Cynics like to talk about TV as nothing more then a vehicle for selling a bunch of crap to a bunch of dopes. Similar statements have been made about the Movies in relation to the sale of outrageously priced junk food. While I have often agreed with the former, I refused to understand the latter because of the semi-extraordinary streak I have been on recently when only paying to see thoroughly enjoyable films in the theaters. Coupled with rentals of Season 1-4 of "The Wire", my TV/Film viewing has been nothing but momentous since the Spring of 2008.
That was until today, the coldest day of the year in so many ways. I spent the full price of a movie to see "The Day the World Stood Still" staring Keanu Reeves. Granted I went into the film with limited expectations. I enjoyed the original, but found its message of hope and peace in the face of human ignorance a bit bland. I mean hey, whats wrong with a little bit of Anarchy? Why So Serious? and so forth. But the Cold War overtones are replaced with indignation over the way humans treat the planet earth. I felt "The Day After Tomorrow" drilled that point home well enough. Reeves, who has always been ridiculed for his remarkably stiff delivery, seems to mock the audience in the film, straining to sound and look like a statue. The GORT special effects are wasted, and the climax is as unsatisfying as my last evening at Mohegan Sun. The "Humans are stupid and destructive" approach worked in Dr.Strangelove, here it just becomes tedious. And this comes from someone who whole-heartedly agrees with the premise.
What got me were the trailers. It was after the trailers I realized the brutal truth, that I was sucked into the theater to watch a film I knew would be poor and yet felt a glow of satisfaction because it was simply a vehicle to show me what to expect in the spring of 2009, which may be the best season in the history of action movies. The three trailers prior to the film consisted of an extended trailer for the rebooting of "Star Trek", an extended trailer for "Terminator Salvation", and the first trailer out for "Wolverine:Origins". It was a fanboys wet dream. Out of the 40 people in the massive theater, I was the only one not to clap or "release" during that five minutes. People were most impressed with the Wolverine clip, simply for the inclusion of the "Gambit" character from the X-Men comics. With these films, along with Watchmen, 2009 should be fun.
Now I am off to watch more of The Wire, because Baltimore is a far more cold and heinous place then anything seen in a Keanu Reeves movie...
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Monday, July 23, 2007
The Greatest Films Since 1982
The List
Numbers 14-1
14. The Breakfast Club-The best movie ever to watch over brunch on a Sunday. A film hadn’t captured the angst and idealism of youth since the early 1970’s, and this film put a supreme 1980’s stamp on the matter.
13. Schindler’s List-Great filmmaker, compelling story, difficult to watch.
12. Glengarry/Glenn Ross-Coffee is for Closers….Pacino, Harris, Lemon, Arkin, Spacey, and Baldwin. Written and Directed by David Mamet…Epic.
11. Rushmore-From the combined genius of Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson. Brilliant in every way.
10. Fight Club-A grandiose opus of modern cynicism and anarchy with two of the finest actors of any generation. It probably should be higher.
9. The Matrix-Every great Sci Fi concept smashed into one film.
8. Apollo 13-Made NASA relevant again. Hanks at his best since Big.
7. Platoon-Stone at his best…on shrooms and in the jungle….
6. Glory-Zwick’s best ever. One of the great casts ever, and awesome score as well.
5. Reservoir Dogs-Tarantino has his most cool. This film is a turning point in the history of filmmaking. Now, all those irreverent indie flicks get attention because of this movie. It changed how fans looked at film festivals, and how writers sought to create characters in their scripts. Pretty good for a film where 75 percent of it is shot in a warehouse.
4. Braveheart-No CGI, but the themes are still awesome. That said, Mel Gibson still sucks.
3. Gladiator-Ridley Scott takes the best of Braveheart and adds cooler names and Russell Crowe. Strength and Honor…..
2, The Shawshank Redemption-A tale of enduring friendship and hope in the face of tyrannical 1950’s Maine prison style oppression.
1. Pulp Fiction-A major human triumph in the history of the world….
Now I have to go see about a girl....
Numbers 14-1
14. The Breakfast Club-The best movie ever to watch over brunch on a Sunday. A film hadn’t captured the angst and idealism of youth since the early 1970’s, and this film put a supreme 1980’s stamp on the matter.
13. Schindler’s List-Great filmmaker, compelling story, difficult to watch.
12. Glengarry/Glenn Ross-Coffee is for Closers….Pacino, Harris, Lemon, Arkin, Spacey, and Baldwin. Written and Directed by David Mamet…Epic.
11. Rushmore-From the combined genius of Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson. Brilliant in every way.
10. Fight Club-A grandiose opus of modern cynicism and anarchy with two of the finest actors of any generation. It probably should be higher.
9. The Matrix-Every great Sci Fi concept smashed into one film.
8. Apollo 13-Made NASA relevant again. Hanks at his best since Big.
7. Platoon-Stone at his best…on shrooms and in the jungle….
6. Glory-Zwick’s best ever. One of the great casts ever, and awesome score as well.
5. Reservoir Dogs-Tarantino has his most cool. This film is a turning point in the history of filmmaking. Now, all those irreverent indie flicks get attention because of this movie. It changed how fans looked at film festivals, and how writers sought to create characters in their scripts. Pretty good for a film where 75 percent of it is shot in a warehouse.
4. Braveheart-No CGI, but the themes are still awesome. That said, Mel Gibson still sucks.
3. Gladiator-Ridley Scott takes the best of Braveheart and adds cooler names and Russell Crowe. Strength and Honor…..
2, The Shawshank Redemption-A tale of enduring friendship and hope in the face of tyrannical 1950’s Maine prison style oppression.
1. Pulp Fiction-A major human triumph in the history of the world….
Now I have to go see about a girl....
Friday, July 20, 2007
The Greatest Films since 1982
The List
Numbers 25-15
25. Tennis, Anyone?- When this list is made in 20 years, this movie might be in the top 10. It’s “Sideways” with Tennis, and a funnier ending. Plus, its Zen message may end up being the way I live my 30’s.
24. A River Runs Through It-A great film top to bottom. It can be hard to notice though, because Brad Pitt is just so dreamy.
23. Do the Right Thing-A visionary film full of complex issues. Spike’s films always challenge the audience, none more then this one. Plus, Public Enemy wrote one of the top ten songs in the history of music for the film.
22. Unforgiven-The last Western that ever had to be made. Eastwood’s best
21. Dead Poets Society-Spectacular performances by several actors, including Ethan Hawk and Josh Charles, and the greatest performance of Robin Williams’ life. This film is an yarn about personal demons, education, and Latin. It famously brought “Carpe Diem” to the peeps to be used at graduation ceremonies for the next 15 years.
20. Malcolm X- Spike’s masterpiece. Visually awesome, and Denzel is in top form. This film led to an enlightening of the Simpsons Generation to recognize the legacy of Malcolm X is something to be celebrated.
19. Casino-Scorsese takes the Godfather Part II to the next level. Di Nero is great as Sam “Ace” Rothstein. Pesci is on fire…..so is this.
18. Lord the Rings: The Return of the King-I love the four endings, its Jackson’s best.
17. Goodfellas-And they said the mob doesn’t really exist. The frenetic story of Henry Hill’s rise and fall is so layered with the decadent, the callous, and the horrific. Great stuff…
16. Field of Dreams-If you build it….They will come…
15. Crimson Tide-Denzel and Hackman at their absolute best…on a Submarine.
Check back Monday for the conclusion to the List....
GFY...
Numbers 25-15
25. Tennis, Anyone?- When this list is made in 20 years, this movie might be in the top 10. It’s “Sideways” with Tennis, and a funnier ending. Plus, its Zen message may end up being the way I live my 30’s.
24. A River Runs Through It-A great film top to bottom. It can be hard to notice though, because Brad Pitt is just so dreamy.
23. Do the Right Thing-A visionary film full of complex issues. Spike’s films always challenge the audience, none more then this one. Plus, Public Enemy wrote one of the top ten songs in the history of music for the film.
22. Unforgiven-The last Western that ever had to be made. Eastwood’s best
21. Dead Poets Society-Spectacular performances by several actors, including Ethan Hawk and Josh Charles, and the greatest performance of Robin Williams’ life. This film is an yarn about personal demons, education, and Latin. It famously brought “Carpe Diem” to the peeps to be used at graduation ceremonies for the next 15 years.
20. Malcolm X- Spike’s masterpiece. Visually awesome, and Denzel is in top form. This film led to an enlightening of the Simpsons Generation to recognize the legacy of Malcolm X is something to be celebrated.
19. Casino-Scorsese takes the Godfather Part II to the next level. Di Nero is great as Sam “Ace” Rothstein. Pesci is on fire…..so is this.
18. Lord the Rings: The Return of the King-I love the four endings, its Jackson’s best.
17. Goodfellas-And they said the mob doesn’t really exist. The frenetic story of Henry Hill’s rise and fall is so layered with the decadent, the callous, and the horrific. Great stuff…
16. Field of Dreams-If you build it….They will come…
15. Crimson Tide-Denzel and Hackman at their absolute best…on a Submarine.
Check back Monday for the conclusion to the List....
GFY...
Saturday, May 12, 2007
'Been Feeling Uninspired...
Two bizarre elements are at play right now. Being a slave to 'Da Man destroys my intellectual blogger energy. Whoring myself to play the game has been mentally taxing. Also, with fewer papers to correct as the year comes to a close, I find myself with fewer opportunities to procrastinate via a blog. Nothing gets my blood boiling more then grading 150 essays on various aspects of Family Law in America. Doing that had me acting like the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania for months. Since, the rants have been far less jaded. This neutered effect has me again contemplating a purely sports blog(which has been done), as sports are working as the glue that keeps me from a multi-media censory overload. So, we will see.
A few observations from the week
-France has a new leader, and England will have a new leader this summer. I envy them.
-The War in Afganistan is still going on.
-Paris Hilton is going to jail. Our Long national nightmare is over….
-The less said about Dancing with the Stars...the better the world will be...
Here are some instances of genius in our culture that I found this week.
-“Looking good Billy Ray"
-“Feeling good Lewis”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6oJZsFYy6U
My early vote for president goes to…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RlVtsAvKfs
ohhh baby….Ohhh Baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYpwjB0IzoU
Hail to the Champions, this intro should be replicated in America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeGdc_kUXRc
Oh no!!!
“I got that same feeling on this film I got when I was doing Armageddon”-Michael Bay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZp75fWe-ss&mode=related&search=
The song that keeps on giving
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKy73uTOhDc
Almost makes me want to be vegan…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lcg1xQJnow
Tankman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Mf9j8co70&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcS0NzoSJcU&mode=related&search=
A new season of the best show on TV, Rescue Me, starts up in June. Time to get the song from the credits stuck in my head….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE4dfRa56D8
Why stand on a silent platform? Fight the war….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztBOAkBokF4
A few observations from the week
-France has a new leader, and England will have a new leader this summer. I envy them.
-The War in Afganistan is still going on.
-Paris Hilton is going to jail. Our Long national nightmare is over….
-The less said about Dancing with the Stars...the better the world will be...
Here are some instances of genius in our culture that I found this week.
-“Looking good Billy Ray"
-“Feeling good Lewis”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6oJZsFYy6U
My early vote for president goes to…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RlVtsAvKfs
ohhh baby….Ohhh Baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYpwjB0IzoU
Hail to the Champions, this intro should be replicated in America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeGdc_kUXRc
Oh no!!!
“I got that same feeling on this film I got when I was doing Armageddon”-Michael Bay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZp75fWe-ss&mode=related&search=
The song that keeps on giving
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKy73uTOhDc
Almost makes me want to be vegan…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lcg1xQJnow
Tankman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Mf9j8co70&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcS0NzoSJcU&mode=related&search=
A new season of the best show on TV, Rescue Me, starts up in June. Time to get the song from the credits stuck in my head….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE4dfRa56D8
Why stand on a silent platform? Fight the war….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztBOAkBokF4
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