Schoolio's Movie Corner

[wmgaretjax]

The only films I've seen recently that stole from "Kill Bill" are Guy Ritchies poor excuse for a film "Revolver" (it tried to incorporate animation and failed miserably)

One, "Revolver" is probably Guy Ritchie's best film. You need to watch it again.

Two, there is a rich history of mixing animation with live action (motherfucking "Page Master" anyone?), Tarantino does not have creative rights to it.

[KungFuJoe]

One, "Revolver" is probably Guy Ritchie's best film. You need to watch it again.

Two, there is a rich history of mixing animation with live action (motherfucking "Page Master" anyone?), Tarantino does not have creative rights to it.

Ok. I'll watch "Revolver" again & let you know if my feelings change. For me, the only thing that held the film together was Jason Statham's performance. Other than that, Andre 3000 was fucking atrocious & Ray Liotta's character was down right ridiculous. Even if I find it better upon a second viewing, I highly doubt I would ever rank it above "Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels". I'm really curious to as why people defend this film, but hey I own it & will give it one more chance.

As for the other matter, I never insisted that Tarantino had creative rights to mixing animation with live action in films, but it was the way in which it was incorporated into "Kill Bill" that made it unique. It was in one hand paying homage to Japanese Anime while using the format in a clever & exciting way to show the violent background of O-Ren Ishii. Why the fuck was that animated sequence incorporated in "Revolver"? For one, it was possibly the worst animation I've seen used in a film & two, it hardly made any fucking sense. How can you honestly defend that it did? To me, he was totally just biting off the way "Kill Bill" successfully used the format, but had no real motive for doing so.

[wmgaretjax]

Ok. I'll watch "Revolver" again & let you know if my feelings change. For me, the only thing that held the film together was Jason Statham's performance. Other than that, Andre 3000 was fucking atrocious & Ray Liotta's character was down right ridiculous. Even if I find it better upon a second viewing, I highly doubt I would ever rank it above "Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels". I'm really curious to as why people defend this film, but hey I own it & will give it one more chance.


One thing that you might keep in mind; I believe 90% of the film takes place in a completely psychological space. I need to watch it again, when I do, I'll post my thoughts.

[KungFuJoe]

ok. fair enough. I respect your opinion & agree with a lot that you have to say on here. I was really hoping to like "Revolver" upon my first viewing, especially after hearing the mixed responses to it. I guess one more viewing is in order.

[Somewhat Damaged]

My favorite part of "The Protector" was when Tony Jaa threw that elephant.

[menikmati]

I wanna see Ratatouille.

[Hannahrain]

http://content.ytmnd.com/content/b/a/4/ba400f61293e95f4bb69d3c166c66c3a.gif

[RotationSlimWang]

One, "Revolver" is probably Guy Ritchie's best film. You need to watch it again.


you just jumped about 20 sharks all at once, Jared.

unwatchable

[menikmati]

http://content.ytmnd.com/content/b/a/4/ba400f61293e95f4bb69d3c166c66c3a.gif

+10

[wmgaretjax]

you just jumped about 20 sharks all at once, Jared.

unwatchable

Randy, i'm not speaking to you until I get a full response to Julien Donkey Boy.

but seriously, i WAS exaggerating... I won't pretend to know what I think my favorite Ritchie film is, it changes pretty regularly. But I honestly think Revolver is a serious contender.

[KungFuJoe]

My favorite part of "The Protector" was when Tony Jaa threw that elephant.

Tony Jaa didn't throw the elephant. It was the big bad baddies. I agree it was a very shocking and amusing moment.

[KungFuJoe]

oh yeah ... saw "Live Free or Die Hard" today and it was f-ing great! I wouldn't say it was the best in the series, but if you're a fan you shouldn't be disappointed. It's not nearly as dreadful as you might think. Sure the action is way over the top & unbelievable at times, but it's a heck of a lot of fun. It's relentless from start to finish. The script is pretty good and they do a good job of keeping you on the edge of your seat. The minor problem I had with the pic was that the villains weren't that menacing. Timothy Olyphant lacks the charm and intensity of past villains, but he serves the role well enough. Maggie Q is hardly believable as a bad ass babe, but she's extremely easy on the eyes & I was super happy she was given a lot more to play with than with her role in "Mission Impossible 3". The biggest shocker for me was the inclusion of Cyril Raffaelli (District B13)[Breakjaw, add "District 13 to your list if you've not seen it]. I was so excited when I saw him on screen and that they used him properly for this film. Unfortunately I wish he could've done more. This man should be the next big action star, along side of Tony Jaa. He's of the yamikazi breed, stunts you've seen in the opening in "Casino Royale" & throughout "B13". Of course, what really holds this film together is the charm of Bruce Willis as John Mclane. I entered the film not expecting much energy from him & looking tired in the role, but the man's still got it. And Justin Long was cast perfect as the hacker become sidekick. If you're looking for a good summer action blockbuster, this is it. Popcorn entertainment at it's finest!

[gmoneyak]

oh yeah ... saw "Live Free or Die Hard" today and it was f-ing great! I wouldn't say it was the best in the series, but if you're a fan you shouldn't be disappointed. It's not nearly as dreadful as you might think. Sure the action is way over the top & unbelievable at times, but it's a heck of a lot of fun. It's relentless from start to finish. The script is pretty good and they do a good job of keeping you on the edge of your seat. The minor problem I had with the pic was that the villains weren't that menacing. Timothy Olyphant lacks the charm and intensity of past villains, but he serves the role well enough. Maggie Q is hardly believable as a bad ass babe, but she's extremely easy on the eyes & I was super happy she was given a lot more to play with than with her role in "Mission Impossible 3". The biggest shocker for me was the inclusion of Cyril Raffaelli (District B13)[Breakjaw, add "District 13 to your list if you've not seen it]. I was so excited when I saw him on screen and that they used him properly for this film. Unfortunately I wish he could've done more. This man should be the next big action star, along side of Tony Jaa. He's of the yamikazi breed, stunts you've seen in the opening in "Casino Royale" & throughout "B13". Of course, what really holds this film together is the charm of Bruce Willis as John Mclane. I entered the film not expecting much energy from him & looking tired in the role, but the man's still got it. And Justin Long was cast perfect as the hacker become sidekick. If you're looking for a good summer action blockbuster, this is it. Popcorn entertainment at it's finest!


I have to agree with you on District B13, love that flick..My brother came back from his European trip raving about that one..Awesome stunts..

[bmack86]

Watched Requiem for a Dream today.
Visceral.
That is all

And, I bought The Third Man and L.A. Confidential.

[RotationSlimWang]

Randy, i'm not speaking to you until I get a full response to Julien Donkey Boy.

but seriously, i WAS exaggerating... I won't pretend to know what I think my favorite Ritchie film is, it changes pretty regularly. But I honestly think Revolver is a serious contender.

sir, with all due respect--if you think i'm taking that Julien Donkey recommendation now that you've somehow managed to approve of Revolver...

dude, i dont even know where to begin, so we shall not.

Watched Requiem for a Dream today.
Visceral.
That is all

damn skippy.


on a different note, Rules Of Attraction is on On Demand this week. being an Ellis fan by nature i was extremely pleased with this adaptation--anyone else find it remarkable that it seemed to kill the careers of everyone in it?

[wmgaretjax]

sir, with all due respect--if you think i'm taking that Julien Donkey recommendation now that you've somehow managed to approve of Revolver...

dude, i dont even know where to begin, so we shall not.


Are you a big Ritchie fan outside of his latest two films? Basically, did you like Lock Stock and Snatch?

[KungFuJoe]

on a different note, Rules Of Attraction is on On Demand this week. being an Ellis fan by nature i was extremely pleased with this adaptation--anyone else find it remarkable that it seemed to kill the careers of everyone in it?

Requiem For a Dream > Rules of Attraction

can't compare how they were adapted, but that's what I feel about the films.

[schoolofruckus]

Checking in from San Francisco...

I need to see "Revolver". I'm pissed it's taken this long to reach the US, and after "Swept Away" I don't really want to drop $25 on a UK DVD.

I'm glad you liked "Live Free or Die Hard", Joe, but I can't even fathom the idea of paying to see it. A PG-13 John McClane? Go fuck yourselves, Fox. It's one thing to fuck up the last X-Men movie just so they could beat "Superman Returns" to theatres and (in their minds) stick it to Bryan Singer, but to make a "family-friendly" "Die Hard" film? Who are the ad wizards that came up with this one? Pity, too, because they had me before I heard that the movie was bowlderized.

Pot and I caught "Stephanie Daley" up here the other night. Although Pot caught more of it than I did, because I popped some Benadryl before the movie and I had worked a noon-to-4-am shift the previous night, and I inevitably was loopy and fading throughout the movie. But what I did see of "Stephanie" was great. It's about a 16 year old girl (Amber Tamblyn) who is found to have had a suspicious miscarriage during a school ski trip. The police hire a psychologist (Tilda Swinton), who also happens to be pregnant as well as a recent sufferer of miscarriage, to determine whether or not Stephanie killed the baby, or if it was stillborn as she claims. The acting was top-notch, the story was great....I basically liked everything I saw, but since I would estimate that I missed about 1/3 of it all in my daze, I will have to see it again before giving an official judgement. I definitely saw enough to say that it's one of the better movies I've seen this year, and if it plays near any of you guys, give it a shot.

I also loved "Rules of Attraction". Last I heard, Roger Avary and Kip Pardue were doing "Glitterati", a feature-length spinoff following Victor on the trip through Europe that was so memorably summarized in that classic, hyperactive bit from "Rules". Avary also has the rights to "Glamorama", another Ellis novel that follows a different incarnation of Victor, which itself was supposedly ripped off heavily in "Zoolander".

[Somewhat Damaged]

Walked to the local art house theater tonight to see Day Watch. There was a special event going on, a sing-along to ABBA and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and I guess I happened to arrive during the sing-along's intermission because when I went to buy a ticket, the guy just let me in for free. I'm not really one for effects driven movies but this one seemed innovative and thought-provoking enough. The director is extremely talented but as the story trodded along, I couldn't help but think of how disjointed and incoherent it was. I gave it the benefit of the doubt for a long period because...well, because I guess I'm just that nice of a guy, or maybe I was afraid of not being hip enough to realize what was going on. But after Anton arrived at Yegor's birthday party with his face bloodied by a single punch from some jackass whose sole appearance in the film is to deliver that apparently brutal blow, I gave up. Still an enjoyable film, especially at the price I paid, but it went to demonstrate that Americans don't have the market cornered on big, dumb special effects bonanzas that can't tell a story well.

[bmack86]

That one is Rocky Horror level in its midnight viewing fame.

[CuervoPH]

Walked to the local art house theater tonight to see Day Watch.

I just saw "Night Watch" a couple of nights ago. Sounds like "Day Watch" kept up the trend started by "Night Watch" in that, if one hasn't read the books the movies are based upon, the movies can be a bit confusing. I guess there was quite a bit of detail in the books that didn't make the transition to the movie screen. I would have been extremely lost during parts of the movie except that I had the writer's commentary turned on while I was watching it. Not a bad movie and I enjoyed the effects, but I think I'll track down the books before I watch "Day Watch".

(Oh yeah, and according to the writer's commentary, the opening scene of "Night Watch" was actually in the "Day Watch" book but was added to the first movie to make it more understandable. This should make it interesting when I finally get around to reading the books.)

[KungFuJoe]

Still an enjoyable film, especially at the price I paid, but it went to demonstrate that Americans don't have the market cornered on big, dumb special effects bonanzas that can't tell a story well.


Yes, they do. Where as "Night Watch" was an innovative Russian film. "Day Watch" was picked up by Fox Searchlight & half produced by the company. The dumb American production company rushed them to complete the story instead of making the set trilogy, so that we can make the 3rd one "Dusk Watch" an American film. I loved "Night watch" and it totally sucks that once American hands got on this franchise it completely bombed. "Day Watch" has it's moments, but I could've warned you it was a huge disappointment.

and Gabe, I'm disappointed you'd totally give up on "die Hard" simply because they made it a PG-13 film. It's seriously, just as fun as the other films. Of course it can not match the first one, but it really doesn't feel like a PG-13 film. I guess there is just way less cursing & not a lot of blood & gore, though it is very violent. Sure, I was a bit pissed to hear it wasn't going to be an R rated film, but it really didn't disappoint. What really ticks me off is that films like "Once" & "Kung Fu Hustle" get R ratings. I think you should be more pissed off at the ratings bureau than the production company. I mean I haven't seen "Once" yet, perhap there is a lot of cursing?

[schoolofruckus]

Don't get me wrong - I'm always more pissed at the ratings board than at anyone else in the movie business. But I hate that Fox/Willis decided to play along and make a "Die Hard" that kids can get into. I mean, if the only "fuck" I hear in the movie is in 'Yippie Kay Yay, motherfucker!', that doesn't feel right. It's not "Die Hard" to me. But you have seen it and I have not, so I will concede that it probably works better than I think.

"Once" has a ton of profanity; as far as I can tell, that's just the way Irish people talk. By the rules, it's not that outrageous of an R. But the rules are fucking stupid to begin with.

[bmack86]

Yes, they do. Where as "Night Watch" was an innovative Russian film. "Day Watch" was picked up by Fox Searchlight & half produced by the company. The dumb American production company rushed them to complete the story instead of making the set trilogy, so that we can make the 3rd one "Dusk Watch" an American film. I loved "Night watch" and it totally sucks that once American hands got on this franchise it completely bombed. "Day Watch" has it's moments, but I could've warned you it was a huge disappointment.

He was talking about Priscilla. C'mon now.

[Somewhat Damaged]

I haven't seen "Night Watch" yet so perhaps that would have been helpful in understanding the story in "Day Watch" a bit better. So the third film won't be in Russian? Interesting.

One thing that caught my interest is that the trailers I saw for it declared the director as being a "visionary." I produced a film a few years ago for this director who's big in the Goth community. He's fairly talented and charismatic enough to have garnered a large following of sycophants who think that every little thing he makes is magic. I'm on decent enough terms with the guy -- my biggest problem is with the people he surrounds himself with -- but it just makes me nauseous to hear the word "visionary" and "innovative" bandied about in connection to his films since they owe such an obvious debt to filmmakers like Jeunet and Ridley Scott and don't really push any boundaries or tread any ground that isn't already well worn.
I wanted to see if the "visionary" proclamation about Timur Bekmambetov was justified or just another case of some jackass with a distinctive style (but little substance) having his raving acolytes herald him as the Next Great Director when he was actually no such thing. After watching the film, I think he could actually bear some influence on filmmakers in a way not dissimilar to the Wachowskis. He certainly has some big ideas to go along with his cool shots. Hopefully the next entry in the series will return to the form reportedly possessed by "Night Watch."

And for the record, I generally stay away from the source material films are based on. Time spent reading is time spent not writing, and besides, my attention span seems completely shot. (I don't know if it's due to my drug use from a few years ago or what but I can't commit to reading a novel any longer.) And at the end of the film, I want to judge it on its own merits, not give it leniency or be more critical due to whatever it included or left out of the book.

[KungFuJoe]

One thing that caught my interest is that the trailers I saw for it declared the director as being a "visionary." I produced a film a few years ago for this director who's big in the Goth community. He's fairly talented and charismatic enough to have garnered a large following of sycophants who think that every little thing he makes is magic. I'm on decent enough terms with the guy -- my biggest problem is with the people he surrounds himself with -- but it just makes me nauseous to hear the word "visionary" and "innovative" bandied about in connection to his films since they owe such an obvious debt to filmmakers like Jeunet and Ridley Scott and don't really push any boundaries or tread any ground that isn't already well worn.
I wanted to see if the "visionary" proclamation about Timur Bekmambetov was justified or just another case of some jackass with a distinctive style (but little substance) having his raving acolytes herald him as the Next Great Director when he was actually no such thing. After watching the film, I think he could actually bear some influence on filmmakers in a way not dissimilar to the Wachowskis. He certainly has some big ideas to go along with his cool shots. Hopefully the next entry in the series will return to the form reportedly possessed by "Night Watch."

Well, to be quite honest I would love to see Timur's next film to see if he actually is a filmmaker worth merit. Though I loved "Night Watch" I have to admit his style reminded me very much of Jeunet. Also, the "Night Watch" story has very similar themes to films like "Star Wars", "The Matrix" & "Lord of the Rings". So, I can't say it is entirely original. However, I prefer it to the "Underworld" movies. The thing I like most about "Night Watch" is that it has all these elements of other films, yet still feels fresh & orignal. It was also impressive because the has been the biggest film to ever come out of Russia. That alone makes it very notable, though many may argue not a good film. If you get around to watching "Night Watch" try to find the original Russian version because the American realease cut out a fairly important character.

[Mr.Nipples]

the ultra-secret trailer for the new jj abrams produced godzilla movie is attached to transformers...word is its the greatest trailer ever made...if it is godzilla, im going to be a very happy nerd...

[thinnerair]

i heard Transformers was awful.

Die Hard was excellent!

[bug on your lip]

Some Kind of Monster was off the chain !

[thinnerair]

Some Kind of Monster was off the chain !

this isn't gonna end, is it?

[bug on your lip]

This is the end that will never end
This is the voice of silence no more

We the people
Are we the people?

Some kind of monster
This monster lives

[J~$$$]

cpgStUl7o30&mode

[marooko]

i heard Transformers was awful.

Die Hard was excellent!

yeah, die hard was dope. we went to see it twice. i havent done that since i was like 15. fuck that was a long time ago.

[mob roulette]

And for the record, I generally stay away from the source material films are based on. Time spent reading is time spent not writing, and besides, my attention span seems completely shot. (I don't know if it's due to my drug use from a few years ago or what but I can't commit to reading a novel any longer.) And at the end of the film, I want to judge it on its own merits, not give it leniency or be more critical due to whatever it included or left out of the book.

Randy?

Oh wait, I'm sorry. I meant Ricky. Ricky. So hey bro, you want to go see Zoo with me? No pesky source material to worry about there. Unless of course you want to count "Donkey Facials Monthly". I hear you can get a subscription.

[J~$$$]

ewww really zoo?

Im sure the movie is great....Im just going off the backstory with the ewwww

[mob roulette]

It's opening here next week, I think. Let's see if young Ricky's up for it, since he clearly doesn't care for reading.

Rick? Whaddya say?

[schoolofruckus]

the ultra-secret trailer for the new jj abrams produced godzilla movie is attached to transformers...word is its the greatest trailer ever made...if it is godzilla, im going to be a very happy nerd...

This movie shoots a couple nights on my backlot in a couple weeks. It's not Godzilla, per se, but it's an alien monster of some sort....the name of which I can't recall. The movie's working title is either "Cloverfield" or "Slusho".

According to AICN, the whole thing is being shot with a consumer video camera, so as to appear like someone's home movie of the attack; I think that's the most kick-ass idea for a sci-fi action film that I've heard in a while. Kind of like "Blair Witch" on a HUGE budget.

[breakjaw]

This movie shoots a couple nights on my backlot in a couple weeks. It's not Godzilla, per se, but it's an alien monster of some sort....the name of which I can't recall. The movie's working title is either "Cloverfield" or "Slusho".

According to AICN, the whole thing is being shot with a consumer video camera, so as to appear like someone's home movie of the attack; I think that's the most kick-ass idea for a sci-fi action film that I've heard in a while. Kind of like "Blair Witch" on a HUGE budget.

Well,I took my son and his friends to see "Transformers" and the new JJ Abrams trailer had everyone whispering excitedly afterwards.It does look like it's filmed with a very nice handheld video camera.It starts off at the farewell party in some swanky NY restaurant,for some young guy I didn't recognize,who we learn is going to Japan for some reason.Well there's all sorts of rumbling and noise from outside,and everyone runs out where stuff is blowing up and glass shattering and people screaming,and then there's some sort of unearthly roar from the tops of the buildings and then the head of the Statue Of Liberty crashes down near the camera.
I told my son that it was Godzilla because I read here that it was.He wouldn't have been as impressed by "Slusho".

[atom heart]

"Slusho" sounds like it would be the name of the monster in The Host.

[roberto73]

Perhaps it's a remake of ...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/insomniacmonty/208930Slithis-Posters.jpg

[J~$$$]

Maybe....

[Somewhat Damaged]

It's opening here next week, I think. Let's see if young Ricky's up for it, since he clearly doesn't care for reading.

Rick? Whaddya say?

Do I know you?

For someone apparently so big on reading, your reading comprehension seems to be lacking. While I said that I have difficulty committing to a novel and don't read the source material for film adaptations, that doesn't mean I don't go in on short story compilations or books that haven't been turned into films. I didn't say that I don't care for reading.
I watched Children of Men on DVD this morning and was again stunned by the cinematography. I enjoyed being able to rewind and watch particular shots (like the attack on the car, the birth of the child, and Theo's journey from the battle ravaged streets to the apartment building) repeatedly. And after it was finished, I remembered David Poland's negative review of the film. He had read the book and came up with what he thought was a more powerful story. His experience with P.D. James' book impacted his enjoyment of Alfonso Cuaron's film. That's happened to me more than a few times in the past. Being that film is the medium I enjoy most, I'd rather not risk having my reaction to a film be tainted by my perception of the book it was based on. How is that grounds for derision, exactly?

[schoolofruckus]

I found out this week that "The Darjeeling Limited" comes out in late September, as opposed to on Christmas. Fucking awesome.

[bmack86]

Just watched Die Hard. For the first time, because, yes, I am a failure at life. It was damn good. Yippe Ki Yaye Mothafucka.

[schoolofruckus]

I just finished watching "Juliet of the Spirits", and I'm fucking speechless. I feel like I just saw my first film in color. The movie was a sensory overload in every imaginable way. Needless to say, I loved the holy living shit out of it.

I watched "Barton Fink" this morning...I liked it as well. Not my favorite Coen Bros. film, but a stellar entry in their catalog, no doubt.

[suprefan]

i heard Transformers was awful.




Go see it then let us know. Saw it and I enjoyed it very much. And yeah the JJ Abrams trailer was cool to watch, I had found a youtube clip but you needed to see it in the theater to hear everyones reaction. "What was that? "is it godzilla?" some alien?" "huh?" I was stoked.

[mob roulette]

For someone apparently so big on reading, your reading comprehension seems to be lacking. While I said that I have difficulty committing to a novel and don't read the source material for film adaptations, that doesn't mean I don't go in on short story compilations or books that haven't been turned into films. I didn't say that I don't care for reading.
I watched Children of Men on DVD this morning and was again stunned by the cinematography. I enjoyed being able to rewind and watch particular shots (like the attack on the car, the birth of the child, and Theo's journey from the battle ravaged streets to the apartment building) repeatedly. And after it was finished, I remembered David Poland's negative review of the film. He had read the book and came up with what he thought was a more powerful story. His experience with P.D. James' book impacted his enjoyment of Alfonso Cuaron's film. That's happened to me more than a few times in the past. Being that film is the medium I enjoy most, I'd rather not risk having my reaction to a film be tainted by my perception of the book it was based on. How is that grounds for derision, exactly?

I'm sorry that we misunderstood each other. I wasn't suggesting that you were illiterate or even unintelligent. I just found your comment to be a bit disingenuous in some ways. When Michael Bay (or whomever) gets around to pillaging "Atlas Shruuged" and casting Scarlett Johansson as a gum chomping, fleet foot business executive by day and a Power Ranger by night, how will you know if he has stayed true to the author's original artistic vision? When James Franco or Josh Hartnett stars as the disaffected protagonist who kidnaps little kids and teaches them how to blow shit up in James Cameron's lavish adaptation of "The Catcher In The Rye", how will you knew when or how to call bullshit if you haven't read the souce material first? How, I ask you?

Also, I know that I'm likely in the minority here, but I really don't care. I still believe in storytelling.

[schoolofruckus]

I'm sorry that we misunderstood each other. I wasn't suggesting that you were illiterate or even unintelligent. I just found your comment to be a bit disingenuous in some ways. When Michael Bay (or whomever) gets around to pillaging "Atlas Shruuged" and casting Scarlett Johansson as a gum chomping, fleet foot business executive by day and a Power Ranger by night, how will you know if he has stayed true to the author's original artistic vision? When James Franco or Josh Hartnett stars as the disaffected protagonist who kidnaps little kids and teaches them how to blow shit up in James Cameron's lavish adaptation of "The Catcher In The Rye", how will you knew when or how to call bullshit if you haven't read the souce material first? How, I ask you?

Also, I know that I'm likely in the minority here, but I really don't care. I still believe in storytelling.

I don't know who's directing "Atlas Shrugged", but Angelina Jolie is developing it with the idea that she will play the role of Dagny Taggart.

[KungFuJoe]

I found out this week that "The Darjeeling Limited" comes out in late September, as opposed to on Christmas. Fucking awesome.

Are you sure it's getting a theatrical release then or is it just its premiere at the New York Film Festival you're thinking of? When I heard it was opening the Fest I was very upset it was going to be a week after I leave NY. I'd be very excited if you are right.

[schoolofruckus]

From what I heard, they're opening it in major cities the day after its NYFF premiere on Friday 9/28. This has been done before (I think I read that "The Ice Storm" did the same thing in '97). It should be wide by mid-October.

EDIT: It'll at least play in New York on 9/29. I can't imagine LA won't follow shortly thereafter.

More info on this, plus some light shed on "4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days" and "No Country For Old Men"!!! (http://content.foxsearchlight.com/inside/node/1968)

[Somewhat Damaged]

I'm sorry that we misunderstood each other. I wasn't suggesting that you were illiterate or even unintelligent. I just found your comment to be a bit disingenuous in some ways. When Michael Bay (or whomever) gets around to pillaging "Atlas Shruuged" and casting Scarlett Johansson as a gum chomping, fleet foot business executive by day and a Power Ranger by night, how will you know if he has stayed true to the author's original artistic vision? When James Franco or Josh Hartnett stars as the disaffected protagonist who kidnaps little kids and teaches them how to blow shit up in James Cameron's lavish adaptation of "The Catcher In The Rye", how will you knew when or how to call bullshit if you haven't read the souce material first? How, I ask you?

Also, I know that I'm likely in the minority here, but I really don't care. I still believe in storytelling.

That's the thing about communicating on the internet, it's hard to know exactly what someone's intentions may be just based on the words written. And I was also meaning to be concise in the post that "started" this misunderstanding. If Michael Bay were to adapt "Atlas Shrugged" and turn it into a bona fide Michael Bay film, I would stay away from it and opt for the book. (I've avoided the last couple Michael Bay films anyway and may only watch Transformers because I remember playing with the toys when I was a kid. If not for that slight nostalgia, his involvement would keep me away.) It really depends on the book and the film. I've heard good things about Cormac McCarthy's The Road and hope to read that soon. If a director I respect and admire ends up helming a film adaptation, I would probably give it a look. If Joel Schumacher directed it, I would pass. It's not so cut and dry that I'd always pick a film over the book, but in general that's what I've found to suit me best. (Best example being the novels Kubrick based his movies on. Stephen King may hate what Kubrick did with The Shining but I think the film is more effectively creepy than the novel. The performances venture into hamminess but I'll still take Kubrick's vision over King's.)

[bmack86]

I watched Naked City today. It was a bit dated, but a cool cinematic work. The story was fairly straightforward, basically a whodunit, but it was cool to see all the on location shots of old New York in the 1940s. The acting wasn't spectacular, but wasn't bad by any means. It was an enjoyable hour and a half.

[bmack86]

I just watched The Naked Kiss (Criterion #18) and let me just say, any victims of Child Molestation, stay away. This movie is the prototype for modern social commentary. It features a prostitute as the protagonist, a cop as the "bad guy" and the story prominently addresses abortion, child rape and corruption. It's not easy to digest, but damn if it isn't affecting. The acting is a bit dated (the picture was made in 1964) but if you ever were the victim of any sort of sexual misconduct, this picture will hit you very deeply. I don't recommend watching it for purely pleasure, but this piece made me think about my role in society, and it's deeply affecting, and extremely well made, as well as acting as a prototype for the post-noir films that came out in the 70s and 80s, and beyond.

[wmgaretjax]

I just finished watching "Juliet of the Spirits", and I'm fucking speechless. I feel like I just saw my first film in color. The movie was a sensory overload in every imaginable way. Needless to say, I loved the holy living shit out of it.


yes! you have finally lived gabe! that film is mind blowing.

also, I saw "Sunshine" as a part of the Roskilde festival. I loved it, a visual masterpiece. I won't say more, because I was far too trashed to give a real critical evaluation of the film.

[schoolofruckus]

I'm glad to hear "Sunshine" has at least some merit. I will be seeing it in the theater.

Has anyone heard about the supposed Hugh Hefner biopic that's going to be helmed by Brett Ratner? The latest rumor - based on some typical hemming and hawing by Ratner the other night to a TMZ camera in Beverly Hills - is that he's "in talks" with none other than Paris Hilton to play a roll in the film. This is exactly like when I heard "The Fountain" would be scored by Mogwai, only the extreme fucking opposite. This movie cannot possibly go higher than "entertaining multiple train collision", and it could go so far as to be the worst movie of all time.

[suprefan]

Ouch, that will be horrible if Paris is on board. And yeah Ratner is directing, who knows how it will come out. Did you ever watch the one Hefner movie that was made and aired on USA like a couple years ago? That one was decent.

[bmack86]

I just watched Amores Perros. Fantastic. I can't say much more than that, but it was great.

[CuervoPH]

I just watched Amores Perros. Fantastic. I can't say much more than that, but it was great.


I have that in my Netflix queue. It's the only one of the Inarritu/Arriaga "trilogy" I haven't seen.

I finally saw "La Strada" for the first time tonight. Up until now, "8 1/2" had been my favorite Fellini film, but now I'm definitely torn. The ending was very emotional, and I loved Giuletta Masina's performance as Gelsomina. Anthony Quinn was good as always, but Masina was captivating.

[schoolofruckus]

And yeah Ratner is directing, who knows how it will come out.

I do. It'll be awful, as per his usual output.

I just watched Amores Perros. Fantastic. I can't say much more than that, but it was great.

Yeah, that movie is amazing; one of my all-time favorites.

I finally saw "La Strada" for the first time tonight. Up until now, "8 1/2" had been my favorite Fellini film, but now I'm definitely torn. The ending was very emotional, and I loved Giuletta Masina's performance as Gelsomina. Anthony Quinn was good as always, but Masina was captivating.

I'm with you all the way there (except on "8 1/2", but only because I haven't seen it yet). "La Strada" is fucking heartbreaking, Giulietta in particular. I think I prefer "Juliet of the Spirits" overall - I want to eat the fucking print of that film - but her performance in "La Strada" is one of the all-time greats.

I just bought "If...", "Bottle Rocket", "Pleasantville", and Antonioni's "The Passenger" off of eBay for about $64 total. Fucking score. I got sick of waiting around for "If..." to become available by Netflix, I'm dying to watch "The Passenger" again (especially to see that classic final shot over and over), and I've always wanted to own the other two.

[Somewhat Damaged]

I watched Breathless the other day and could see why Quentin Tarantino is such a Godard fan. I've been more of a Truffaut man myself and kind of figured one was either a fan of Godard or Truffaut, but not both. I don't know where the notion of a rivalry between the two developed (at least in my mind), but it did and as such, I stayed away from Godard for years. Now I feel almost as revitalized by him as I did when I first saw The 400 Blows and Jules and Jim. The video store I used to work at has sections devoted to both directors right next to one another so I've taken to renting a film of each indefinitely until I'm familiar with both oeuvres. This weekend I got Band of Outsiders and The Soft Skin. The most exciting thing about these films is how they've altered the course of events in the new script I'm currently writing. I don't feel as obligated to adhere to conventional screenwriting formulas as I have been before. The only drawback is that few people I've worked on films with previously are into the French New Wave and draw most of their influence from more contemporary filmmakers, which isn't inherently bad, it's just they don't have any frame of reference for the sort of ideas that the films of Truffaut and Godard have inspired in me.

[vogina]

saw transformers earlier today.. pretty cool. graphics were chill, plot was eh, but whatever. overall, "cant wait for number 2, 3, hope 4, and probably number 5 movies when they come out

[rage patton]

Anyone think they will makes a Transformers movie based of Beast Wars? (Or Beasties... whatever you wanna call it.)

[tessalasset]

I was supposed to see Transformers tonight but I didn't go through with it. I just can't get myself to watch that movie.

[bballarl]

I can't either.


I saw Pretty Woman tonight with my gf. It was good. I enjoyed it. I was proud I could recognize areas where it was filmed too. Like 3 of them, but still.

[thinnerair]

I tried to go on Friday, but it was sold out like woah!
Anyone get to see this yet?

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK: THE ADAPTATION
1982-1989, 100 minutes, video. Produced by Chris Strompolos; camera/special effects by Jayson Lamb. Starring Zala, Strompolos, and Angela Rodriguez.
An extremely rare presentation of the semi-legendary shot-for-shot remake of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK made by three 12-year-olds in Mississippi. Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala, and Jayson Lamb started shooting in 1982 – and didn't have a clue what they were getting themselves into. Their production wrapped in 1989, and was shelved and forgotten until 2003 when Eli Roth (CABIN FEVER) screened a bootleg copy in the middle of the night at Austin's legendary Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. The rest is history.
[A feature film based on the filmmakers' story is now in production with Dan (GHOST WORLD) Clowes penning the script, which resulted in producer Scott Rudin and Paramount Pictures buying the intellectual property rights to their childhood. How weird is that?]
"Nothing short of stunning. Everything is here – the rolling boulder, the live snakes, the heart-thudding truck sequence, and everywhere flames, flames, flames. The boys have made a few inventive substitutions – a puppy dog stands in for a monkey, a boat for a plane. But even more impressive are the things they don't substitute – a submarine, a truck on fire, a melting face, the same copy of a 1936 Life magazine used in the original. This is not 'cute' or 'impressive considering their age' – it is a genuine virtuoso work.
The film is a crowd-pleaser, turning all the RAIDERS action – clichéd after 20 years of imitation – into a new and genuinely startling viewing experience. How will they do this next scene? How can they pull that stunt off? And don't forget that these kids are literally growing up in front of the camera. Voices deepen, hairstyles change, the hero grows stubble, the heroine grows breasts. Though writers abuse this phrase…it's like nothing you've seen before." –Sarah Hepola, AUSTIN CHRONICLE

[chrislasf]

My boss has this on DVD - I have watched about 10 minutes of it. It is pretty awesome.

[tessalasset]

Chris how did you get a personalized title?!?!

[chrislasf]

skillz...

[tessalasset]

dayum

[downingthief]

I tried to go on Friday, but it was sold out like woah!
Anyone get to see this yet?

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK: THE ADAPTATION
1982-1989, 100 minutes, video. Produced by Chris Strompolos; camera/special effects by Jayson Lamb. Starring Zala, Strompolos, and Angela Rodriguez.
An extremely rare presentation of the semi-legendary shot-for-shot remake of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK made by three 12-year-olds in Mississippi. Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala, and Jayson Lamb started shooting in 1982 – and didn't have a clue what they were getting themselves into. Their production wrapped in 1989, and was shelved and forgotten until 2003 when Eli Roth (CABIN FEVER) screened a bootleg copy in the middle of the night at Austin's legendary Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. The rest is history.
[A feature film based on the filmmakers' story is now in production with Dan (GHOST WORLD) Clowes penning the script, which resulted in producer Scott Rudin and Paramount Pictures buying the intellectual property rights to their childhood. How weird is that?]
"Nothing short of stunning. Everything is here – the rolling boulder, the live snakes, the heart-thudding truck sequence, and everywhere flames, flames, flames. The boys have made a few inventive substitutions – a puppy dog stands in for a monkey, a boat for a plane. But even more impressive are the things they don't substitute – a submarine, a truck on fire, a melting face, the same copy of a 1936 Life magazine used in the original. This is not 'cute' or 'impressive considering their age' – it is a genuine virtuoso work.
The film is a crowd-pleaser, turning all the RAIDERS action – clichéd after 20 years of imitation – into a new and genuinely startling viewing experience. How will they do this next scene? How can they pull that stunt off? And don't forget that these kids are literally growing up in front of the camera. Voices deepen, hairstyles change, the hero grows stubble, the heroine grows breasts. Though writers abuse this phrase…it's like nothing you've seen before." –Sarah Hepola, AUSTIN CHRONICLE

This sounds awesome...can't wait to get home, and check out the trailer. Damn work; can't view anything in Quicktime.

[J~$$$]

its on the youtubes

[downingthief]

its on the youtubes

God bless the youtubes...

thanks!

[breakjaw]

I have seen about half an hour of this.It is fun and certainly very inventive but you start wishing you were seeing the real movie about 15 minutes in.Chris Columbus is directing the movie about this from what I understand.It's strange that while I was reading about this,I've been listening to Howard Stern's interview with Eli Roth from about a month ago.

[breakjaw]

OK Eli Roth fucking RULES.On the interview w/Stern:
(talking about working w/director Martin Brest on Meet Joe Black)
ELI:Martin Brest would turn to me and say this is the shot that's going to get me the Oscar
ROBIN QUIVERS:On Meet Joe Black?!!
ELI:On Meet Joe Black.And he was doing 18 takes of Brad Pitt.And Anthony Hopkins was like,"I'm not a heavyweight,I can't do 18 takes.I'm one of the best actors in the world,you get 5 takes,sorry."
HOWARD:18 takes?
ELI:Martin Brest thought he was Stanley Kubrick
HOWARD:What is he doing now?
ELI:Now he's Stanley Roper,I think he's a landlord.

[PotVsKtl]

Eli Roth is a piece of shit.

[breakjaw]

O yeah,you're right.I forgot.He was funny in the interview with Howard Stern.Just trying to mask how much of a piece of shit he is,I guess.

[schoolofruckus]

I think Eli Roth is a piece of shit also, but he's a pretty gifted entertainer. As a public speaker/storyteller, I mean. His stories about running the first Hustler chatroom back in '94 when he was at NYU are hilarious. I don't respect him, but he's pretty fucking funny.

His movies are complete garbage unless you're high. They can be called guilty pleasures on his birthday, I guess.

[thinnerair]

I think Eli Roth is a piece of shit also, but he's a pretty gifted entertainer. As a public speaker/storyteller, I mean. His stories about running the first Hustler chatroom back in '94 when he was at NYU are hilarious. I don't respect him, but he's pretty fucking funny.

His movies are complete garbage unless you're high. They can be called guilty pleasures on his birthday, I guess.

how about Thanksgiving? I'd watch that.

[breakjaw]

"Dark meat,white meat,it's all getting CARVED."

[atom heart]

Saw Once yesterday, the Irish indie musical.
There isn't much to say about it other than it's really sweet, from the scruffy busker protagonist with the huge emotive eyes to the thieving gutter punk. There isn't much dialogue and when there is not much is said. Instead, the entire story (and it's a simple but sweet one) is fleshed out by song (it is a musical after all, but not in the way one would expect). The production is rough, the music is crowd pleasing (read: like Coldplay but more sincere and lo-fi) and strangely catchy. It had the audience whistling softly down the street.

edit: The scruffy busker is the lead singer of The Frames, Glen Hansard.

[CuervoPH]

I finally saw "The Grand Illusion". Yes, I'm slow. However, I'm enjoying the Criterion Collection DVD's so much I decided to start from the beginning. It's amazing how well the film has aged. It hardly seems dated at all (except for the fact of how well the prisoners of war were treated, but as the director puts it, World War I was still very much a "gentleman's war".) I can only imagine how many subsequent movies were influenced by this one, and the last line of the movie is brilliant. Anyway, excellent prison escape/antiwar/study of human relationships movie.

[schoolofruckus]

The next Chuck Palahniuk adaptation is on its way. (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33298)

I agree with Ain't It Cool - I love the casting choices so far.

[marooko]

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2632/filekc3.gif

[Mr.Nipples]

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t39/RetardoTronFiveThousand/BigShow02.jpg

[Stefinitely Maybe]

http://www.cites.org/gallery/speciespics/mammal/large/dugong.jpg

[J~$$$]

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k7/msteakley/bulljpg.jpg

[PotVsKtl]

Dugong.

[schoolofruckus]

If the majority of "Cloverfield" is anywhere near as cool as the stuff that's filming right now, it's going to be one of the best sci-fi action films of all time.

[PotVsKtl]

Are you atempting to imply you've been on the set?

[bballarl]

Is it officially called Cloverfield or is that just the temporary title?

[schoolofruckus]

Are you atempting to imply you've been on the set?

Been on the set? Shoot, black, I own this beyotch.

Is it officially called Cloverfield or is that just the temporary title?

Temporary. Make that former temporary. They change the title of it every week, it seems. It's currently called "Chocolate Outrage".

[PotVsKtl]

IS IT ABOUT A SEA MONSTER

[bballarl]

Fanboy.

[PotVsKtl]

It's the harrowing tale of an enraged dugong hell-bent on revenge on the peoples of New York City and her neighboring burroughs.

[rage patton]

http://xs217.xs.to/xs217/07286/dewgong.jpg (http://xs.to)

[garrett222]

I love Super Size Me...I hated Fast Food Nation. Neither took away my constant desire for those delicious hamburgers

[SojuGorae]

Saw the GM robot movie. It sucked. The end.

[full on idle]

I clicked the youtuble link then pasted in the fucking letters that are at the end after the question mark and it's not fucking working.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyWgzUGOliw

[SojuGorae]

I love Super Size Me...I hated Fast Food Nation. Neither took away my constant desire for those delicious hamburgers

I actually went out and had a super-sized combo from McD's after watching that movie. So not joking. It was good.

[CuervoPH]

I just watched "La Vie En Rose". I liked the way Dahan sequenced the movie, with events happening in a non-linear fashion (resembling the way memories can come flooding back in a random order), and Marion Cotillard was freaking amazing in the lead role. I just wish I had an Edith Piaf CD here to listen to.

[menikmati]

I clicked the youtuble link then pasted in the fucking letters that are at the end after the question mark and it's not fucking working.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyWgzUGOliw

Paste the letters after the equal sign...

[Mr.Nipples]

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t39/RetardoTronFiveThousand/11808postergh6.jpg
anyone know if this is real?

cate blanchett as bob dylan...and david cross as ginsberg...
VyWgzUGOliw

[Somewhat Damaged]

[IMG]cate blanchett as bob dylan...and david cross as ginsberg...
VyWgzUGOliw

I'm not much of a Todd Haynes fan but I'm really looking forward to this. I wonder how long this clip will be up for. Good find.

[Mr.Nipples]

it should be up for awhile, its on aintitcool...

[mountmccabe]

I just watched A Prairie Home Companion. It was very much Altman. It was very much dying Altman. It was very much GK, though, too. It was also very much short. Then again maybe with another say 40 minutes tacked on it would be too much GK. I don't like his show, really.

It was a lovely movie. It was a nice movie. I liked it but I'm not sure I need to see it again, eh.

[RotationSlimWang]

I was really disappointed in A Prairie Home Companion the second that I realized it was about the show, and not about Lake Wobegone. I'm a huge admirer of Keillor's storytelling ability (my parents used to buy me compilations of APHC both as education and because Keillor's voice is wonderful for lulling you to sleep), and I think that a movie that just took five of the best tales of Lake Wobegone would be amazing with very little effort.

[schoolofruckus]

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t39/RetardoTronFiveThousand/11808postergh6.jpg
anyone know if this is real?

It's real, alright.

cate blanchett as bob dylan...and david cross as ginsberg...
VyWgzUGOliw

Isn't this movie a re-telling of Bob Dylan's life with several different actors playing him during various important events? Kind of like how "Palindromes" was cast. It seems like it could be interesting; the only one of Haynes' films that I've seen is "Safe", and I admired it, but I can't say I was all that crazy about it.

[schoolofruckus]

Also, the legendary teaser is now on the Quicktime page. (http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/11808/)

[full on idle]

It's real, alright.



Isn't this movie a re-telling of Bob Dylan's life with several different actors playing him during various important events? Kind of like how "Palindromes" was cast. It seems like it could be interesting; the only one of Haynes' films that I've seen is "Safe", and I admired it, but I can't say I was all that crazy about it.

That's what I fucking posted was a link to that.

I give up.

[suprefan]

Voltron is in production, yessssssssssssss


http://www.latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=65



VOLTRON
Screenplay by Justin Marks
Adapted from the animated series “Voltron: Defender of the Universe”
Draft date: 05/23/07, 110 pages


WOW! WOW! WOW! ANOTHER GIANT FUCKING ROBOT MOVIE! WOOHOO!

I’m still geeking out after reading my favorite fucking script of the year so far!

Justin Marks just became one of my favorite writers in Hollywood. We have been hearing a lot of hype about this new kid recently who scored the writing jobs of STREETFIGHTER, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, SUPERMAX and of course VOLTRON.

FOLKS! BELIEVE THE HYPE! JUSTIN MARKS ABSOLUTELY FUCKING DELIVERS!

Ok, enough cock stroking and let’s get down to business.

After the massive disappointment that was the recent G.I. JOE draft, I was literally heartbroken for a second there. I was so disheartened, that when the call came in for VOLTRON, I was in no mood to read another terrible adaptation of a cherished 1980’s property. I told my guy, the wounds from G.I. JOE are still raw, if VOLTRON sucks I’m taking a baseball bat to this fucking writer’s head!

That simply won’t be the case because Marks made me a believer again!

I had a little hope because David Goyer is a dope writer and isn’t going to work with someone whack on SUPERMAX. I never read any of Mark’s specs but heard great things about his BLACK OPS. I just never got around to reading it.

You see, folks being a kid of the 1980’s who rushed home from school to watch the solid lineup of New York’s channel 11 WPIX in the afternoon, on September 10th, 1984 – Voltron debuted and would go on to become a legend. I was a sixth grader back then and the talk of that week wasn’t G.I. JOE or TRANSFORMERS but how fucking awesome and different the new Voltron cartoon was. Voltron was my entry into the world of Japanimation.

Right here on my very desk looking at me is the Die Cast metal Voltron that I got in Chinatown. Because I was good student, my father spent like $80 bucks back in 1984 to get me my Voltron which was known as Lionbot. A few of the die cast metal lionbots are still available on ebay. I’ve had my lionbot/voltron now for 23 years. That is the advantage of having a toy made out of metal.

Media Blasters recently remastered and put out the Voltron series in special tins on DVD. I only have the first tin with the first 15 episodes – the blue tin. When GOLION (The Japanese version of Voltron) hits dvd this year, you bet your ass I’m gonna get it. The blue tin has some good documentaries on it too.

On the eve of the release of TRANSFORMERS - a movie that is going to make some serious Colombian Cocaine Cartel cold hard cash – we now have ANOTHER GIANT FUCKING ROBOT MOVIE on the horizon!

THE SCRIPT ROCKS! I give it THE STRONGEST CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE THAT A SCREENPLAY CAN RECEIVE if I was the story editor at the studio considering Voltron. Mark Gordon is going to have a bidding war on his hands with Voltron after TRANSFORMERS opens. Anyone who passes on Voltron has got to be a fucking idiot.
So let’s get down to it! What’s the setup?

What is so damn cool about the script is that it pays homage to both incarnations of the Voltron cartoon – the American and Japanese versions. GOLION came out back in 1981 in Japan, three years later in America. GOLION was considered too hardcore for American audiences so it was edited down into what would be VOLTRON. Wikpedia nailed down the differences of Voltron and Golion in an awesome article and expose of the Voltron phenomenon, check it out.

The script has the tone, edge and dark elements of GOLION.

VOLTRON is a post apocalyptic movie and a fucking awesome one at that too. Just the way it should be because that was the setup of both cartoons. A little bit of ROAD WARRIOR, a little bit INDEPENDENCE DAY, a little bit WAR OF THE WORLDS, a little bit of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, a little bit of THE TERMINATOR, and a little bit of THE MATRIX with some STARGATE thrown in for good measure!

Also, none of the elements that made Voltron corny are in the script – no Nanny, no Hagar, and especially no fucking space mice! In fact, no corniness at all!

Here is the setup: The Drules have invaded Earth and kicked our ass in the ONE DAY WAR. Humanity has gone underground. New York has been decimated and our story opens on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Drule invasion. Think about it, Earth was conquered by an Alien race in 24 hours.

We meet our main hero KEITH KOGAN (30s) – tattoos all over his chest and arms, various icons from a life long since past. Tough. A reluctant leader. This is not a guy who plays well with others. He’d rather run through fire than do what you told him to. Keith is sleeping in some crawl space and is awoken by…

LANCE MCCLAIN (black, 20s) – Like Keith, he’s in tattered clothing. But Lance is more light-weight, jovial, less intense. He even wears a smile. I vote for Tyrese Gibson in this role.

Lance gives word that a fancy military style helicopter went down over midtown. Lance wants to loot the copter for warm supplies. Keith reluctantly goes. They get into a converted M2A3 BRADLEY TANK – no ordinary military vehicle, this has been souped-up and customized to the nines. Painted a deeper shade of black, floodlights all around, weapons re-fashioned and sealed up.

Keith and Lance go to the streets of New York which is now a dark, empty, desolate, rainy urban wasteland. Keith’s Bradley tank moves through the debris, they make it to the downed tomahawk helicopter and run into –
DUKANE (30s) – Japanese American, powerful and arrogant. The leader of a rag tag group of soldiers/survivors. One of his eyes is missing. Scars run down his cheek. Like everyone in this world, he’s stood the test of time.

Fans of the cartoon will know that Dukane was the leader of the vehicle Voltron. Nice touch! Here Dukane is like the Duke of New York. Dukane stakes his claim to the helicopter. Keith is not having it. Mexican standoff. In the middle of their negotiation, AN ENORMOUSE METTALIC FOOT comes crashing down out of nowhere, crushing one of Dukane’s soldiers in it’s wake. Where there was once a man, there’s now some kind of enormous robotic leg, stretching up higher and higher to reveal a colossal robotic form.

Fifty-feet tall, a horrible hybrid of metal parts, complete with some kind of awful face and glowing red eyes, staring down at them. We’re not sure if this is alien or man-made, but it’s terrifying.
Folks, this is a ROBEAST. The Robeasts in this script are like the sentinels in The Matrix – they patrol the earth in search of a signal which we will get to later.

The Robeast emits a high-pitched industrial roar and swings its head low over the street. It swipes at the soldiers with its enormous talons as if they were in the way of what it’s really looking for…

I won’t spoil what happens but Keith and Lance escape. Back at the equipment tunnel they run into two figures both cloaked in heavy winter clothing. Nomads, travelers, backpack on their shoulders. One of them carries a sawed off shotgun, which he raises towards Keith.

One of them pulls back her hood to reveal a BEAUTIFUL FEMALE FACE, blonde hair tied up in a bun. Piercing blue eyes. This is ALLURA (20s). Enough to stop traffic.

Behind her, the gunmen lowers his shotgun and removes his hood. Strong, enormous Arab features. Mechanic’s hands on a soldier’s body. This is HUNK (40s).

Hunk is Allura’s personal bodyguard.

Allura and Hunk need safe passage to the south to Mexico. A capable guide who can get them where they need to go. You see, Allura and Hunk are survivors of that helicopter crash that Lance and Keith were gonna loot. Like THE ROAD WARRIROR, Allura promises Keith enough propane reserves to power an entire city. If Keith gets Allura and Hunk back safely, they’ll give them as much as they can carry back.

Keith is the character with the arc in this story just like Mel Gibson in Road Warrior.

Keith reluctantly accepts, steals Dukane’s monster truck off the west side highway and escape out of New York through the Lincoln tunnel.

As the gang barely escapes more Robeasts and make a stop at a Quickstop in Jersey (Kevin Smith’s shop in Clerks perhaps?!) or some decimated suburb, they pick up along the way – A LITTLE BOY who emerges, undernourished and exhausted, clutching his small hands a CARVING KNIFE! His name is SUZUISHI HIROSHI which means “tin stone, ” but we will come to know him by his affectionate nickname…PIDGE (11).

Think of Pidge as the FERAL KID from THE ROAD WARRIOR but a tad bit different. Pidge is good with electronics.

By the end of the first act, the gang makes it to Mexico and run into looters and it is here that Allura’s bag gets knocked out of her hands and out spill FIVE KEYS. Small, ancient-looking but with some kind of modern edge to them, almost like alien artifacts. Each of them has a different color: black, red, blue, green, and yellow. The five keys are drawn together and form some kind of energy core. The looters scatter.

Just like THE ROAD WARRIOR, our gang makes it to the desert outskirts of a military compound after being chased by a Robeast.

Allura disappears into the compound with one of the blue keys, and when she remerges on page 36, she does so in a giant fucking machine in the shape of a colossal, 50 foot tall Lion, assembled entirely out of Earth bound parts. A C-130H tailgate has been used for the mouth, complete with traffic spikes for the teeth. The glass dome of an A6E Intruder cockpit has been soldered onto the head. All of this stands on top of four legs, refashioned from four construction excavator claws.

It’s called a LIONBOT. A hack-assembled masterpiece. A mech you can build in your backyard.
It’s safe to say that the lionbot tears the Robeast’s fucking head off and whups it’s ass.

Keith and Lance are dumbfounded. Moments later the mouth opens and out steps Allura.

Dozens of families are cheering behind them. I was too after I read the battle between the Lionbot and Robeast. Old, young, male, and female. Coming from a variety of different ethnicities. Some are Hispanic, some Arab, some Armenian, still others are dark-shaded Africans. They’re like intercontinental Bedouins.
In the Bedouin compound, we meet Hunk’s wife and children and – SVEN HOLGERSSON (40s). Well-groomed, intelligent European with impeccable taste, a cigarette dangling from long, thin fingers. He wears a thick industrial turtleneck. An air of superiority.

Emerging from behind Holgersson is the embattled frame of CORAN (60s). Unkempt grey hair hangs over his face. He was once a great warrior, but time and tragedy have humbled him.

These are basically all the main characters of Voltron that are in the script. Another nod to Marks because I love the multi ethnicity of the characters. I think it so cool that Voltron is multi cultural. It works for this story.

Pidge runs into a tool shed of some kind and see hundreds of sketches in varying languages, some schematic, some artistic, some downright incomprehensible. Hieroglyphic annotations. Translations from some ancient source. Heavy schematics. All of them depicting five lionbots. One series depicts five lions merging together, re-configuring into a different from altogether. Like a step by step diagram of how they build a HUMANOID FIGURE. What’s more, the figure carries a sword.

By page 43, Keith finds out just what the fuck is going on. Here is where we get a little STARGATE.

The construction of the Mayan Pyramids, hundreds of years ago. And the Egyptian pyramids in Giza. Thousands of years ago. Five points connecting to the heavens. Notice a pattern? Five interlocking sequences completing a single unit. Five keys. We find out is that the histories of Planet Earth and Planet Arus have been linked for thousands of years. Arus is a planet in the Domus system.

The machines belong to an alien race called the Drule Empire. A civilization that grows by consumption. Namely, the consumption of technologies that a planet builds for itself.

On Arus, the five keys were their life source. An energy so complex and so powerful that the Drules would do anything to possess it. That is why the Drules attacked Arus. But the keys exert their own free will. They travel on their own accord. When Arus fell, they traveled across the known universe in search of a safe home. That brought them to Earth twelve thousand years ago. All that was built here on Earth, was built for the keys. Coran, Sven and Allura through high density freezing, didn’t age and are the last survivors of Arus.

That is all I am going to spoil folks. We have to leave some things for surprise. There is a hell of a lot more but what I will say is that the 2nd half is just downright awesome. We get a lot more interesting backstory on Voltron. We get to see all the Lions in action and it is obvious we get to see VOLTRON and yes the famous transformation sequence is in there when they finally do form Voltron. Activate Interlock. Dynatherms connected. Infracells up. Megathrusthers are go…

...VOLTRON!

Yes that dialogue is in there too as a nice touch and trust me folks, VOLTRON ain’t no pussy either. He can probably give Optimus Prime a run for his money. The 3rd act is wall to wall robot on robot action –especially in the main battle with VOLTRON vs the UBER ROBEAST that not only takes place in New York, but around the world! Trust me folks, I rather you see the Uber Robeast in action instead of me spoiling you.
I am going to say that the 3rd act of Voltron is just as good as the 3rd act of TRANSFORMERS.

Voltron also leaves room for a sequel or trilogy! Awesome! The script is definitely solid enough to launch a trilogy. The Drules are solid villains you love to hate and I would just love to see the battle taken to their home planet like they did in the final episodes of the cartoon.

And don’t worry folks, Voltron is in NO WAY CORNY or juvenile. Its edgy, entertaining and respectful of the fans and the source material.

Man, what a fucking privilege and honor it was to read this script. Justin Marks took some of the best elements of sci fi movies and post apocalyptic movies, and created one hell of a giant fucking robot origin movie. VOLTRON on its own stands as one of the best post apocalyptic scripts ever written.

The characters and characterization absolutely work, the action works, the beats work, the backstory works. I have not a single note. Not one. Mark Gordon, don’t touch this script! A mega congratulations and tip of the hat to Justin Marks on a job well motherfucking done. Welcome to the big time kid, you got our seal of approval. I am one happy geek.

Voltron is a fucking masterpiece, a complete miracle and I hope, a movie that will rock you when it rolls out into theaters in due time. TRANSFORMERS will definitely open the door for VOLTRON to be made and I can’t wait. Like TRANSFORMERS, VOLTRON can be a massive fucking hit at the box office.

UNTIL THE NEXT EPISODE…

[schoolofruckus]

That's what I fucking posted was a link to that.

I give up.

I know. I was just asking the room in general.

A Voltron movie? Raise your hand if you didn't see that one coming.

[suprefan]

I know. I was just asking the room in general.

A Voltron movie? Raise your hand if you didn't see that one coming.

It is the year of the Robot, so ya know. GI Joe and Thundercats are being worked on too.(odds are its been mention in here though) I am excited for Evangelion though.

[bmack86]

so, the 11808 trailer rules.

[mountmccabe]

Voltron is in production, yessssssssssssss


http://www.latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=65

I could only read half of that. That half sounded fucking terrible and in such a way that it couldn't possibly be redeemed. Maybe it was just the reviewer eating it up but shit.

Damn I loved that show, though.

[Hannahrain]

My favorite video store closed this week. They started selling all of their videos on friday, so there wasn't much left when I got there today, but I bought Secretary, A Christmas Story, and The Great Mouse Detective. I'm pretty sure I should invite people over and then make them watch all three in a row.

[roberto73]

My favorite video store closed this week. They started selling all of their videos on friday, so there wasn't much left when I got there today, but I bought Secretary, A Christmas Story, and The Great Mouse Detective. I'm pretty sure I should invite people over and then make them watch all three in a row.

Hannah, watch all three, but be sure to impose a theme on the evening that ties all three together. My roommates and I used to do this all the time in college. For instance, we once watched Wrestlemania I ...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/insomniacmonty/512TS0DB48L._AA280_.jpg

... followed by Wrestling Ernest Hemingway.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/insomniacmonty/105832Wrestling-Ernest-Hemingway-Po.jpg

It was a mammoth evening.

[PotVsKtl]

I watched The Saddest Music in the World yesterday while I brushed my cat and drank spritzers in a tanning bed. Guy Maddin is an "experimental" Canadian filmmaker with a penchant for making his films into moving daguerreotypes. This particular movie is about a beer baroness who holds a contest to discover the saddest music in the world. Musicians come from all over the world to compete for the $25,000 Depression-era dollar reward and square off gladiator style in one-on-one weepfests. There's also something about beer filled glass prosthetic legs, Serbia, and sleeping in the snow. It could have been shorter but I wouldn't call it bad.

Also, when you win a round you get to take a bath in beer. This angers and intrigues the American radio-listening audience crushed under the fascist bootheel of prohibition. As it turns out, the Africans enjoy the beer bath the most.

[bug on your lip]

What in the bleep is this

http://imdb.com/title/tt0467110/

[breakjaw]

What in the bleep is this

http://imdb.com/title/tt0467110/
Branding appears to be king now.It's only a matter of time before films pick up on the whole ABC-TV "Cavemen" thing and start making movies out of commercials.I personally can't wait for the Budweiser Frogs in Space movie.

[canexplain]

Branding appears to be king now.It's only a matter of time before films pick up on the whole ABC-TV "Cavemen" thing and start making movies out of commercials.I personally can't wait for the Budweiser Frogs in Space movie.

you are soooo right ... you would think , us as a civilazation sp, could be a little more creative in our thoughts and actions ..... bet the caveman thing lasts about 4 episodes ... i was reading an article about those kind of things, and i totally forgot the "baby bob" show ... that didnt last very long eh ..cr****

[J~$$$]

x-files 2

http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2007/07/16/x-files-second-movie-script-is-completed/

[rage patton]

Wait, wait wait.... Cate Blanchette as Bob Dylan?
Am I the only who is confused by this?
Why would they cast a chick... as Bob Dylan?

[PotVsKtl]

Pay more attention.

[Mr.Nipples]

i watched road house this morning...

[breakjaw]

x-files 2

http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2007/07/16/x-files-second-movie-script-is-completed/
This is excellent news.I just recently finished watching all the mythology episodes from Gethsemane(4th season) to Closure(where Mulder finds out what happened to his sister) and realized that as dumb as some of the Monster of the Week episodes were,the rest of the series had fine writing and acting,and compelling plot twists overall.

[Jenniehoo]

Sunday, Gabe and I watched "I am a Sex Addict" - which is kind of a documentary of Caveh Zahedi (I think that's his name). Anyway, he's a dude that's addicted to prostitutes and it's a true story of how it's affected his life and the women he's dated.

It wasn't great. We made it half of the way through and decided, "we don't like this," and turned it off. But then, a couple hours later, Gabe left to do something and I finished the damn thing. Because I had A) wanted to see it for like two years ever since I saw a funny preview and B) I was bored and it was there.

It got better. Not monumentally better - but better. It went beyond each simulated scene of him with a prostitute and then him going home to his girlfriend or wife only to tell them. His whole tenet through the movie was "I have to be honest with them" - he seemed to think this made him a better guy. Like he was absolved for any wrongdoings because it was their fault that they couldn't handle the honesty of what he was presenting. "It's just me, man, I can't change" - that self-indulgent mentality. Here's the deal - the movie doesn't work because you don't like the dude. And it's not because he's a "pervert" or "woman hater" or any of that - because some of it's quite understandable...everyone has their perversions and vices whether they deal with sex or not. Basically, he's just not a likeable dude. He's vain and egomaniacal and, even in retrospect when he does the whole, "I didn't know what I was doing and I was wrong," thing - you still don't really believe he feels that way. Or, maybe he does, but by saying it he thinks he deserves some sort of respect for saying it. Some sort of pat on the back. The man just thinks he's a genius, basically - and his effeminate presentation is also just bizarre to behold.

This might have worked if he were more likeable. The filmmaking was extrovertedly simple - using visuals and writing on chalkboards, that sort of thing. But (and this will be hard to explain) - it's more like he used that theme so that he could cover up any genuine simple or underdeveloped presentation with the guise of it being deliberate. In that sense, I guess it was masterful and honest - but in the end, I didn't root for him (as is the film's intent) - I pretty much just felt sorry for the woman he was ending up with.

Not horrible - but not good. Two interesting facts to note:

I was telling asshat (Chris) that we watched this movie, and it turns out Caveh was one of his professors in film school. Crazy, right? Apparently their final was to review one of his documentaries. I like that it supports the whole egomania we were sensing in the film, but at the same time it's like, "Jesus, fuck. Teach a theory, not your asshole."

Whenever Caveh would simulate an orgasm by a woman giving him head in the movie - he would scream the entire time. Like this high pitched, disturbing scream. It would have been funny if it hadn't seemed so - genuine. Like this was the way he came so that's how he was acting it out. Gabe and I were perplexed at this one. Between us, all the men that we've slept with and the porn that we've watched (not necessarily respectively), we've never seen anyone come like that. It would cause laughter. It would have made him funny if it didn't just attach itself to his entire creepy demeanor.

Anyway - it was interesting. Not good, but I feel like it could have been. Parts of it were funny and most of it was original. I'd still give it about a C-.

[schoolofruckus]

Jennie said it all. I bailed at around the 40 minute mark because, well....when you're enjoying your first day off in over a week, it's hard to accept that watching some lisping chihuahua walk around asking hookers to suck him is the best way to spend your precious free time. Plus, his elliptical way of narrating his story - a never-ending series of flashbacks-within-a-flashback-within-a-flashback got old at about the 4th time he said "Oh wait, I didn't explain. Let me go back to the beginning".

After hearing that Chris had to endure a semester under Caveh's tutelage and review one of his movies, I basically just want to piss in the guy's face.

[schoolofruckus]

Also, did anyone else hear that "Days of Heaven" is coming out on Criterion in October? For some reason, it's the only Malick film I haven't yet seen, and I had it next up on my Netflix queue. But now that there's a definitive disc coming out soon, I'm going to hold off for that.

[PotVsKtl]

Factory Girl is inexcusably terrible.

[full on idle]

NOOOoooooOOOOOOoooooOOOOOooOOOOOoooooOOO!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!

Don't say that, I've been waiting for EVER for that to come out at bbuster.

I hate you and all that you stand for.

[schoolofruckus]

I watched "La Notte" last night. God damn, Antonioni is one of the best of all time. I don't even know why I review his stuff anymore, because I end up saying the same thing every time: brilliant film, a visual marvel and a terrific look into the poetry of loneliness and isolation, etc. My comments may not be anything special, but the movies all are.

I have "Vertigo" coming next from Netflix.

[thinnerair]

I know.
A Voltron movie? Raise your hand if you didn't see that one coming.

This Voltron flick has been in the works forever.
In fact, Pharell from the Neptunes even confirmed that he would be doing the music for this movie:

Jul 27 2005 7:31 AM EDT

Pharrell Williams Revisits The '80s With 'Voltron' Movie
Neptunes member will write music for the feature and produce its soundtrack.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1506467/20050727/williams__pharrell.jhtml

Who knows?

[schoolofruckus]

How much fucking ass does this kick?

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/images/column/72507/darjeeling.jpg

[schoolofruckus]

I have to admit that I wish the color scheme were a bit different; it looks too much like the "Life Aquatic" posters. But mostly I'm just excited that there's a new Wes Anderson film that's being released soon. The trailer is allegedly playing in front of "Once" and "Sunshine" starting this weekend.

[J~$$$]

That movie looks like it will be fun.....What is Wes Andersons connection to the coppola family?

PS relating to the colors it gives it a good feel/tie to India, and the Anderson collection of films.

[schoolofruckus]

That movie looks like it will be fun.....What is Wes Andersons connection to the coppola family?

PS relating to the colors it gives it a good feel/tie to India, and the Anderson collection of films.

From what I know, Schwartzman is the connection. His first role was in "Rushmore" - apparently the casting director was friends with Sofia - and that's how Wes became involved with them.

[tessalasset]

I just saw that trailer tonight because I just saw Once tonight at the fucking AMAZING new landmark theater at the westside pavilion mall. holy shit that place is swanky. The bathrooms were like hotel room bathrooms, and the stalls had neon lights in them. the concession stands had vegan and kosher food along with gourmet pizza and coffee drinks and british candy and HARIBO GUMMI BEARS. we got inside, and Once was playing in "the living room" which was basically a tiny room with big overstuffed black leather couches. it seats 40 people. alex and i went up to the front to sit in these chairs. i felt like i was just watching Once in my living room, pretty much. coolest movie experience ever. beats arclight out of the water.

the trailer for that movie made it look pretty fucking annoying. i am really not a big fan of any of those three, i decided. i like pianist dude but not in comedy roles. i will not be seeing that movie.

[schoolofruckus]

I just saw that trailer tonight because I just saw Once tonight at the fucking AMAZING new landmark theater at the westside pavilion mall. holy shit that place is swanky. The bathrooms were like hotel room bathrooms, and the stalls had neon lights in them. the concession stands had vegan and kosher food along with gourmet pizza and coffee drinks and british candy and HARIBO GUMMI BEARS. we got inside, and Once was playing in "the living room" which was basically a tiny room with big overstuffed black leather couches. it seats 40 people. alex and i went up to the front to sit in these chairs. i felt like i was just watching Once in my living room, pretty much. coolest movie experience ever. beats arclight out of the water.

Awesome. I've been meaning to hit up the Landmark for quite some time; I hear it's amazing. Between that one and the new Arclight Theater at the Sherman Oaks Galleria, it seems like all corners of the city are being blessed with top-shelf theaters.


the trailer for that movie made it look pretty fucking annoying. i am really not a big fan of any of those three, i decided. i like pianist dude but not in comedy roles. i will not be seeing that movie.


H888888888888888888888888888


On the one-sheet front, try this motherfucker on for size:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/schoolofruckus/NCFOM.jpg

[Mr.Nipples]

fuck yes...

[atom heart]

Is there a schoolioreview of Once?

And that sounds like the swankiest movie theatre ever! The Landmarks in SD are pretty run down. The one my friend works at is just about to get it's first fresh coat of paint since its opening (which looks to be about the early nineties but what do I know?), and the Ken's (Kensington Landmark) AC was broken for at least two months. But timtams and good flicks make up for the lack of sheen.

[schoolofruckus]

Yes, there is.


We saw Once tonight with Tessa. I have to preface this by saying that I AM a fan of The Frames and Glen Hansard to start with - so I can hardly comment on the quality of the music used in this modern musical. But, I can comment on the way it was used. And the way it was used was inspiring and beautiful. You don't have to be a fan of THEIR (Glen/Marketa) music to like this movie. I'm sure it HELPS, but honestly, the way that the collaboration was filmed and captured...you basically just have to be a fan of music on its own to enjoy what you're watching.

It's filmed like a low budget documentary with cameras invisible to the characters. There's a love story here between the two main characters - which in the end is what you're kind of desiring a resolution to, but not even. I can safely say that this isn't even the strongest love you feel through the movie. You feel both of their love for the music they're creating together. For what the other DOES for the music. They fall in love with their musical counterpart first - their character comes second. And there's something really beautiful and genuine about that. From the scope of genuine creation coming from the bottom of your intimate heart - what you can put out in that realm is so much more raw and personal than anything you can say or how you behave with someone else. You get the feeling that watching eachother create is the most intimate thing in the world for each of them - and it's represented well.

I'm not as good as Gabe in summing up the plot and then telling you what I think. I'm not a critic. The plot: two non-professional musicians (an Eastern European street peddler and a street musician) collaborate and then fall in love. There's slight humor and sadness and a lot of beautiful music. That's about it. But it's the first movie I've ever seen that tackled that beauty from this angle - and they did it well. As a result, I'm a total fanboy and I think that any musician should see this movie. There's a simple truth to it and honesty that comes in creating a song. Good music is singular, intimate, and sometimes based on pain, loneliness, and longing. Singer/songwriter at least. That's what makes the fact that they can pair that so special - it's a singular journey and if you can experience it with someone that GETS you in that sense - it must be life-changing.

Tessa and I get to see their Q and A tomorrow with them playing songs from the movie. I can't wait.

OH - and halfway through the movie, I realized that I didn't know the characters names. I kept listening to catch them, thinking I'd missed them somehow - and by the end when the credits were rolling, they were just listed as "guy" and "girl". There's something in the beauty of their musical and personal vulnerability and open beauty without even knowing their names that just hammered that in for me. I think it's a nice touch.

Excellent review, J.Hooey. I couldn't have said it better. I will only add that anyone who likes Linklater's "Before Sunrise/Sunset" films will be all over this one.

[breakjaw]

And that sounds like the swankiest movie theatre ever!

Forgive me if this does not apply,but my single greatest moviewatching experience was in a run-down theater in Brixton,watching "Mystery Train" in a theater where you could purchase alcoholic cider while enjoying the film...

[SojuGorae]

i watched road house this morning...

That's an 80's classic.

[roberto73]

Any fans of the New Beverly Cinema and/or interesting double features out there? If so, you might want to check out their calendar:

The Man Who Wasn't There and Fargo: July 25-26
The Virgin Spring and Wild Strawberries: August 1-2
The Big Lebowski and The Hudsucker Proxy: August 3-4
Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead: August 12-14
Dr. Strangelove and Being There: August 17-18
Rolling Thunder and Taxi Driver: August 19-20

Many more at the New Beverly's website. (http://www.newbevcinema.com/calendar.cfm)

[schoolofruckus]

Actually....

The owner of the New Beverly died suddenly this past week. His family has closed the theater for the time being while they mourn. And also, apparently they need to decide what to do with it.

[KungFuJoe]

I saw the Darjeeling Limited trailer in front of "Sunshine" yesterday. As excited as I am about a new Wes Anderson film, the trailer didn't do much for me. It doesn't look like his best work, but I hope to be pleasently suprised.

So, back to "Sunshine". I loved it! Danny Boyle has made yet another amazing film. What worked most about the film was it's pacing & mood. Executed to near perfection, it is a film that truly resonates. I urge everyone to go out and see this as soon as you can. After taking in all of the summer blockbusters, it was nice to finally watch a film of some substance. Well, I shouldn't say that because I also saw "Rescue Dawn" last week. Needless to say these were the two best films I saw this summer & throughout the year. I might even want to say "sunshine" was the best film I've seen this year. I mean, I had some litte problems with it, but nothing major. If I had to form a top 5 or top 10 list for the first 6+ months this year it would look something like this.

1. Brand Upon the Brain!
2. Across the Universe
3. the Host
4. Sunshine
5. Rescue Dawn.

other notables are Grindhouse, Knocked Up, Hot Fuzz, 300 & I'm a Cyborg but That's Ok.

my favorite Summer film was "Live Free or Die Hard". Harry Potter was ok, but possibly my least favorite & i did not like Transformers much. I actually enjoyed Spiderman though. kill me.

I think I will finally go see "Once" this week since Tessa did a good job promoting that new Landmark theater. Sounds like a great place to check it out. I think "Sunshine" is also playing at that Landmark, which if I knew how nice it was before hand I may have chosen that theater over the Archlight. Whatever, I would gladly see "Sunshine" again.

Well, if there is a Sunday matinee you're looking to catch or decent film you'd like to see this week I highly reccomend Sunshine & Rescue Dawn. I would elaborate more on these films, but don't want to spoil anything. All I'll say is see Rescue Dawn for the amazing performances by Christian Bale, Steve Zahn & Jeremy Davies. See Sunshine for the beautiful direction by Danny Boyle & amazing score by Underworld.

[roberto73]

Actually....

The owner of the New Beverly died suddenly this past week. His family has closed the theater for the time being while they mourn. And also, apparently they need to decide what to do with it.

I saw that, too, but the only showings the website listed as canceled were the ones through today. It's definitely understandable if they keep it closed a while longer, though. It's a real shame to hear about his death.

[KungFuJoe]

Finally watched "Factory Girl" the other night. It's bumped its way into my list for the top 5 films I've seen so far this year. I loved it. Sienna Miller's performance was truly heart breaking and Guy Pearce was as fabulous as ever. I even enjoyed Hayden. Great flick!

[garrett222]

I need to see Die Hard and Sunshine...I hope sunshine is out wide this weekend

[mountmccabe]

I am glad to hear you liked Sunshine, Joe. I was caught off-guard a little opening the review in the weekly today. I had forgotten about it. I like Boyle quite a bit and I love Garland and the set-up sounds good.

Also Besson has a movie coming out (in Phoenix) this weekend, Angela-A or something. I have largely enjoyed his stuff despite their flaws. And, in fact, I've noticed that a Besson script is a horrible sign for a movie unless he himself is directing it. His scripts are so overdone that you have to hit them just right to pull it off. For my tastes, at any rate.

[PotVsKtl]

Angel-A bombed hard on Besson's own turf, it's apparently horrible. Too bad it's his swan song.

KungFuJoe is a failure at liking things properly.

[tessalasset]

awwwww

[C DUB YA]

DARJEELING LIMITED trailer is up - looks great!
http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/thedarjeelinglimited/trailerb/

[C DUB YA]

Finally watched "Factory Girl" the other night. It's bumped its way into my list for the top 5 films I've seen so far this year. I loved it. Sienna Miller's performance was truly heart breaking and Guy Pearce was as fabulous as ever. I even enjoyed Hayden. Great flick!

sweet - that just arrived last night via netflix!

[mountmccabe]

Angel-A bombed hard on Besson's own turf, it's apparently horrible. Too bad it's his swan song.

Besson's haven't been very French for a long time. Nikita? The separate versions of Leon/The Professional shows he knew that he was doing this, though.

Also I'm not going to claim any of his movies are "great films" (at least since Nikita) but I can say I enjoy the hell out of them.

Also I had not heard anything about any swans. WTF? This saddens me.

[CuervoPH]

"Sunshine" still hasn't opened here that I can tell. I just ordered my tix for "Once" tomorrow night and will probably catch "Rescue Dawn" on Sunday.

[PotVsKtl]

Yeah Besson said he's done directing. Fifth Element is a great film goddamnit.

[KungFuJoe]

Angel-A bombed hard on Besson's own turf, it's apparently horrible. Too bad it's his swan song.

KungFuJoe is a failure at liking things properly.

what the fuck is that supposed to mean pot??

Like there is a proper way to fucking like something?? I mean seriously, where did this come from and why? I understand you enjoy being a douchebag, but fuck off.

[KungFuJoe]

Yeah Besson said he's done directing. Fifth Element is a great film goddamnit.

Isn't Besson directing the next two "Arthur & the Invisibles" installments? Who would believe that anyways. Didn't Anthony Hopkins once say he would never act again?

also ... Angel-A was far from horrible. Maybe not his best movie, but there was a lot to enjoy about it. Same goes for Arthur & the Invisibles. Stupid, yes, but a very enjoyable kids film. Luc Besson may not make the most thought provoking films, but he certainly makes some of the most entertaining and at the end of the day if that's all I want he is the man I go to.

There have been plenty of successful films that he's written and not directed. The Transporter, Wasabi, Yamakazi, Taxi 1,2,3 & 4 (french films), District 13 etc .... Like I said, not the greatest films ever made, but certainly some of the most enjoyable films I've seen.

one more edit --- The Big Blue, La Femme Nikita & The Professional are all great films.

[PotVsKtl]

what the fuck is that supposed to mean pot??

Like there is a proper way to fucking like something?? I mean seriously, where did this come from and why? I understand you enjoy being a douchebag, but fuck off.

I feel like I know her - but sometimes my arms bend back.

[schoolofruckus]

what the fuck is that supposed to mean pot??

Like there is a proper way to fucking like something?? I mean seriously, where did this come from and why? I understand you enjoy being a douchebag, but fuck off.

I have a feeling this came from your rave of "Factory Girl". Anyone who expresses liking for it gets put in Potgatory. You can go ahead and throw me in there, too. I thought "Factory Girl" had some problems, but I liked it quite a bit overall because I thought the acting was extremely solid all around.

Didn't Anthony Hopkins once say he would never act again?

I believe he has. And it's a fucking shame he hasn't actually stuck to his word. I'd say it's a neck-and-neck tie between Hopkins and Sean Connery in the "most overrated actor" sweepstakes - which I can't help but think is rooted in the fact that they're both from the UK - and I say they should settle the race by having a suicide contest.

[PotVsKtl]

I thought "Factory Girl" had some problems, but I liked it quite a bit overall because I thought the acting was extremely solid all around.


Honestly, Hayden Christetc's Bob Dylan as James Dean on whippets performance did it for you?

[KungFuJoe]

ok. perhaps i was being a bit extreme with my reaction to "Factoy Girl". I honestly would not put it ahead of any of the top five films of the year I've listed previously. However, it would make it in the ten somewhere. Mainly for Sienna Miller's performance. She was truly fascinating. It is really the performances that ultimately carry the film. However, I thought it was directed very well too. It may not be as amazing as I made it seem, but I was very moved by it.

I can understand if people don't love it, but why such hate? It's certainly not a terrible film.

[KungFuJoe]

Honestly, Hayden Christetc's Bob Dylan as James Dean on whippets performance did it for you?

it didn't bother me, but I see where your coming from. For me, Jimmy Fallon was the most out of place person in the film. Sure, Hayden's performance could be annoying, but I found it to be suiting. And I am not a fan of his at all. It is the relationship between & performances by Sienna & Guy that engrossed me.