, the time before any of the sequels came along. It was similar to the feel here, in a way; I knew there were lots of people who loved Star Trek as much as (and more than) I did, and though I wasn't in contact with any of them, it was nice knowing they existed. We had a set body of work to explore, and officially sanctioned offshoots; to the same degree that there are probably people here who could if asked navigate from Bag End to Mirkwood with nothing more than their memory of the maps and the stars above, there were those who knew the way from the Enterprise bridge to sickbay as well as the way to their own kitchens... It was a nice time. I hesitate to say "innocent", but it does come to mind. Even if I were to dive back into Star Trek fandom again it would be nothing like... Heck, it cost something like $20 to go to a convention then, and for that you had full access to all guests, including autographs. It *was* more innocent then, and I do miss it.
But I digress.
Book: highly recommended. TV series: I don't know. I can't judge it without the connection. I think I recommend it - especially to Trekkies.
Aerlinn's Law #15 (maybe 16... 17?): Whatever I say goes.
In one ear and out the other.
My TORn archives - to be updated sooner or later
482.79
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Sherry
Rivendell
Mar 12 2007, 2:24pm
Post #3 of 76
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The History Boys (loved it) & Little Miss Sunshine (it was ok)
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Little Miss Sunshine while enjoyable, really didn't grab me. I enjoyed the Royal Tenenbaums and The Castle families so much more. I didn't see what many others saw in this film and don't see it as a classic.
The History Boys on the other hand I adored. I don't have time to write a review of it, but the short blurb is its the film version of the Alan Bennet play with exactly the same cast reprising their roles. I really found myself liking this, the dialogue, the wit and the acting. Far more to connect to in this.
New York times wrote a review on it here http://movies2.nytimes.com/...1/movies/21hist.html
'I wish I could say something classy and inspirational, but that just wouldn't be our style.'
'Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory... lasts forever.'
What I am listening to
New boards = new nick. Registered User formerly known as Arwenelf
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Darkstone
Immortal
Mar 12 2007, 2:45pm
Post #4 of 76
(1632 views)
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The Dead Girl. A CSI style chick flik. The victim of a serial rapist/killer is found. The film follows one by one how her death affects the lives of four other women: stranger, sister, mother, wife. Then you get the victim’s story. A fascinating and chilling story about women and their choices. Some great actresses here including Mary Steenburgen, Mary Beth Hurt, Piper Laurie, Marcia Gay Harden, and Brittany Murphy.
-Highly recommended if you can stand the despair.
300. If you got Starship Troopers, you’ll get 300. This is not history, this is chest pounding cultural myth. Like Troopers this is highly stylized bloody jingoistic war propaganda. Whether you recoil in horror or stand and cheer is up to you. Unapologetically, this is Sparta the way Sparta should be, at least according to the Spartans. King Leonidas can’t build a coalition among the Greeks to stand against the evil empire of the Persians. So he has to sacrifice himself politically and physically to wake up the Western civilized world against this threat from the barbaric East. (Somehow this all sounds so familiar….) Good performances all around. In the beginning you have about 45 minutes worth of sex, then about an hour and 15 minutes of violence. I still find my eyes sliding off cgi backgrounds on the big screen, though.
-Still, highly recommended.
Paycheck. My two least favorite actors are Ben Affleck and Uma Thruman. Affleck seems like one the mass produced Tab/Ty/Rock/Rip clones of the 1960s. And wide eyed Thurman has the faun-like skittishness and beauty of Audrey Hepburn, only instead of Hepburn’s Fae, Uma comes off as merely Prey. Still, they manage well enough in this hackneyed John Woo adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story. Only Mr. Woo quickly disposes of the scifi so he can go straight to the guns and explosions. (“I read Philip K. Dick, Mr. Woo. I knew Philip K. Dick and this is not Philip K. Dick.”) In the near future (so Woo can still shoot his car chases on regular streets with regular cars) signing a non-disclosure agreement with a mega-corp means wiping your memory. Affleck is a high octane reverse engineer who gets offered an eight figure deal for three years worth of work. Three years later he has no memory, no money, and the evil mega-corp and the evil government are trying to kill him. His only resource is an envelope full of 19 (actually 20) everyday items that one by one suddenly become useful. For example one moment he’s running down the street being chased by bad guys and he realizes he has a set of BMW keys that fit a nearby motorcycle and, bingo, he’s got wheels. Basically picture Hitchcock making a movie inspired by the last twenty minutes of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Still, Affleck actually manages to pull off a very poor man’s Cary Grant. And Thurman is aided tremendously by her absence from most of the picture. When she finally arrives her character sloppily leaves clues for the bad guys, drops the envelope while being chased, and is captured and used as a hostage. No Bride she.
-Recommended, if you don’t mind checking your brain at the door.
Simone. I still think this is the most criminally underrated film of 2002. Badly marketed by New Line as some sort of computer horror movie. Plus, from looking at the deleted scenes, highly edited by Shaye the Butcher. Luckily there’s a special feature that allows you to insert the scenes into the film while watching. Anyway, Al Pacino plays an idealistic filmmaker, an artsy smartsy director who stoically accommodates the insane whims and tantrums of his stars as long as he can make his films. But his last star, Wynona Ryder in one of her best roles, walks off his latest film in an insulted rage. (The trailer next to hers is higher, but only because its tires have been over-inflated. Like her ego.) His only chance to salvage anything is to re-edit his film with a new actress. But the studio won't spend the money. That’s where Simulation One (SimOne, Simone.) comes in. His cyber-actress becomes an international star, his career takes off, and he now can make any picture he wants. But only as long as it stars the mysterious and reclusive actress known as Simone. A very good satire of Hollywood and the media that provides plenty of laughs. Celebrities are not just fake. In the words of Gertrude Stein there’s no there there.
-Highly recommended.
Pippin: "When you guys fall, does it make a sound?"
Bregalad: "Are you kidding? Scott fell last week and he hasn't shut up about it since."
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Arwen's daughter
Half-elven
Mar 12 2007, 3:40pm
Post #5 of 76
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The first hour of the movie I had serious issues separating the history from the movie. I studied Greek history pretty extensively in college, so I spent most of my time trying to decide what was fact, what was fact-according-to-Herodotus (who recorded every ridiculous story as fact) and what came from the filmmaker. At first I thought the voice-overs were melodramatic and the main characters were overdone. Until that second half, when I just gave up and forgave it all. This isn't history, it's a retelling of the legend, with all of the exaggeration that comes with time. And the melodrama is more Shakespearean than annoying. And with that final shot of the armies, I had forgiven everything. I feel like I need to watch it one more time, but I recommend it if you're okay with violent movies.
My LiveJournal
My Costuming Site
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Annael
Elvenhome
Mar 12 2007, 3:54pm
Post #6 of 76
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Finally saw The Prestige, and, well, I liked The Illusionist much better because I actually cared about some of the characters. Also, I never understood why Borden was as bent on revenge as Angier, who at least had some reason for his actions - Borden came off as just plain creepy and I never understood why anyone would fall in love with him or help him. David Bowie as Tesla - and the weird stuff he was doing up there in the mountains - was my favorite part of the story. Well acted. I twigged to all the twists except the very last one, which I realized later had been forecast very early on, before I started watching for clues. Beautifully photographed and well acted, but left me with a sour feeling.
Rivers & Tides is a documentary about the Scottish artist Andy Goldworthy, who makes sculptures out of what he finds to hand in nature - most of which melt or fall down or are swept away by tide or wind soon after they're finished (if not before). He works with time as well as nature. The stuff he does is beautiful - a serpent made of icicles that seems to wriggle through a rock, a rainbow of autumn leaves in a tiny pond - and it's made me look at my garden in a totally new way.
He likes a "seed" shape that he often builds rock cairns into; here's one he did in ice:
Here's another of his ephemeral paintings with natural objects:
“I think perhaps the most important problem is that we are trying to understand the fundamental workings of the universe via a language devised for telling one another where the best fruit is."
-- Terry Pratchett,
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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Kelly of Water's Edge
Rohan
Mar 12 2007, 4:10pm
Post #7 of 76
(1574 views)
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This is one that I had never gotten around to, and I finally caught it last night. Cute enough, James and the bugs were very likable, the aunts were suitable nasties, and it's a good one for the kids. I also got a kick out of a certain cameo in the underwater scene...
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Magpie
Immortal
Mar 12 2007, 4:31pm
Post #9 of 76
(1570 views)
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am running to Netflix to see if they have this...
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SandWitch King
Rohan
Mar 12 2007, 4:46pm
Post #10 of 76
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But I didn"t love it as much as some others.
I let the film digest for the weekend and finally figured out what it was. I was fine with the stylized violence and found the battles and formations and depictions of stuff dramatic and beautiful. The line of solidiers lined-up behind shields was spectacular for example.
Isn't that a franternity symbol on the shields? But I digress.
Loved Gerrard Butler, loved the casting.
What I didn't like? It seemed like 30 percent of the dialog was male bravado talking about death or battle or how they were about to do in the others or how hopeless something was including lots of one liners. Then seemingly 50 percent of the dialog was YELLING! WE ARE SPARTANS AND WE CAME HERE TO CHEW BUBBLE GUM AND KICK YOUR DONKEY! WE ARE ALL OUT OF BUBBLE GUM!!!!
The remaining dialog were scenes with the lead female, Leonidis's wife who proved, incidently, that actresses older than 25 can be beautiful, can act and can be sexy.
But I still really enjoyed the film, partly because I am a fan of the author/artist of the lead work. I am included a photo of the original drawn Xerxes and the film version. Of all the characters Gerrard Butler's may have been the most perfectly matched to the comic version, but I couldn't find such a photo. So, here is Xerxes.
. . . One should, if possible, express a negative concept in a positive form: "not meaningful" rather than "meaningless." I agree and will, therefore, now refer to contemporary movie executives as running around "like chickens without their heads cut on." - David Mamet
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Morwen
Rohan
Mar 12 2007, 5:18pm
Post #11 of 76
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Not a high-budget film, but I liked it very much. It's one of those movies that manages to be funny and sad at the same time. The movie was well-acted and I identified with the characters, so it felt real to me. I found it by blind luck on the Netflix site and I'm glad I did. I think anybody who has ever felt "different" or coped with a loss, which I guess is most of us, can appreciate this movie.
I wish you could have been there
When she opened up the door
And looked me in the face
Like she never did before
I felt about as welcome
As a Wal-Mart Superstore--John Prine
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Foe
Lorien
Mar 12 2007, 5:26pm
Post #12 of 76
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If you couldn't tell from my failing attempt at a Boston accent in the original post, I watched The Depahted last week. I really enjoyed this movie. It is violent and full of profanity, but I thought it was an excellent movie. While I was shocked (as I'm sure anyone who saw it was) at certain points in the movie, it was always tense. If you can handle the language and violence, watch it today.
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Foe
Lorien
Mar 12 2007, 5:27pm
Post #13 of 76
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Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
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Jak sie masz? Funniest movie I've seen in quite some time. Of course, it's not for everyone. Not quite as good as the bits in the Ali G Show, but still, a must for any Cohen fan.
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Foe
Lorien
Mar 12 2007, 5:27pm
Post #14 of 76
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First off, I'm a fan of S. Coppola's other films. This one, not so much. While it had beautiful shots and amazing costumes, the story lacked some explanation. When I go to a movie, I expect the movie to give me information that is important to the story, I don't expect to need a primer on certain historical events. Had I known what I looked up after watching the movie, I may have enjoyed it more. This brings up the question, how much should a viewer be expected to know going into your film?
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Foe
Lorien
Mar 12 2007, 5:53pm
Post #15 of 76
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I've not seen it in a while, but I remember liking it a lot. Finn (was that his name?) was great, as were his friends who's names I don't remember.
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Morwen
Rohan
Mar 12 2007, 6:34pm
Post #16 of 76
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Did you watch the commentary? I loved it when the director explained that since they couldn't afford elaborate sets or to shoot in lots of different locations they changed the script to fit existing buildings, like the little tavern and the house on the lake. They sort of built the story around the old train station and used what they had available.
I wish you could have been there
When she opened up the door
And looked me in the face
Like she never did before
I felt about as welcome
As a Wal-Mart Superstore--John Prine
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Ginger
Rohan
Mar 12 2007, 7:17pm
Post #18 of 76
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I loved (showing my age) Here Come the Brides
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Just to be different, Jason Bolt was my favorite. Everyone else at the bus stop loved Bobby Sherman.
*note to self*
Learn new boards. "Sticky" is not an admonishment to a tornsib named Sticky.
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 12 2007, 7:17pm
Post #19 of 76
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at the kids running away screaming from the icecream van. :D
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded b*****d with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
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Ginger
Rohan
Mar 12 2007, 7:27pm
Post #20 of 76
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I thought the movie was hilarious
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But I'll never watch the naked scenes again!
*note to self*
Learn new boards. "Sticky" is not an admonishment to a tornsib named Sticky.
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greendragon
Sr. Staff
Mar 12 2007, 7:27pm
Post #21 of 76
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I have a wonderful book of photos of his art
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It's so inspirational! I didn't know there was a documentary about him - I'll have to see if I can find it.
'There are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of my fridge...'
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Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal
Mar 12 2007, 7:31pm
Post #22 of 76
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About half the Americans who were born in the 1970s have names that start with the letter J, it seems like. I always attributed it to that show.
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"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
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Chance Meeting at Rivendell: a Tolkien Fanfic
and some other stuff I wrote...
leleni at hotmail dot com
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Kimi
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 12 2007, 7:34pm
Post #23 of 76
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*Joins Ginger in stroll down Memory Lane*
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I loved that show, too. I remember it as a highlight of my weekly TV watching :-) I'm sure many of the "finer" details went over my head, though.
  
Promises to Keep: a novel set in 19th Century New Zealand.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal
Mar 12 2007, 7:35pm
Post #24 of 76
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We asked our kids how that movie was and they said "Gratuitous"
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We said "In what way?" and they said "In every way." Not that they necessarily thought that was a bad thing....
(Our "kids" are 25 and 21, so if they want to see gratuitous movies that's up to them. Our son has a certain category of movies he likes that he describes as "gratuitous babes and explosions." He didn't necessarily narrow this one down that much.)
They also said Xerxes didn't look at all the way they thought he should, because "We already know what those old Persian kings looked like, with the curly beard and all." Then we got into a discussion of the book of Esther, which I read them as kids and which they loved.
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"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chance Meeting at Rivendell: a Tolkien Fanfic
and some other stuff I wrote...
leleni at hotmail dot com
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(This post was edited by Aunt Dora Baggins on Mar 12 2007, 7:39pm)
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Aerlinn
Lorien
Mar 12 2007, 7:44pm
Post #25 of 76
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That immediately became one of my favorite movies.
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Loved it, loved it.
And it's ridiculous how excited I was when dernwyn and family and I drove through (well, past) Newfoundland, NJ last summer.
Aerlinn's Law #15 (maybe 16... 17?): Whatever I say goes.
In one ear and out the other.
My TORn archives - to be updated sooner or later
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