Same Old Shit
More DVDs Reviewed
Yeah, all I talk about on here is movies, but so what? If you don't like it stop reading the blog because there's a whole lot more to come in future, I can assure you.
Star Wars - Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith
Finally watched my DVD copy of this awesome prequel-series-finisher the other day. I'd already seen it five times in theatres, including four times on the IMAX Mega-Screen (figured I'd make the most of my last chance to see a Star Wars movie in theatres before Lucas and Jim Cameron make them all 3D). In fact, on the second day it was out I saw it on both of two consecutive sessions (12:30 then 3:30) having already seen it once the previous day. Was I perhaps hopelessly caught in the clutches of oh-my-god-this-one-doesn't-actually-suck fever? Probably. But after the mediocrity of Episodes I and II, Sith was an extremely pleasent surprise worth making the most of. That's not to say it's perfect. I think the story overall is told very well, we see what we always wanted to (Anakin becomes Vader) and we can now begin to understand the reasons for his transformation and perhaps even view the Vader of the original trilogy in a new light.
Having said that, there are little bits and pieces that don't quite add up. In particular, Anakin's reasoning seems inconsistent at times, for example discovering that Sidious is in fact a Sith seems to convince him at that point in time that the Jedi were right and that Sidious was lying about the Jedi plans to overthrow the senate etc. to the extent that he dobs Sidious in to Samuel L. Motherfucking Jackson. When he agrees to work with Sidious little has changed to alter this way of thinking and he appears to join him solely for the purpose of saving Padme's life - yet later in the film believes the "Jedi are evil" again. I can understand the following: Working with Sidious as a way of saving Padme, his being partially motivated by his obvious desire for power, and perhaps even to an extent his wanting to take revenge against the Jedi for their lack of faith in him because of the way his judgement is clouded by the dark side and his own anger. But, when he fights Obi-Wan, "the Jedi are evil." I can see where the point of his deciding the Jedi really were trying to get power supposedly happens, it's when Mace Windu is about to kill Sidious and Anakin says he must stand trial, but the thing is that Anakin doesn't say this because he thinks it's "right"and that the Jedi are evil for not agreeing as they must clearly want Sidious gone so they can control the senate, but rather he says it as a desperate way of stopping Windu from killing the one man who Anakin believes can save Padme. Rant over.
It doesn't really detract too much from the overall experience if you're willing to overlook it (which for me is a little difficult as it's quite central to Anakin's change) and ultimately when Padme is killed and he has nothing left but his lust for power it is at least convincing that he would go from there to be the Vader we have always known from the original trilogy. It's just that I believe the movie cheats a little to get there.
Overall, this gets a very strong B+ from me, or 4 out of 5. Really, really awesome in most ways, but still falls into a few of the traps of the previous two installments (ie. some of the hammy lines, the overly-serious theatre-like acting styles) and absolutely fails to capture the magic of the original trilogy as I discovered a day later re-watching Episode IV: A New Hope, which is just completely different in it's tone and narrative structure and, most importantly, has Han Solo. A New Hope incidentally gets an A- or 4.5 out of 5, not an "A" because (a) Empire Strikes Back is better and (b) the ending where they just get some medal when it's over is shit.
Cinderella Man
Saw this yesterday. If I had to choose between this and last year's best picture winner Million Dollar Baby (neither compares to the Martin Scorsese masterpiece Raging Bull) I think I'd give Cinderella Man the edge in a tight contest. This is a movie which doesn't really do anything too original and at times is a little OBVIOUS in the techniques used to portray whatever aspect they're highlighting, whether it be a scene, a flashback or an "Angle On." That said, as far as solid Hollywood Oscar-bait drama goes this is as solid as a rock, doing almost everything right while rarely being exceptional and ultimately making me give a damn about Jim Braddock and what he's essentially fighting for. The perfomances are very good all around (though neither Crowe nor Giamatti deserve the awards attention they've been getting - both have done better work) and it's an uplifting story made all-the-better for the fact that you watch it knowing that what you see really happened (within the confines of the events portrayed obviously, there'll be a fair degree of creative dramatisation on the part of the writers regarding how these events unfolded). I think it deserves a solid B+, or 4 out of 5.
Bubba Ho-Tep
A cult favourite presenting a scenario where JFK and Elvis are actually still alive and living in secret at a Texas resthome, this low-budget B-movie horror-comedy is absolutely worth seeing if you're a fan of the whole B-movie "genre." This movie thrives on the type of lines you don't need to be Shane Black to write, often funny but charming as part of the whole even when jokes fall flat just because the whole thing is in that "cheap movie" spirit. It's great fun watching JFK (who was "dyed black" and is portrayed by the late Ossie Davis) scooting around on a motorised wheelchair and Elvis - relying on a walking frame after one too many shakes of the hips took its toll - battle an evil mummy determined to suck the souls out of the asses of the rest home's elderly residents. The mummy's mere presence in the film is absurdly contrived and makes little sense - but that's perfectly in line with what you expect from this type of movie. I'll give it a strong C+ or 3 out of 5 for originality, and I recommend it if you want to try a different kind of movie. Very entertaining.
Video Ezy
Went there this morning to return Cinderella Man and Bubba Ho-Tep and rented:
Heat
Rocky
Three Kings
The Great Escape
The Limey
I've seen none of these before so this should be a fun week. Ciao.
Yeah, all I talk about on here is movies, but so what? If you don't like it stop reading the blog because there's a whole lot more to come in future, I can assure you.
Star Wars - Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith
Finally watched my DVD copy of this awesome prequel-series-finisher the other day. I'd already seen it five times in theatres, including four times on the IMAX Mega-Screen (figured I'd make the most of my last chance to see a Star Wars movie in theatres before Lucas and Jim Cameron make them all 3D). In fact, on the second day it was out I saw it on both of two consecutive sessions (12:30 then 3:30) having already seen it once the previous day. Was I perhaps hopelessly caught in the clutches of oh-my-god-this-one-doesn't-actually-suck fever? Probably. But after the mediocrity of Episodes I and II, Sith was an extremely pleasent surprise worth making the most of. That's not to say it's perfect. I think the story overall is told very well, we see what we always wanted to (Anakin becomes Vader) and we can now begin to understand the reasons for his transformation and perhaps even view the Vader of the original trilogy in a new light.
Having said that, there are little bits and pieces that don't quite add up. In particular, Anakin's reasoning seems inconsistent at times, for example discovering that Sidious is in fact a Sith seems to convince him at that point in time that the Jedi were right and that Sidious was lying about the Jedi plans to overthrow the senate etc. to the extent that he dobs Sidious in to Samuel L. Motherfucking Jackson. When he agrees to work with Sidious little has changed to alter this way of thinking and he appears to join him solely for the purpose of saving Padme's life - yet later in the film believes the "Jedi are evil" again. I can understand the following: Working with Sidious as a way of saving Padme, his being partially motivated by his obvious desire for power, and perhaps even to an extent his wanting to take revenge against the Jedi for their lack of faith in him because of the way his judgement is clouded by the dark side and his own anger. But, when he fights Obi-Wan, "the Jedi are evil." I can see where the point of his deciding the Jedi really were trying to get power supposedly happens, it's when Mace Windu is about to kill Sidious and Anakin says he must stand trial, but the thing is that Anakin doesn't say this because he thinks it's "right"and that the Jedi are evil for not agreeing as they must clearly want Sidious gone so they can control the senate, but rather he says it as a desperate way of stopping Windu from killing the one man who Anakin believes can save Padme. Rant over.
It doesn't really detract too much from the overall experience if you're willing to overlook it (which for me is a little difficult as it's quite central to Anakin's change) and ultimately when Padme is killed and he has nothing left but his lust for power it is at least convincing that he would go from there to be the Vader we have always known from the original trilogy. It's just that I believe the movie cheats a little to get there.
Overall, this gets a very strong B+ from me, or 4 out of 5. Really, really awesome in most ways, but still falls into a few of the traps of the previous two installments (ie. some of the hammy lines, the overly-serious theatre-like acting styles) and absolutely fails to capture the magic of the original trilogy as I discovered a day later re-watching Episode IV: A New Hope, which is just completely different in it's tone and narrative structure and, most importantly, has Han Solo. A New Hope incidentally gets an A- or 4.5 out of 5, not an "A" because (a) Empire Strikes Back is better and (b) the ending where they just get some medal when it's over is shit.
Cinderella Man
Saw this yesterday. If I had to choose between this and last year's best picture winner Million Dollar Baby (neither compares to the Martin Scorsese masterpiece Raging Bull) I think I'd give Cinderella Man the edge in a tight contest. This is a movie which doesn't really do anything too original and at times is a little OBVIOUS in the techniques used to portray whatever aspect they're highlighting, whether it be a scene, a flashback or an "Angle On." That said, as far as solid Hollywood Oscar-bait drama goes this is as solid as a rock, doing almost everything right while rarely being exceptional and ultimately making me give a damn about Jim Braddock and what he's essentially fighting for. The perfomances are very good all around (though neither Crowe nor Giamatti deserve the awards attention they've been getting - both have done better work) and it's an uplifting story made all-the-better for the fact that you watch it knowing that what you see really happened (within the confines of the events portrayed obviously, there'll be a fair degree of creative dramatisation on the part of the writers regarding how these events unfolded). I think it deserves a solid B+, or 4 out of 5.
Bubba Ho-Tep
A cult favourite presenting a scenario where JFK and Elvis are actually still alive and living in secret at a Texas resthome, this low-budget B-movie horror-comedy is absolutely worth seeing if you're a fan of the whole B-movie "genre." This movie thrives on the type of lines you don't need to be Shane Black to write, often funny but charming as part of the whole even when jokes fall flat just because the whole thing is in that "cheap movie" spirit. It's great fun watching JFK (who was "dyed black" and is portrayed by the late Ossie Davis) scooting around on a motorised wheelchair and Elvis - relying on a walking frame after one too many shakes of the hips took its toll - battle an evil mummy determined to suck the souls out of the asses of the rest home's elderly residents. The mummy's mere presence in the film is absurdly contrived and makes little sense - but that's perfectly in line with what you expect from this type of movie. I'll give it a strong C+ or 3 out of 5 for originality, and I recommend it if you want to try a different kind of movie. Very entertaining.
Video Ezy
Went there this morning to return Cinderella Man and Bubba Ho-Tep and rented:
Heat
Rocky
Three Kings
The Great Escape
The Limey
I've seen none of these before so this should be a fun week. Ciao.
posted by Steve @ 11:58 AM
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