Schoolio's Movie Corner

[BKsaysAction!]

Brazil is fantastic. I like to think of it as 1984 in movie form :)

I hated Donnie Darko though. Hated hated hated.

There is a movie 1984 it stars John Hurt which is why he played the baddie president in V for Vendetta. Brazil is awesome though, loved the De Niro Cameo.

[schoolofruckus]

Watchmen was......kind of a drag, to be honest.


Of course it was a fucking drag, you say. It was directed by Zack Snyder - he who wrought 300 on us. He who the advertising world dubs a "visionary" even though he eschews storyboarding entirely - let alone, you know, visualizing - and just shoots frame-by-frame versions of his comic adaptations. He who possesses probably the single most despicable toolbox of cinematic sensibilities around, with virtually no instinct as to how to tell a story, direct actors, employ music, or do anything except slow down every moment of violence and call for more loving, navelgazing closeups of human blood being shed.

I shouldn’t say this aloud, but there’s a part of me that hopes someone in his family gets brutally killed someday, and that whoever does the killing shoots it and plays it back for him at 12 frames per second.

See, this is the review I expected to write. And while I mean every word of it, I also have to admit that Snyder’s foamingly juvenile bloodlust doesn't submarine Watchmen as much as it ices the cake of failure. It’s more the impulse to shoot every cell of the comic (minus the text excerpts that close every chapter) without injecting any life into it. The thing is, I didn’t hate this movie except on a philosophical level. I enjoyed it – to a degree - because it’s a good story with interesting characters. But Alan Moore is entirely to thank for that. There’s nothing brought to the table here that enhances what we’re seeing. It’s watchable, and I wouldn’t say “skip it” outside of the context of telling you to take a stand (i.e., as part of my “Stop Zack Snyder” routine). It’s just that the lack of soul is pretty palpable. It’s primarily a script problem, but the fact that every actor sans Jackie Earle Haley (and, okay, Billy Crudup) is absolutely unwatchable certainly settles any debate that could possibly ensue.

Full disclosure: I’ve read 8 chapters of the book, and I plan on finishing it. I only hope the ending isn’t quite as lame as it played here.

[real talk]

But we parked in his parking spot.

[schoolofruckus]

Your photo depicting such was the pinnacle of his contributions to the world.

[real talk]

Thanks Gabe. I know I'm still going to get dragged to see it. Should I read the book first or will it make me mental.

[schoolofruckus]

It will make you mental anyway. I would say read the book first, because if you're going to be exposed to any of it then you might as well experience the best version. But truth be told, I think you're going to physically reject it very early regardless of the incarnation.

[bballarl]

I don't know how the film ends Gabe, but the book ending is most certainly not lame.

[schoolofruckus]

I think the primary problem is that, having read 2/3 of it only, I liked everything from the book up until the end. The end was the only part of the movie that I wasn't already invested in. I mean - I can't overstate how bad the acting is in this film. Haley's good, but if you take him out, this would qualify as possibly the worst-acted film, across the board, of anything I've ever seen. And so that hurt the execution considerably.

[ivankay]

i am not reading any more than the first sentence about what you think about Watchmen until Friday. i hope i don't agree.

Live the delusion.

Your pal,

mike

[roberto73]

Haley's good, but if you take him out, this would qualify as possibly the worst-acted film, across the board, of anything I've ever seen.

That's such a bold statement it actually makes me want to see the movie more.

Also, you must have never seen 21.

[BKsaysAction!]

I read The Watchmen two months back and loved it, now schoolio's review is very similar to the review i read in newsweek today and that makes me nervous. Did the studios kill this movie with all the hype? From what i've been reading it that might be the fact. Will i still go see it this weekend? absolutley.

[M Sparks]

There is a movie 1984 it stars John Hurt

There's one from the 50's or 60's too. It's awful.

[nahuatldream]

I liked The Watchmen, and hey, I saw it for free. Otherwise, I think I might have waited for it to hit the Dollar Theatre or DVD. I likely would have done that anyway. I've never read the book and never heard of The Watchmen, until this movie was being made, so I had no vested interest in the story, prior. As a standalone movie, I had a good time watching it, and didn't care that some of the acting wasn't very good, and downright cheesy at times. It was good action.

[wmgaretjax]

yikes... i'm seeing it friday... despite low expectations.

[Down Rodeo]

Yup...I'm reading it now and watching it Thursday night on IMAX. I better not be wasting that $15.

[amyzzz]

The International sucked.

[atom heart]

The more I think about it, the more I realize that the ending of the Watchmen comic was the only part of it that I liked.

{SPOILERS!!!!!!!!}:
It's freakin' insane, and nearly out of the blue, and... INSANE. I can't say I liked the squid, or how garish it all got, but I absolutely love the monologue at the end and how they're like "we have to stop this" and he just shrugs and says, "I wouldn't be telling you this if it hadn't happened 35 minutes ago". The looks on their faces are priceless.
{END SPOILERS}

I read up on the ending of the movie just so I knew what they did, and it entirely agrees with me. I haven't seen it so I don't know about the execution of it, but it makes a lot of sense to me.

[Monklish]

The more I think about it, the more I realize that the ending of the Watchmen comic was the only part of it that I liked.

{SPOILERS!!!!!!!!}:
It's freakin' insane, and nearly out of the blue, and... INSANE. I can't say I liked the squid, or how garish it all got, but I absolutely love the monologue at the end and how they're like "we have to stop this" and he just shrugs and says, "I wouldn't be telling you this if it hadn't happened 35 minutes ago". The looks on their faces are priceless.
{END SPOILERS}

I read up on the ending of the movie just so I knew what they did, and it entirely agrees with me. I haven't seen it so I don't know about the execution of it, but it makes a lot of sense to me.

How much of the movie was in slow motion? Was it 300-level terrible in that regard?

[C DUB YA]

why is slow-mo automatically terrible? On the other hand you have frantic, cut up fight sequences which are just as annoying (Quatum of Solace, Transporter...etc...)

I like how all the "critics" glam onto the "slow-mo thing"

It just doesn't bother me as much as other people I guess. But I have read there is not as much as 300.

[C DUB YA]

FTR - I am more looking forward to this:

-BawY4gjAdM

[schoolofruckus]

How much of the movie was in slow motion? Was it 300-level terrible in that regard?

The ratio is a lot less egregious on Watchmen, although I still found it pretty irritating.


why is slow-mo automatically terrible?

Did anyone say that it was?

300 is a 45 minute long film at 12 fps. That's fucking RIDICULOUS. But nobody's saying that slow-motion should never be used in any situation.

[schoolofruckus]

FTR - I am more looking forward to this:

-BawY4gjAdM

YES.

[Monklish]

why is slow-mo automatically terrible? On the other hand you have frantic, cut up fight sequences which are just as annoying (Quatum of Solace, Transporter...etc...)

I like how all the "critics" glam onto the "slow-mo thing"

It just doesn't bother me as much as other people I guess. But I have read there is not as much as 300.

Because it's a cheap, talentless method of adding dramatic value to action. Action should speak for itself, the content of what is being depicted should give it the significance, not some hacky fucking after effect employed every single time you spent a couple hundred thousand dollars on a poorly rendered sequence.

[BKsaysAction!]

FTR - I am more looking forward to this:

-BawY4gjAdM

Is it just me or does a period piece like that look weird in dv. I'm a huge Michael Mann fan and i shoot everything in dv but that looked out of place. I might be wrong though maybe it will give it more realism.

[Cherita Chen]

Public Enemies looks fantastic

[schoolofruckus]

FTR - I am more looking forward to this:

-BawY4gjAdM

Is it just me or does a period piece like that look weird in dv. I'm a huge Michael Mann fan and i shoot everything in dv but that looked out of place. I might be wrong though maybe it will give it more realism.

I think Mann needs to kind of step up his game in the HD arena. Don't get me wrong - I think he's probably the best director in his niche (i.e., making intelligent, action-driven films) - but after the digital achievements of Che and Zodiac, I don't know that the Viperisms found in Collateral and Miami Vice will still be passable. I'm talking noisy darks (particularly in his action scenes) and blown-out whites, both of which you can see in the Public Enemies trailer.

Honestly, if he doesn't fix these things, it probably won't matter, and it may very well be the best big film we see this year....until Inglourious Basterds, that is.

[RedThom]

It just doesn't bother me as much as other people I guess. But I have read there is not as much as 300.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pi2t58CRmbU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pi2t58CRmbU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[Young blood]

vrrss_Bxfw0&eur
at sxsw this year. DVD April.

Died Young, Stayed Pretty is a candid look at the underground poster culture in North America. This unique documentary examines the creative spirit that drives these indie graphic artists. They pick through the dregs of America’s schizophrenic culture and piece them back together. What you end up with is a caricature of the black and bloated heart that pulses greed through the US economy. The artists push further into the pulp to grab the attention of passersby, plastering art that’s both vulgar and intensely visceral onto the gnarled surfaces of the urban landscape. The film gives us intimate look at some of the giants of this modern subculture. Outside of their own circle, they’re virtually unknown. But within their ranks they make up an army of bareknuckle brawlers, publicly arguing the aesthetic merits of octopus imagery and hairy 70s porn stars. They’ve created their own visual language for describing the spotty underbelly of western civilization and they're not shy about throwing it in the face of polite society. Along the way, they manage to create posters that are strikingly obscene, unflinchingly blasphemous and often quite beautiful. Yaghoobian shows these artists for what they are: the vivisectionists of America’s morbidly obese consumer culture.

[schoolofruckus]

I'm going to run a list of the films I'm excited about this year. Truth be told, I think 2009 has the potential to be the best film year of my lifetime. We'll need to get some masterpieces out of this bunch - the most likely of which I'm bolding below - but there's just so goddamn much to be excited about. A good mix of potentially great serious films, and a lot of solid bets for entertainment.


Hunger - Steve McQueen (not that Steve McQueen) - 3.20.09
Three Monkeys - Nuri Bilge Ceylan - 3.27.09
Sleep Dealer - Alex Riveras - 4.17.09
The Limits of Control - Jim Jarmusch - 5.22.09
Terminator Salvation - (name withheld because I can't bring myself to type it in the context of this list) - 5.22.09
Up - Pixar - 5.29.09
Transformers 2 - Michael Bay - 6.26.09
The Hurt Locker - Kathryn Bigelow - 6.26.09
Public Enemies - Michael Mann - 7.1.09
Lorna's Silence - Dardenne Brothers - 7.31.09
Funny People - Judd Apatow - 7.31.09
Inglourious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino - 8.21.09
Anti-Christ - Lars von Trier - 9.11.09
The Informant - Steven Soderbergh - 9.18.09
Ashecliffe - Martin Scorsese - 10.2.09
A Serious Man - Coen Brothers - 10.2.09
Where the Wild Things Are - Spike Jonze - 10.16.09
The Fantastic Mr. Fox - Wes Anderson - 11.6.09
Avatar - James Cameron - 12.18.09


NO RELEASE DATE - ANTICIPATED FOR 2009


The Tree of Life - Terrence Malick
Nailed - David O. Russell
The Road - John Hillcoat
Enter the Void - Gaspar Noe
Tales from the Golden Age - Cristian Mungiu
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - Terry Gilliam
Micmacs à tire-larigot - Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Biutiful - Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu
Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World - Edgar Wright
Green Zone - Paul Greengrass
Afterschool - Antonio Campos
Satisfaction - Miranda July
Tetro - Francis Ford Coppola (it stars Vincent Gallo!!)




FOREIGN HOLDOVERS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS

The Man From London - Bela Tarr

[suprefan]

Full disclosure: I’ve read 8 chapters of the book, and I plan on finishing it. I only hope the ending isn’t quite as lame as it played here.


The ending in the book was one of the biggest issues anyone had with the early screenings and stuff of the film a while back. Tell me they left the dead bodies and that kind of makes up for the lack of something else

[TheGuvna]

FINALLY.... JCVD hits my local indie cinema this Friday. I'm skipping for Watchmen for Jean Claude.

[MissingPerson]

I can't even tell if that's Win or Fail.

[BKsaysAction!]

FINALLY.... JCVD hits my local indie cinema this Friday. I'm skipping for Watchmen for Jean Claude.

I am curious about that. He is a peice of shit but doing a movie that makes fun of himself seems refreshing and maybe even redeeming.

[roberto73]

Attention, Courtney (and anyone else who's a fan of Kazuo Ishiguro's book Never Let Me Go):

Keira Knightley has been cast in the upcoming film version, written by Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Sunshine, and the novel on which The Beach was based) and directed by Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo and assorted music videos). I would love for this to be great, but Keira Knightley's presence does not fill me with optimism.

http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/artman2/publish/movie_news/Keira-Knightley-is-Never-going-to-Let-Me-Go-27020309.php

[whynotsmile99]

FINALLY.... JCVD hits my local indie cinema this Friday. I'm skipping for Watchmen for Jean Claude.

damn, New Mexico gets shit late. I watched half of it on DVD the other day. Still need to finish it. It's pretty good so far, entertaining though has some serious script/editing annoyances. Jean Claude is really the best thing about it

[wmgaretjax]

Mark Romanek has a lot of potential... And Kiera Knightley is probably what is enabling the movie to be made... She was solid in Pride and Prejudice... And in atonement.... Albeit not great in either.

[kingsblend420]

Watchmen was......kind of a drag, to be honest.


Of course it was a fucking drag, you say. It was directed by Zack Snyder - he who wrought 300 on us. He who the advertising world dubs a "visionary" even though he eschews storyboarding entirely - let alone, you know, visualizing - and just shoots frame-by-frame versions of his comic adaptations. He who possesses probably the single most despicable toolbox of cinematic sensibilities around, with virtually no instinct as to how to tell a story, direct actors, employ music, or do anything except slow down every moment of violence and call for more loving, navelgazing closeups of human blood being shed.

I shouldn’t say this aloud, but there’s a part of me that hopes someone in his family gets brutally killed someday, and that whoever does the killing shoots it and plays it back for him at 12 frames per second.

See, this is the review I expected to write. And while I mean every word of it, I also have to admit that Snyder’s foamingly juvenile bloodlust doesn't submarine Watchmen as much as it ices the cake of failure. It’s more the impulse to shoot every cell of the comic (minus the text excerpts that close every chapter) without injecting any life into it. The thing is, I didn’t hate this movie except on a philosophical level. I enjoyed it – to a degree - because it’s a good story with interesting characters. But Alan Moore is entirely to thank for that. There’s nothing brought to the table here that enhances what we’re seeing. It’s watchable, and I wouldn’t say “skip it” outside of the context of telling you to take a stand (i.e., as part of my “Stop Zack Snyder” routine). It’s just that the lack of soul is pretty palpable. It’s primarily a script problem, but the fact that every actor sans Jackie Earle Haley (and, okay, Billy Crudup) is absolutely unwatchable certainly settles any debate that could possibly ensue.

Full disclosure: I’ve read 8 chapters of the book, and I plan on finishing it. I only hope the ending isn’t quite as lame as it played here.

Did you write this up? Fucking amazing review.

[whynotsmile99]

I'm going to run a list of the films I'm excited about this year. Truth be told, I think 2009 has the potential to be the best film year of my lifetime. We'll need to get some masterpieces out of this bunch - the most likely of which I'm bolding below - but there's just so goddamn much to be excited about. A good mix of potentially great serious films, and a lot of solid bets for entertainment.


Hunger - Steve McQueen (not that Steve McQueen) - 3.20.09
Three Monkeys - Nuri Bilge Ceylan - 3.27.09
Sleep Dealer - Alex Riveras - 4.17.09
The Limits of Control - Jim Jarmusch - 5.22.09
Terminator Salvation - (name withheld because I can't bring myself to type it in the context of this list) - 5.22.09
Up - Pixar - 5.29.09
Transformers 2 - Michael Bay - 6.26.09
The Hurt Locker - Kathryn Bigelow - 6.26.09
Public Enemies - Michael Mann - 7.1.09
Lorna's Silence - Dardenne Brothers - 7.31.09
Funny People - Judd Apatow - 7.31.09
Inglourious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino - 8.21.09
Anti-Christ - Lars von Trier - 9.11.09
The Informant - Steven Soderbergh - 9.18.09
Ashecliffe - Martin Scorsese - 10.2.09
A Serious Man - Coen Brothers - 10.2.09
Where the Wild Things Are - Spike Jonze - 10.16.09
The Fantastic Mr. Fox - Wes Anderson - 11.6.09
Avatar - James Cameron - 12.18.09


NO RELEASE DATE - ANTICIPATED FOR 2009


The Tree of Life - Terrence Malick
Nailed - David O. Russell
The Road - John Hillcoat
Enter the Void - Gaspar Noe
Tales from the Golden Age - Cristian Mungiu
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - Terry Gilliam
Micmacs à tire-larigot - Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Biutiful - Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu
Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World - Edgar Wright
Green Zone - Paul Greengrass
Afterschool - Antonio Campos
Satisfaction - Miranda July
Tetro - Francis Ford Coppola (it stars Vincent Gallo!!)




FOREIGN HOLDOVERS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS

The Man From London - Bela Tarr

god damn there really is a ton of great stuff this year. Last year had some great summer movies, this year is all about great directors. Really looking forward to that new Lars Van Trier with William Dafoe and Charolette Gainsbourg

[suprefan]

Did you write this up? Fucking amazing review.

Why wouldnt he write it?

[whynotsmile99]

I'm about 4 chapters from finishing The Watchmen graphic novel, and I'm not getting the hype at all. It's alright, but can the thing be any more ridiculous or meandering? Hardly a plot, just going and going and going...something with Moore's style doesn't gel with me at all. Same with LEG.

that said, I do want to see the movie. I hope it helps me to "grasp' the book more, though if it's anything like that awful 300, i dunno. In Snyder's defense, i did love Dawn of the Dead

[MissingPerson]

Not to be all fangirl about him, but all of Moore's storys tend to click into place in the last stretch. All the stuff that feels meandery and wasteful is there for a reason, to a great extent with Watchmen and a far greater extent with From Hell.

Lord though, LEG is terrible.

[iv3rdawG]

My first initial reaction to the last 2 chapters and what it was presenting was wondering why? But as it was explained it all kind of came together nicely. Great book.

[indietron]

I was supposed to see watchmen at midnight tonight at the arclight, but I have to work at 8 tomorrow so i just cant do it. I already only got like 4 hours of sleep last night =/

[Cherita Chen]

Looks great. Even though i'm not totally digging the new Kirk

s4XXydDEkG0

[paulb]

Just got back from Watchmen in IMAX.... I really enjoyed it. It kind of all came together in the end, but i was entertained and the music was nearly perfect.

[PassiveTheory]

Got back from Watchmen, it was good. Not amazing, but good. I felt that there was a bit left on the cutting floor (especially vis a vis Rorschach) and some should have been (the Nixon boardroom scenes).

My casual friends did not like it, felt the movie was too long, felt the sex scene was too long, and have decided not to read the book. Joy. I had to explain Rorschach's entire origin story afterwards because they didn't have any reason to relate to him.

[PassiveTheory]

Got back from Watchmen, it was good. Not amazing, but good. I felt that there was a bit left on the cutting floor (especially vis a vis Rorschach) and some should have been (the Nixon boardroom scenes).

My casual friends did not like it, felt the movie was too long, felt the sex scene was too long, and have decided not to read the book. Joy. I had to explain Rorschach's entire origin story afterwards because they didn't have any reason to relate to him.

[hawkingvsreeve]

More Watchmen thoughts:


As a preface, I wasn't really wowed with the comic book. It was good I suppose, but I am not a huge fan of comics in general and I thought the dialogue was terrible. The movie did stick very closely to it though, and I sort of feel that is one of it's flaws. It was 30 minutes too long, and I could tell that the audience I was watching it with had no idea what they were in for. I think that if you dont know the story or haven't read the story before seeing the film it is going to lose you, or you are going to end up with a theater full of bros who get upset at seeing some penis.

The thing that bothered me the most was the music. The soundtrack choices were mostly all poor if not laughably absurd and completely pulled me out of the story. The exception to that was the Dylan tune during the opening credits, which was probably my favorite part of the movie. That's not saying a whole lot though. But that version of Hallelujah? Are you fucking kidding me? That scene is already 100% awkward to begin with, and felt like HBO level softcore, and the song just makes it downright uncomfortable and unwatchable no matter how many breast flashes were in it.

Like Gabe I did enjoy the film, I thought it was visually very engaging and Rorschach is a fun character to root for, but the horrendous soundtrack choices, sub par acting and excessive length prevent me from recommending this fully to anybody, let alone deciding to watch it again.

Watchmen. Almost unwatchable.

[DRcube]

i actually enjoyed it WATCHMEN, it was very close to the graphic novel, but that might not be a good thing for the director, as mentioned above....

i do have to agree with Hawkings, the sex scene with silk spectre and the night owl made me feel like i was watching late night cinemax...

[Neutral Milk Hotel]

SPOILERISH:

Watchmen: starts out strong, then gets sloppy. I also thought the ending was unnecessarily simplified, when it comes to the character of Adrian and the moral implications of what he did, etc. I got the feeling that they tried to make it easy for the audience by making Adrian a simple bad guy (omitting his big moment of doubt was a huge mistake), and having Dan beat the shit out of him on top of that. I think it's important to show Dan and Laurie agreeing with Adrian about telling the lie, because one of the points of the book (imo of course) is to turn the question around on the audience; what would you do? Who is right? The book does this by having its most relatable characters make one decision, and the antihero Rorschach make another. The movie really dropped the ball on this, I think. It made little effort to make a case for Adrian's plan, and thus one of the most provocative elements of the book was lost. This was a big disappointment for me, but otherwise it was pretty good. Great acting from Jackie Earle Haley, some stylish visuals. As I said before the pacing is really uneven (it felt like the filmmakers took their sweet time for the first hour, and then realized they had to get through the rest of the story in a feature film's length, and crammed everything else in haphazardly). But yeah, the thing I love about Watchmen is its ambiguity and openness to interpretation; that isn't present in this adaptation. And yeah, some of the music choices really stood out. I get the sense that Snyder really wanted to achieve what Martin Scorsese does with pop music, but he doesn't have that talent, ane he tried to force it. It didn't work. (although I did quite like the opening credits, it worked there)

[schoolofruckus]

But that version of Hallelujah? Are you fucking kidding me? That scene is already 100% awkward to begin with, and felt like HBO level softcore, and the song just makes it downright uncomfortable and unwatchable no matter how many breast flashes were in it.

I had forgotten about that - primarily because I'm trying to forget about it so the performance at Coachella isn't ruined by recollections of that scene. But sweet mother of mercy did that piss me off.

The use of music in this film is one of the major warning signs that Zack Snyder has some of the worst filmmaking instincts on the planet. I do agree that "The Times They Are A-Changin'" was great during the opening credits, which was one of the best sequences in the movie even though it was as long as the end credits of both Lord of the Rings and Walk combined.

I'm glad that most of you seem to have generally the same feelings towards it that I do, give or take a few degrees of enjoyment. I'm afraid of this becoming another 300, where seemingly everyone loves the shit out of it while I'm sitting in the corner covering my ears and going "la la la la la la la".

[C DUB YA]

In Snyder's defense, i did love Dawn of the Dead

Yeah that's a good flick.

[C DUB YA]

(although I did quite like the opening credits, it worked there)

http://yuco.wiredrive.com/l/p/?presentation=2a19d67b5b339b5bf565629be15a6f69

[amyzzz]

Dontcha wish Watchmen had its own thread right about now, Gabe?

[real talk]

Attention, Courtney (and anyone else who's a fan of Kazuo Ishiguro's book Never Let Me Go):

Keira Knightley has been cast in the upcoming film version, written by Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Sunshine, and the novel on which The Beach was based) and directed by Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo and assorted music videos). I would love for this to be great, but Keira Knightley's presence does not fill me with optimism.

http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/artman2/publish/movie_news/Keira-Knightley-is-Never-going-to-Let-Me-Go-27020309.php

BOOK SPOILER





I am excited to see how they adapt this, one of the things I like most about this book is how slowly the horrible truth is revealed and when you realize what is going on it's bone chilling. This could make a really good movie. I don't mind Keira Knightley, she's getting better with age.

[Monklish]

which was one of the best sequences in the movie even though it was as long as the end credits of both Lord of the Rings and Walk combined.

Hilarious. Kudos, sir.

[schoolofruckus]

Dontcha wish Watchmen had its own thread right about now, Gabe?

It does have its own thread. But I'm fine with the discussion of the movie being based here. I wouldn't venture to the "First pictures of Rorschach!!!" thread just to tell everyone how flat the movie is.


Also, BY THE FUCKING WAY....were the rest of you as fucking irritated as I was by the way the mispronounced his name in the film? Literally, every goddamn time his name was said aloud (even by himself!), they called him "Roar Shack". This drove me goddamn fucking BONKERS. At least in the comic, it was specifically noted as sounding like "Raw shark".

[Young blood]

Looks great. Even though i'm not totally digging the new Kirk

s4XXydDEkG0

Looks like it will be better than Star Trek 2.

[atom heart]

That trailer doesn't really look like Star Trek at all. Not sure if that is good or bad.

[Gonshman]

BOOK SPOILER





I am excited to see how they adapt this, one of the things I like most about this book is how slowly the horrible truth is revealed and when you realize what is going on it's bone chilling. This could make a really good movie. I don't mind Keira Knightley, she's getting better with age.

I'm reading never let me go in English class.

[Down Rodeo]

I'll be honest...I enjoyed Watchmen.

Everyone here has made excellent points (Gabe - your writing ability continues to amaze me, and NMH - I couldn't agree with you more on the handling of the ending with Ozymandias). My major complaint would be that the film felt less human to me than the novel, which is probably due to the enormous amount of material that had to be whittled down. The plot zips along quickly, but Snyder has dumbed down most of the social satire and moral dilemmas until the very end (by the way, I thought the new ending worked surprisingly well, but I won't go into detail), which diminishes a lot of the impact that the story has. Still though, the film works fine if you're familiar with the story, otherwise I would imagine it's hard to relate to most of the characters or understand why they're doing certain things. I agree that the music choices are pretty terrible, too (except for the title sequence and the Philip Glass music used during the Mars scene).

Overall, I think Snyder did an admirable job in adapting a supposedly un-adaptable work, but it's definitely far from a masterpiece. The film works as a nice companion to the novel, but has little to add in terms of originality or moral & ethical insights.

[PotVsKtl]

I'm reading never let me go in English class.

http://i44.tinypic.com/i3xe6q.gif

[Neutral Milk Hotel]

http://s5.tinypic.com/2s94q5k.jpg

[Monklish]

It does have its own thread. But I'm fine with the discussion of the movie being based here. I wouldn't venture to the "First pictures of Rorschach!!!" thread just to tell everyone how flat the movie is.


Also, BY THE FUCKING WAY....were the rest of you as fucking irritated as I was by the way the mispronounced his name in the film? Literally, every goddamn time his name was said aloud (even by himself!), they called him "Roar Shack". This drove me goddamn fucking BONKERS. At least in the comic, it was specifically noted as sounding like "Raw shark".

Did the comic do that? That's not how the actual guy's name is supposed to be pronounced, is it?

[schoolofruckus]

Did the comic do that? That's not how the actual guy's name is supposed to be pronounced, is it?

Yes. The part where the cops are called on him, the cop says "What? Raw what? Raw shark? What is..." and then his partner yanks him out of the room.

It's roar shock, not roar shack. And the mind fucking boggles that not a single person involved with the making of Watchmen knows this.

[Monklish]

rôr'shäk', -shäKH'

it's kinda a little inbetween. Germanic-Swiss bullshit.

[Blinken]

http://s5.tinypic.com/2s94q5k.jpg

That is brillant.

[schoolofruckus]

Not to turn this into Monkio's English Corner (which you should totally start, by the way), but is there really a grey zone between a short O and a short A?

[PotVsKtl]

YJQ5bLmYGm0

http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/thelimitsofcontrol/

[thestripe]

BOOK SPOILER





I am excited to see how they adapt this, one of the things I like most about this book is how slowly the horrible truth is revealed and when you realize what is going on it's bone chilling. This could make a really good movie. I don't mind Keira Knightley, she's getting better with age.

What they did to The Beach was shit. Hopefully they'll do a better job here. Adapt not ruin.

[KungFuJoe]

YJQ5bLmYGm0

http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/thelimitsofcontrol/

Fuck yeah! Jim Jarmusch & Christopher Doyle seems like a match made in heaven. I'm psyched for this one.

[rage patton]

BOOK/MOVIE SPOILIERS




So I saw Watchman last night at midnight. I enjoyed it. It certainly wasn't amazing, and was no where near as good as the grapic novel, but it was a good movie. I didn't even mind how they used Dr. Manhattan as the squids role. I knew that would be different, and it was better than I thought it was going to be. That said, I had a couple beefs with the movie. My biggest is with the way they portrayed Ozzymandius. In the book, he was glorified almost like a god. He was perfect, he was a golden boy in all senses of the word. Everyone loved Veidt. In this movie, he seemed like a snob, and even a little standoff-ish. Also, I did not like his costume. Black and dark purple? They almost made him out to be dark and sinister, so it wouldn't be that much of a shock to people (who hadn't read the book) when they found out Ozzymandius was "the bad guy." Almost, the revelation in the book, did not translate in the book. When I came to read the book, and everything became fully realized, a shiver went down my spine and all the hair raised on my neck. In the movie it was kind of like "Oh yeah. I get it. Makes sense. Kill millions, save billions. So Veidt is only kind of the bad guy. Got it." So yeah, I didn't like that at all. Also, like many have brought up, the music was laughable. Aside from Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkle, all the song choices were laughable. What was withh "99 Red Ballons"?

But yeah, I really did enjoy the movie. Also, who else thought the guy who played Roarschach was fantastic? The scene where he died, Roarschach really got me.

[Gonshman]

http://i44.tinypic.com/i3xe6q.gif

Sarcasm?

[suprefan]

Yeah Jackie Earl Hayley?

[Gonshman]

Yeah Jackie Earl Hayley?

He was so good in Little Children. So good.

[ivankay]

i just read Gabe's review and as much as i would love to come to the film maker's defense, i can't. i am totally biased in my love of the Watchmen and the anticipation of seeing it as a movie since the Terry Gilliam project went bust many a moon ago. i am biased because the film came through my place of employment for months and months to my glee that "we" were doing the Watchmen (i even lent my copy to the lead colorist on the film....i want it back). i want my Watchmen back in a lot of ways. i was absolutely drawn into the film and thought it could not be any more perfect, then from the jail break on it lost me. i bought into the mid Eighties Watchmen world up until that point. Then it got removed and turned into the "Now" zim poo pow and the source material almost became secondary to the "awesomeness" of the film. No doubt this is a technical MARVEL! Imax was made for movies like this. Cast was great and brought the characters to life. i am going to see it again, but it's going to be kinda like a hot girl you like to screw, but you know it ain't going no where. There was sooooo much perfect about this movie...ARGARAGGARRRHH.....my reaction when the credits rolled was "hurm" (bad choice on the Chemical Romance exclamation mark...IN YER FACE!!!...wrong). i love and hate this movie.

[corbo]

finally saw the watchmen!
overall it was enjoyable but....
was anyone else bothered by the fact that dr manhattans mars tour
didnt include the olympus mons and the valles marineris?
this really bugged me.

[wmgaretjax]

Watchmen was god awful. Gabe hit the nail on the head. At the end, I just wanted my fucking 3 hours back. It was just bad. The only tool in Snyder's kit is a sledgehammer...

[Monklish]

Not to turn this into Monkio's English Corner (which you should totally start, by the way), but is there really a grey zone between a short O and a short A?

I'm just saying it's not a shack sound, it's more like a sha-ock, smushed together.

[mountmccabe]

What they did to The Beach was shit. Hopefully they'll do a better job here. Adapt not ruin.

Alex Garland wrote the novel The Beach; he didn't have anything to do with the movie. The only "they" involved (that worked on the movie The Beach) is Andrew Macdonald as a Producer.

The screenplays he has written - 28 Days Later and Sunshine - have been imo excellent.

[BlueDevil50]

i actually liked the watchmen...i expected a little more action since it was a snyder film, but other than it being really long, it was worth the watch. good story, kept to the comic, and was visually entertaining.

[suprefan]

No Squid = not keeping to the comic fyi.





25 million estimated opening day for Watchmen.

[rage patton]

The first half kept to the comic very well. The second half felt rushed.

[thestripe]

Alex Garland wrote the novel The Beach; he didn't have anything to do with the movie. The only "they" involved (that worked on the movie The Beach) is Andrew Macdonald as a Producer.

The screenplays he has written - 28 Days Later and Sunshine - have been imo excellent.



Thanks, John. I misread it as a novel written by Alex, being made into a movie.

[BlueDevil50]

honestly, i like the movie ending better than the squid.

[thestripe]

Sounds like a rental.


I watched Che 1 & 2 the other day. Schoolio's review pretty much nailed it on the head. It's on comcast HD On Demand if anyone's interested.

[chairmenmeow47]

i'm behind the times, but i saw coraline in 3d over the weekend and loved it. it wasn't too long, it was just the right amount of darkness for a kid's movie and dakota fanning & teri hatcher didn't annoy me to pieces like normal. it was very pretty.

[ivankay]

i am hoping i get the chance to see it in 3D again before it is out of theaters.

[indietron]

I watched The Constant Gardener the other day. It wasn't the best, but it was still good. The first half was a little difficult to follow, but luckily the second half brought the pieces together. I know theres alot of crap in Africa ( :( ), but I really hope drug companies aren't pulling crap like that.

[MissingPerson]

Everybody should go see Anvil.

[KungFuJoe]

The Watchmen wasn't so bad. I enjoyed it on the Imax. There were definitely parts I hated, but overall it was a decent film. I don't mind the slow motion as much as other people. It seems ok for Wong Kar Wai to use it in his films, but not Zack Snyder? I'm not trying to defend the guy as a good film maker, but I'll take his style over Michael Bay's in yo face any day.

Also went to a matinee of Gomorra on Sunday. I liked it a lot, but felt it could have been a bit more cohesive. A very good film though. I enjoyed it's approach & thought some of the characters were fantastic.

[indietron]

Let the Right One In just came out on DVD, im gonna have to watch it

[samiksha]

yeah i just rented it last night. it made me feel sort of ill.

i also rented rachel getting married and cried so hard i blew a snot bubble.

[C DUB YA]

i'm behind the times, but i saw coraline in 3d over the weekend and loved it. it wasn't too long, it was just the right amount of darkness for a kid's movie and dakota fanning & teri hatcher didn't annoy me to pieces like normal. it was very pretty.

too dark for a kids movie.

[PotVsKtl]

too dark for a kids movie.

http://aram.free.fr/fantasy/images/d_skeksis.jpg

Go fuck yourself.

[Monklish]

Pot and his degree in Moving Picture Still Life Animation disagrees.

[Cherita Chen]

YES YES YES YES YES

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810029193/video

WATCH IT!

I CANNOT WAIT

[indietron]

Uhm... no

[schoolofruckus]

Cherita, why are you so wound up over that? It looks like a good horror movie, and it's a solid trailer. But it's nothing to nut over, for fuck's sake.

[amyzzz]

HAHAHAHA, that was a funny trailer.

[bmack86]

Last night at work was depressing and joyous at once. i got there and realized that I wasn't going to be able to leave without spending a good chunk of change. I left with

Rachel Getting Married
Synechdoche, NY
Let the Right One In
T2

I am so bad at saving.

[BKsaysAction!]

YES YES YES YES YES

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810029193/video

WATCH IT!

I CANNOT WAIT

Man working at a savings and loan must suck.

But thats cool sam raimi is going back to horror finally.

[schoolofruckus]

iv3rdawg tipped me off to something ridiculously awesome:

Silent Light is getting a theatrical day in Los Angeles!!!

It's actually two days at LACMA - Friday 4/24 and Saturday 4/25. Again, I can't state how badly this film needs to be seen in a cinema. Any person who considers his/herself a film connossieur needs to make a point to catch one of these screenings.

Silent Light (Stellet Licht)
Friday, April 24 | 7:30 pm
2007/color/136 min./Scope | Scr/dir: Carlos Reygadas

http://www.lacma.org/MungoBlobs/502/354/SILENTLITE.jpg

One of the most critically acclaimed films of the last year, Carlos Reygadas’s spellbinding third feature is set in rural Mexico where a small, agrarian Mennonite community who speak a medieval form of German (Plautdietsch), are suffering from a crisis of faith. An immersive, sensual, and ultimately haunting experience, Silent Light recalls the redemptive dramas of Carl Theodor Dreyer, though the film’s extraordinary widescreen images and hypnotic rhythms are unmistakably Reygadas’s own. “I was amazed by Silent Light—the setting, the language, the delicacy of the interactions between the people on screen, the drama of redemption. And most of all by Carlos Reygadas’s extraordinarily rich sense of cinema, evident in every frame. A surprising picture, and a very moving one as well.”—Martin Scorsese.

[indietron]

iv3rdawg tipped me off to something ridiculously awesome:

Silent Light is getting a theatrical day in Los Angeles!!!

It's actually two days at LACMA - Friday 4/24 and Saturday 4/25. Again, I can't state how badly this film needs to be seen in a cinema. Any person who considers his/herself a film connossieur needs to make a point to catch one of these screenings.

Do I need to be a connossieur to see it, or should i see it anyways because I like to watch movies?

[PotVsKtl]

http://my.spill.com/video/video/show?id=947994%3AVideo%3A440647

[schoolofruckus]

Do I need to be a connossieur to see it, or should i see it anyways because I like to watch movies?

That'll do, pig. That'll do.

[indietron]

Is that supposed to be some sort of slur?

[ivankay]

i can see how that can be seen as teary pride in your enthusiasm to expand your cinematic taste. When Farmer Hoggett says "That'll do..." to Babe in the end, it is with beaming love and pride over the pig's wonderful accomplishment. Maybe Gabe is feeling the same way.

hmmmm, deja vu (literally just had one).

[indietron]

Alright then, I will take it as a compliment :) thanks Mr. I

[Cherita Chen]

Cherita, why are you so wound up over that? It looks like a good horror movie, and it's a solid trailer. But it's nothing to nut over, for fuck's sake.

Sorry. I'm a big Raimi fan and this is just what we needed

Also, Watchmen was so fucking boring. And I love the comic

[BKsaysAction!]

Sorry. I'm a big Raimi fan and this is just what we needed

Also, Watchmen was so fucking boring. And I love the comic

Glad i'm not the only one that thought this and i watch some boring movies.

[Down Rodeo]

I saw Kieslowski's Double Life of Veronique last night, and as expected, it was another of his masterpieces. I am now really motivated to finally watch the Decalogue. If only this director were still alive...

[wmgaretjax]

Dekalog is his masterpiece... Without a doubt. Three Colors is great, and Double Life is incredible... But Dekalog is it.

[SoulDischarge]

I also watched The Double Life Of Veronique for the first time a couple of days ago and . . . it didn't really sink in. Movies like that usually take me 2 or 3 viewings to have a legitimate opinion about anyway. It was gorgeous though. The only other Kieslowski I've seen is Blue, which I liked a lot, and No End, which did nothing for me.

Also, more reason to get excited about the new Jarmusch:

The last time I noticed a celebrated indie filmmaker using a heavy dollop of doom metal to soundtrack a movie, it was Harmony Korine using Sleep and Eyehategod in Gummo. The music is easily the best thing about that sensationalistic trainwreck of a movie, with the cinematography a distant second.

Judging by this trailer, Jim Jarmusch's forthcoming The Limits of Control includes the following things: Ghost Dog's best friend as the lead, the ridiculously beautiful Paz de la Huerta never taking off her Weezer glasses, Tilda Swinton wandering around in a white wig and a cowboy hat, Gael Garcia Bernal with a gigantic scar on his face, Sadly Bemused Bill Murray, cinematography from the great Wong Kar-Wai collaborator Christopher Doyle, and "graphic nudity and some language." Based on all available evidence, it is going to rule. And the music might still be the best thing about it.

As the Playlist points out, in the quick flash of credits at the end of the trailer, we see something encouraging: "Music by Boris." And as sunn O))) mastermind Stephen O'Malley wrote on his website last week and the bands' publicist confirms, the soundtrack includes music from Boris by themselves, sunn O))) & Boris together, and Earth.

Jim Jarmusch has a history of using great music in his movies: eerily ringing minimal Neil Young guitar chords in Dead Man, sparsely chilly RZA beats in Ghost Dog. And he knows that titans of drone-metal go with mysterious outlaw movies like champagne and strawberries. He is a smart man.

The Limits of Control gets a limited release on May 22, and I can't wait.

And fuck that, Gummo is fucking great.

[Monklish]

Yeah, Gummo is great, but Children Of Men is underwhelming. Balls to you.

[schoolofruckus]

Both movies are fantastic.

The Limits of Control looks like a winner.

[SoulDischarge]

Yeah, Gummo is great, but Children Of Men is underwhelming. Balls to you.

I stopped taking your opinions about film seriously ages ago. I had just assumed you'd done likewise.

[Monklish]

Well you gotta understand, it's a little confusing. From time to time in chat you exhibit signs of what SHOULD be intelligence... then you go and make statements like that.

You see how it confounds me, don't you?

[SoulDischarge]

I understand your anguish.

[PotVsKtl]

Gummo is vastly superior to Children of Men.

[wmgaretjax]

It's undeniably true...

[Monklish]

And this, ladies and gentlemen, THIS is why no one should go to art school.

[PotVsKtl]

Some people are just born with better taste. Children of Men is a series of convenient encounters and sloppy writing. Gummo is not a series of convenient encounters and sloppy writing. Conclusion? Art school not necessary for accurate rating.

[Monklish]

There is no possible fucking way in hell that Harmony fucking Korine produced something that isn't a sloppy pointless piece of shit. Your argument is flawed.

[Monklish]

Prepare a dissertation for me though on how Gummo doesn't suck. Be sure to employ everything you learned in your Flipbook Picture classes.

[PotVsKtl]

You don't like movies like Gummo. I can't change that. I found it deeply affecting. That's just how my shit works. The Children of Men argument can be relived on pages 45-47 of this thread, a point in the past I was apparently much more willing to write at length.

[SoulDischarge]

Better than anything in Children Of Men:
MqiLuOybDQc

[Monklish]

Two things most guaranteed to eliminate my giving a flying fuck about the emotional content of a movie:

1. The Holocaust
2. Retards

[PotVsKtl]

Even when the retards are hookers? Shame on you sir.

[Monklish]

3. Hookers

[schoolofruckus]

Children of Men is a technical marvel, and one of the most exciting films I've ever seen. Gummo is a one of the most expressive and compassionate films I've ever seen. Both films are atmospheric perfection, creating absorbing worlds that no doubt extend well beyond what we see onscreen. I feel like anyone who dislikes either one is missing out.

[Monklish]

Basically, Jews, Tards, and Whores all get fucked.

[Monklish]

Children of Men is a technical marvel, and one of the most exciting films I've ever seen. Gummo is a one of the most expressive and compassionate films I've ever seen. Both films are atmospheric perfection, creating absorbing worlds that no doubt extend well beyond what we see onscreen. I feel like anyone who dislikes either one is missing out.

Just because it's miserable and sad and pathetic doesn't make it compassionate.

[PotVsKtl]

I will say for the record I don't think Gummo has much to do with overt emotional content. It's a pastiche. I learned that word in collage college.

[bobert]

Gummo? Really? I'm gonna let you all in on a little secret: no one liked that movie. Anyone who argues otherwise is a pretentious, self-decieving, lying piece of shit. That was Harmony Korine's one and only triumph with that film was that he was able to convince thousands blow-hards all over the world to go around championing that movie because they felt that was the kind disturbing, rub your face in the dung of the world type art flick that pretentious blowhards should like. But no one does.

[wmgaretjax]

Anyone who has Bertolucci, Herzog, and Van Sant clamoring for them is OK in my book.

[PotVsKtl]

Speaking of which did anybody see Mister Lonely? I had no idea it was out on DVD.

[wmgaretjax]

Speaking of which did anybody see Mister Lonely? I had no idea it was out on DVD.

It was good... it felt a little uneven, but still good. Especially the stuff with Herzog...

I didn't love it nearly as much as Gummo or Julien-Donkey Boy, but I did enjoy it.

[PotVsKtl]

Gummo? Really? I'm gonna let you all in on a little secret: no one liked that movie. Anyone who argues otherwise is a pretentious, self-decieving, lying piece of shit. That was Harmony Korine's one and only triumph with that film was that he was able to convince thousands blow-hards all over the world to go around championing that movie because they felt that was the kind disturbing, rub your face in the dung of the world type art flick that pretentious blowhards should like. But no one does.

I genuinely love Gummo every time I watch it, which has taken place numerous times. Your mother hates you.

[Monklish]

Isn't Julien Donkey-Boy about some kind of retard too?

[Monklish]

I genuinely love Gummo every time I watch it, which has taken place numerous times. Your mother hates you.

I don't believe you either, for the record. Like, I genuinely don't think there's a chance you actually enjoy this garbage you claim to.

I learned that in that graduate-level fingerpainting tutorial I took.

[wmgaretjax]

I've watched the film probably 5 or 6 times as well... By myself and with others who had similar and differing opinions.

Personally, I think it's easily one of the greatest American films made in the last 20 years...

[lickety_spit]

i don't know if it was intentional, but Gummo was more humorous than emotionally disturbing. i grew up in suburban michigan, so it was kind of like watching a home movie. if, in the scene where solomon and tummler are in jarrod's bedroom, the cut to the boyz II men picture on the wall doesn't evoke some laughter, well then i think you may just be a zombie.
it's true that the soundtrack was the best part, though.

[SoulDischarge]

It was good... it felt a little uneven, but still good. Especially the stuff with Herzog...

I didn't love it nearly as much as Gummo or Julien-Donkey Boy, but I did enjoy it.

I agree with this.


Regardless of any DEEPER MEANING, Gummo is damned entertaining to watch. I've seen it several times and never feel bored by it. The movie is packed with unique and memorable characters, situations, lines, performances, and images. Little weird moments that just transcend the usual movie-going experience and speak directly to your imagination. David Lynch has a lot of these too, like the "In Dreams" sequence in Blue Velvet. It's kind of a hard thing to explain, because it's kind of an ineffable quality that's easier to recognize than describe. And most movies are sorely lacking in these kinds of moments. I'd rather watch a disjointed mess with a lot of these elements than a well crafted film with no transcendent idiosyncrasies (see: Brick). Gummo just also happens to work on a higher analytic level also.

[schoolofruckus]

Speaking of which did anybody see Mister Lonely? I had no idea it was out on DVD.

I loved it. It was in my top 5 favorites of last year.

[bobert]

Anyone who has Bertolucci, Herzog, and Van Sant clamoring for them is OK in my book.

Precisely my point. If those three filmmakers and everyone else on Earth dismissed Gummo as a worthless piece of shit, you really expect us to believe you'd be the one guy out there with his dick in the wind claiming it's one of the greatest American films ever made? That's got to be the biggest cop out ever - rather than argue for your own opinions you just fall back on this notion that these autuers agree with you. If this is the kind of nonsense Korine was trying to propagate with Gummo then maybe the film is brilliant, just not for any of the reasons you think you're supposed to think it is.

[wmgaretjax]

I don't expect you to believe anything. I also don't pretend to have entirely original opinions, no one does. However, I saw this film by accident when I was in the 9th grade because I loved Kids and knew this film was somehow related to it. I loved it then, and I love it now. I couldn't have explained to you then why I found it so compelling, but I feel fairly equipped to do so now (and have done so in this thread before). Korine isn't pulling this shit out of his ass, the film's roots go back to masterpieces by the likes of Todd Browning and D.W. Griffith, and while the film is certainly haphazard... It's gravitas comes from a rich cinematic tradition and a director with a keen eye and a great sense of humor.

My point in citing those directors was simply to point out that while you and many people you spend your time with might despise the film, Korine actually has a wide body of people who respect him that includes some indisputable geniuses.

[schoolofruckus]

You don't like movies like Gummo. I can't change that. I found it deeply affecting. That's just how my shit works. The Children of Men argument can be relived on pages 45-47 of this thread, a point in the past I was apparently much more willing to write at length.

I read back over pages 45 through 47. It was a good discourse.

On a related note, I'm grateful to see that it's two years later, and none of the four ideas-for-remakes I was ripping on at that time - The Fountainhead, Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Old Boy, and Straw Dogs - have yet come to fruition.

[bobert]

My point in citing those directors was simply to point out that while you and many people you spend your time with might despise the film, Korine actually has a wide body of people who respect him that includes some indisputable geniuses.

I never said Harmony Korine wasn't talented. I've liked a lot of his work, and the very fact that I'm evening arguing about Gummo shows that even that movie touched a nerve in some regard. My broader point was that Gummo is a film that's typically championed by pretentious blowhards, and your response was to name drop Werner Herzog and all the other indisputable geniuses you keep intellectual company with.

[wmgaretjax]

I never said Harmony Korine wasn't talented. I've liked a lot of his work, and the very fact that I'm evening arguing about Gummo shows that even that movie touched a nerve in some regard. My broader point was that Gummo is a film that's typically championed by pretentious blowhards, and your response was to name drop Werner Herzog and all the other indisputable geniuses you keep intellectual company with.

Yes. My response to really poor generalizations about the lack of an audience for a particular film was to name drop. Moving on...

[Monklish]

I don't expect you to believe anything. I also don't pretend to have entirely original opinions, no one does. However, I saw this film by accident when I was in the 9th grade because I loved Kids and knew this film was somehow related to it. I loved it then, and I love it now. I couldn't have explained to you then why I found it so compelling, but I feel fairly equipped to do so now (and have done so in this thread before). Korine isn't pulling this shit out of his ass, the film's roots go back to masterpieces by the likes of Todd Browning and D.W. Griffith, and while the film is certainly haphazard... It's gravitas comes from a rich cinematic tradition and a director with a keen eye and a great sense of humor.

My point in citing those directors was simply to point out that while you and many people you spend your time with might despise the film, Korine actually has a wide body of people who respect him that includes some indisputable geniuses.

I don't believe you actually liked Kids either.

And the second you use the word "gravitas" seriously in a conversation is the second you admit you're completely full of shit.

[wmgaretjax]

I don't believe you actually liked Kids either.

And the second you use the word "gravitas" seriously in a conversation is the second you admit you're completely full of shit.

We all know that I don't give a shit about what you believe Randy... And substitute the word substance for gravitas if you are having troubles taking it seriously, I couldn't care less.

[roberto73]

I find Gummo's gravitas to be commendably postmodern in the discursive nature of its non-linear narrative.*


*Also, I have never seen Gummo.

[wmgaretjax]

I find Gummo's gravitas to be commendably postmodern in the discursive nature of its non-linear narrative.*


Someone gets it. Although it's discursitivity is up for debate.

[BKsaysAction!]

I have yet to see Gummo so i can't comment on that film but KIDS being that guys first script it seems he and Larry clark just film movies of kids doing stupid shit and people reflect back on them and go wow this film captures adolescence in both its purity and tragic nature. which is great the first film around but then you make a career out of it and it becomes kind of pathetic.

[wmgaretjax]

Harmony Korine's other films share little in common with Kids...

But yes, that is definitely true of Larry Clark (other than the brilliant documentary he did for Destricted).

[BKsaysAction!]

Harmony Korine's other films share little in common with Kids...

But yes, that is definitely true of Larry Clark (other than the brilliant documentary he did for Destricted).

I'll have to check them out.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

I think Clark's "BULLY" is a pretty great movie

http://posters.motechnet.com/covers/tt0242193_largeCover.jpg

"ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE" is also worth checking out, and is very different from his other films

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d142/krazziekat/another_day_in_paradise.jpg

[BKsaysAction!]

I think Clark's "BULLY" is a pretty great movie

http://posters.motechnet.com/covers/tt0242193_largeCover.jpg

"ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE" is also worth checking out, and is very different from his other films

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d142/krazziekat/another_day_in_paradise.jpg

i watched part of another day in paradise and have been meaning to watch the rest as for the rest of Larry Clarks movies i'm just tired of the "kids doing fucked up things" genre. You watch one and you've seen them all. Even though this isn't a Larry Clark film Thirteen was the worst of that catagory, I couldn't handle 15 minutes of that movie.

[Monklish]

You're all either filthy, degenerate liars or you're deluding yourselves. You don't like any of those movies. C'mon, get real, gang.

[Hawkings]

I was disturbed by the nihilism of the teens in Kids, especially the rape on the passed out girl. That along with Trainspotting and Basketball Dairies all came out around the same time and seemed relevent to me then but it's been a long time. I'm not sure i needed to see more variations of the same film thou, 'Nothings Shocking', i get it. Can't we all just get along, and talk about how inappropriate and ham fisted the music in Watchmen was ?

[schoolofruckus]

Kids was the first - and best - film of that trio.

[Monklish]

WaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitWAIT




... did you just say that Kids is better than Trainspotting?

[ivankay]

i'm with Randy on that one. i'd put Kids above The Basketball Diaries in that trio.

[schoolofruckus]

WaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitWAIT




... did you just say that Kids is better than Trainspotting?

I don't know. Did I?

[BKsaysAction!]

SSSHHHH It's Me Casper. It's sad but the kids in KIDS were basicly people i knew and hung out with when we went skating and to some parties. The only differance from the movie is it wasn't aids that got spread around among some friends of mine it was Goneriah (disgusting right). So i never found KIDS shocking it was just a part of some stupid teen's lives.

I never thought Trainspotting was disturbing mostly because it had a lot of humor and has a happy ending or so we think i need to finish reading the sequal, Porno to find out whats going on.

Now Basketball Diaries and Requiem for a Dream on the other hand....

Everything in The Watchmen to me failed but thats an old converstation.

[Monklish]

And you wonder why I call your veracity into question. Preposterous.

[schoolofruckus]

There always has been and always will be volumes more skill, substance, and genuine audience appreciation in Harmony Korine's work than you give it credit for.

Everything else in this argument is in the eye of the beholder.

[Monklish]

Kids v. Trainspotting is not in the eye of the beholder. Even in today's Supreme Court Trainspotting would win 6-1 at least.


YOU'RE BEING RIDICULOUS. DO YOU THINK YOU'RE SCALIA OR SOMETHING?

[C DUB YA]

Trainspotting hands down.

Also - I watched Role Models this evening and found it pretty damn funny - but I love Paul Rudd, so there ya go.

[C DUB YA]

Can't we all just get along, and talk about how inappropriate and ham fisted the music in Watchmen was ?


Yeah the sex scene with Hallelujah was bad - but the opening titles with Dylan was great.

[wmgaretjax]

A terrible trailer for a movie that will be undeniably good: http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/lornassilence/

[real talk]

You're all a bunch of frat boys.

[lickety_spit]

Trainspotting hands down.

Also - I watched Role Models this evening and found it pretty damn funny - but I love Paul Rudd, so there ya go.

we agree on two things. finally.

[SoulDischarge]

I watched Bully for the first time the other day and it was pretty fucking awful. Larry Clark films are always guilty pleasures for me. I love sensationalistic over the top bullshit, but I can't take it at all seriously. I also watched Havoc, which might as well be a Clark movie. Cholo semi-rape=massive LOLZ.

[Monklish]

You're all a bunch of frat boys.

Find me another frat boy who makes hilarious Supreme Court Justice references.

[bballarl]

I realize I know nothing about movies, but I enjoyed Kids when Dani made me watch it.

[Monklish]

Dani, I'm disgusted.

[Stefinitely Maybe]

Ken Park is my favourite Clark film.

And if you guys are into depressing movies about teen rape etc then you should check out the films of Lukas Moodysson; particularly Lilya 4 Ever.

[C DUB YA]

I do not like Clark films all that much - I thought Kids was ok - once.

[wmgaretjax]

And if you guys are into depressing movies about teen rape etc then you should check out the films of Lukas Moodysson; particularly Lilya 4 Ever.

What a strange way to phrase it.

But yes, Moodysson has done some great stuff. My favorite film by him is one that Randy would have a fit over... It's called Container.

[chairmenmeow47]

i didn't see kids until a year or two ago and i had to leave the room during the passed out rape girl scene. and the guy i was sitting next to on the couch while watching the movie kept trying to find ways to put his arm around me. it was hard to watch all around. comparing trainspotting & kids is like oreos & hydrox, there is no comparison.

[ivankay]

Hmmm, not really the movie i would think of putting on if i wanted to make out with a lady.

Now Irreversible, that's a make out movie (insert sarcasm here).

[Monklish]

Comparing Trainspotting to Kids is like comparing Oreos to rape.

[Young blood]

i didn't see kids until a year or two ago and i had to leave the room during the passed out rape girl scene. and the guy i was sitting next to on the couch while watching the movie kept trying to find ways to put his arm around me. it was hard to watch all around. comparing trainspotting & kids is like oreos & hydrox, there is no comparison.

Randy doesnt take no for a answer?/.

[Monklish]

Randy doesnt take no for a answer?/.

It's a good question. I can't give you a definitive answer because I don't recall anyone ever saying "no" to me. But my guess would be no, I don't.

[bug on your lip]

and goats can't talk

[Monklish]

Not if they know what's good for 'em.

[stinkbutt]

Now Irreversible, that's a make out movie

go 9 minute rape scene

that movie was awful though

[SoulDischarge]

Lilya 4 Ever was alright, but could have done without all the angel stuff and shitty Eurotrance from 1995. What is it with Eastern European films and shitty Eurotrance?

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Ken Park is my favourite Clark film.

And if you guys are into depressing movies about teen rape etc then you should check out the films of Lukas Moodysson; particularly Lilya 4 Ever.

I have read some good things about ken park. Wiaitng for it to be available on netflix

lilya 4ever is really, really good. I'll have to check out his other films

[schoolofruckus]

I thought Ken Park sucked, personally. It was the point where Larry Clark's motives became entirely transparent.

Irreversible is one of the best films of this decade. One of the least watchable, perhaps....but one of the best.

[stinkbutt]

Irreversible is one of the best films of this decade. One of the least watchable, perhaps....but one of the best.

Why? I hear so many people say something like this but I don't understand. I thought that movie was just horrible in every way.

[bobert]

Irreversible is one of the best films of this decade. One of the least watchable, perhaps....but one of the best.

I'd have to agree with this. As an act of filmmaking, it was pretty astonishing. Gaspar Noe is definitely a master at his craft, even if his motives are frequently reprehensible.

[wmgaretjax]

I'd have to agree with this. As an act of filmmaking, it was pretty astonishing. Gaspar Noe is definitely a master at his craft, even if his motives are frequently reprehensible.

I agree... I'm really exctied for his latest film. Although I do hope that he backs off the steadicam just a little bit...

[schoolofruckus]

Why? I hear so many people say something like this but I don't understand. I thought that movie was just horrible in every way.

Because it's one of the most profound films I've ever seen. Despite the brutality, I think it's actually very humanist. It's about the nature of our actions, and by showing that none of it can be taken back, it says that everything we do has meaning. I find that kind of comforting.

[Down Rodeo]

I agree... I'm really exctied for his latest film. Although I do hope that he backs off the steadicam just a little bit...

I agree - the first 20 minutes or so of Irreversible were pretty nauseating.

[bug on your lip]

Because it's one of the most profound films I've ever seen. Despite the brutality, I think it's actually very humanist. It's about the nature of our actions, and by showing that none of it can be taken back, it says that everything we do has meaning. I find that kind of comforting.

by profound i think schoolio is talking about the Monica Bellucci buttseks

that profounded me big time

[schoolofruckus]

I agree... I'm really exctied for his latest film. Although I do hope that he backs off the steadicam just a little bit...

Backs off it? Or uses it in lieu of handheld?

[wmgaretjax]

I agree - the first 20 minutes or so of Irreversible were pretty nauseating.

And I was fine with it in Irreversible... but that plus the Destricted short he did pretty much tapped the way he uses steadicam.... I'd like to see some simpler stuff, akin to some of his other short films.

[BKsaysAction!]

http://www.uga.edu/union/images/movies/letTheRight.jpg
Just watched this and loved it. I highly recomend.

[TheGuvna]

I finally saw Fan Boys... it was what I expected.

Full of cameos, Bill Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher, Kevin Smith, Ray Park, etc.

A few Star Wars geeks were outside the local theater dressed up as stormtroopers and such.

[schoolofruckus]

I just watched Salo. I'm not going to mince words - it was one of the worst films I've ever seen. I understand that there was a considerable amount of bravery that went into making it - particularly on the part of the actors - and that it probably meant quite a bit that something so critical of its own government was able to achieve release. But in terms of the film itself, apart from Morricone's score, I couldn't find ANYthing interesting about it. By about the 40 minute mark, I was steeling myself for a long afternoon, and that's exactly what was in store. Again, I understand that in its time there was significant reason for this film to be made and seen, but in 2009, I just don't see it.

[roberto73]

I just watched Salo. I'm not going to mince words - it was one of the worst films I've ever seen. I understand that there was a considerable amount of bravery that went into making it - particularly on the part of the actors - and that it probably meant quite a bit that something so critical of its own government was able to achieve release. But in terms of the film itself, apart from Morricone's score, I couldn't find ANYthing interesting about it. By about the 40 minute mark, I was steeling myself for a long afternoon, and that's exactly what was in store. Again, I understand that in its time there was significant reason for this film to be made and seen, but in 2009, I just don't see it.

I was notified yesterday that this was next on my Netflix queue, so now I can look forward to starting my week in style.

[malcolmjamalawesome]

Comparing Trainspotting to Kids is like comparing Oreos to rape.

By "Oreos" do you mean ... you know ...

[BKsaysAction!]

http://www.papermag.com/blogs/tokyo_gore_police_mb10.jpg
I tried watching that over the weekend but just lost interest. It was straight up Gore Porn. Now some people may say "Well duh BK its called Tokyo Gore Police what did you expect? Rashomon?" Now being a fan of some of Takashi Miike's Films and a few other "out there" Japanese and asian directors I was told this was a pretty good movie. Now Miike, if you've seen his movies he's done some pretty borderline disturbing films, but at least they had an interesting story to go along with this. This movie, No, it was "lets let the special effects department direct the movie." They kind of had a Robocop esque satire going on but it was drowned out in lower intestines among other things. Now if you're a fan of Gore and just seeing people get fucked up the whole time with a very thin plot then this is all you. It may have been a factor that i was hung over at the time, but this movie sucked.

[Monklish]

Watched Watchmen. Holy cow was that shitty. Why did no one else in this thread seem to mention the relentless, bouncing blue genitalia, huh?

[BKsaysAction!]

Especially that part where he multiplies himself to fuck his girlfriend and work on that deatomiser and all three of him are in the shot. I know that part was in the comic but damn the art department was proud they made Dr. Manhattan into John Holmes and wanted everybody to see.

[sbessiso]

Watched Watchmen. Holy cow was that shitty. Why did no one else in this thread seem to mention the relentless, bouncing blue genitalia, huh?

I figured I would've gotten flamed, hardcore. Manhattan was one of the few things I feel they did right, he's also my favorite character. I just love how he loses the concept of being human, how he perceives time, all that.

But yes Randy, I'm proud to say that Watchmen was so unbelievably shitty, It's one thing to fuck up the book, fine whatever. But it wasn't even entertaining, I haven't been that bored in a theater since I saw The Da Vinci Code.

On another note, I just saw "Eagle Eye". I kinda liked it :nono

[PotVsKtl]

sG2NCsz1mFc

[bobert]

http://www.uga.edu/union/images/movies/letTheRight.jpg
Just watched this and loved it. I highly recomend.

Watched this tonight as well - best horror movie I've seen in years.

[wmgaretjax]

Watched this tonight as well - best horror movie I've seen in years.

Especially those awesome CG cats...

[Down Rodeo]

Satyricon had sex with my eyes and disturbed my soul this afternoon.

[C DUB YA]

watched this over the weekend. Still love it.

http://www.sharetera.com/upimg/allimg/080302/0917230.jpg

[schoolofruckus]

sG2NCsz1mFc

Sign me up. That looks like it could be awesome.

[garrett222]

Anyone know what word she whispered in his ear at the end of the movie Brick?

[bobert]

Especially those awesome CG cats...

Yeah, the cats were awesome, but nothing could top the little girl's undead vagina. That will haunt my dreams forever.

[wmgaretjax]

If only American horror films would get a clue...

[BKsaysAction!]

about undead vaginas? They might have because theres a remake in the works. Since you know, Americans can't read.

[wmgaretjax]

about undead vaginas? They might have because theres a remake in the works. Since you know, Americans can't read.

someone sprayed freon in your face as a child...

[PotVsKtl]

Yeah, the cats were awesome, but nothing could top the little girl's undead vagina. That will haunt my dreams forever.

You missed an important part of the story.

[BKsaysAction!]

someone sprayed freon in your face as a child...

What? it's true, we steal other countries good movies and remake them because as a country, and from personal experiance working at a video store, americans don't watch foreign films simply because they have to read subtitles. So the studios takes advantage of our ignorence and remake movies to market to america. They make a profit and fool people into thinking they're creative.

[wmgaretjax]

What? it's true, we steal other countries good movies and remake them because as a country, and from personal experiance working at a video store, americans don't watch foreign films simply because they have to read subtitles. So the studios takes advantage of our ignorence and remake movies to market to america. They make a profit and fool people into thinking they're creative.

Oh. I completely agree. There were just huge gaps in your first post that completely prevented me from following that point.

[Mr.Nipples]

4p6QgDY1CHo&hl=en&fs=1
prTqo1pnK8A&hl=en&fs=1
CzfRaQUHpXQ&hl=en&fs=1
ig0kLoPYi-4&hl=en&fs=1

[bobert]

You missed an important part of the story.

No, trust me I didn't miss anything. I even rewound the DVD and paused it for a better look. Nothing gets by me.

[PotVsKtl]

No, trust me I didn't miss anything. I even rewound the DVD and paused it for a better look. Nothing gets by me.

So you know it's not a girl? Because you said girl. And vagina.

[wmgaretjax]

Nothing gets by him pot, of course he meant boy and penis.

was more explained about the whole lack of genitalia (castrated penis?) in the book? did anyone read the book?

[Monklish]

HA. HA HA HA.

[bobert]

Nothing gets by him pot, of course he meant boy and penis.

I took her whole "I'm not a girl" proclamation and lack of genitalia (or genitals that had been sewn shut, as it appeared to me) to mean that she was truly androgynous - not human, and so not truly a girl. I take it that perhaps the book is more clear about what happened to "the girl" before she became a vampire?

[wmgaretjax]

i did a little googling. In the book it's a boy who was castrated in the 12th century before he became a vampire (hence it "healing" over smooth like a barbie).

[bobert]

i did a little googling. In the book it's a boy who was castrated in the 12th century before he became a vampire (hence it "healing" over smooth like a barbie).

All right. Glad we got that cleared up. I'm gonna go masturbate now. Good day.

[BKsaysAction!]

I thought so, I did a double take myself with that gash. Another thing i'm wondering is the old man in the begining that was helping Eli, you think he might have been at some point like Oskar?

[PotVsKtl]

Yes, that's the implication.

[wmgaretjax]

you think he might have been at some point like Oskar?

that was my impression.

[bmack86]

That's, for me, the biggest diversion between the message of the book and the movie. In the book, Eli meets Hakan (the old man) after he'd been disgraced as a pedophile. She took advantage of his love for little girls to convince him to kill. With Oskar, at least in the book, she seems to treat him like a friend. The movie suggests that Oskar is following in the same path. As a result, the mutilated penis doesn't necessarily have to be as such in the movie. In the movie at very least, I viewed Eli as an ancient creature, fairly divested from humanity. The book suggests that, as long as a vampire can keep drinking blood, then they won't lose touch with their human self.

I loved that film.

[schoolofruckus]

I guess I should see this sometime soon, shouldn't I? I generally have problems staying interested in vampire films - not for any reason, mind you; it's just a trend I've noticed - but this one sounds like something I need to make an effort for.

[bmack86]

I loved the cinematography of it. Lots of really spare, snowy shots that make you really feel like this sort of thing could happen in such a desolate, removed sort of place.

[chairmenmeow47]

my god was watchmen horrible. so much potential for an interesting story just pissed away in stylized slow-motion out of multiple blue dicks.

[mountmccabe]

This renewed talk of Twilight on this page is starting to intrigue me. I got a very different impression from the commercials/posters/Tessa.

[AlecEiffel]

This renewed talk of Twilight on this page is starting to intrigue me. I got a very different impression from the commercials/posters/Tessa.

If you see Twilight thinking you're going to see Let The Right One In you will be hilariously disappointed.

[bmack86]

It was really funny. I saw Let The Right One In in a theater right after Twilight came out, and the place was packed. i think we bought the last two tickets. Twilight definitely helped that movie out, so i can't completely hate on it.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

i actually just saw Let The Right One In last night

I loved it, though the ambuiguity leaves a lot of questions

[iv3rdawG]

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/5991/wtwta.jpg

[Hannahrain]

Apprehension. So much of it.

[schoolofruckus]

Excitement. In bigger volumes than your apprehension.

[bmack86]

O god. That poster is fantastic.

[amyzzz]

Isn't that a kids' movie?

[bmack86]

The poster suggests that it probably isn't.

[schoolofruckus]

Define kids' movie.

[amyzzz]

I'm just wondering why there's such excitement. I mean, I liked the book when I was 10, but I haven't thought about it much since.

On a scale of say...Finding Nemo -- Coraline -- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban -- and Pan's Labyrinth,
where would this movie fall? (inasmuch as how appropriate it would be for kids)