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Author Message
25 new of 292 responses total.
jazz
response 178 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 20 17:03 UTC 1999

        I was disappointed in it's focus more on being a children's film than
a children's film with subtexts to keep adults interested;  outside of a few
references to the later movies, it was a very simple storyline with
one-dimensional characters but very pretty special effects.  The original Star
Wars was, to some degree, a kid's film, but nowhere to the degree Phantom
Menace is.
aaron
response 179 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 20 17:54 UTC 1999

Actually, I think that was a mistake/miscalculation by Lucas. The original
Star Wars had a lot to appeal to kids, without catering or condescending
to them. This film chooses to cater and condescend.
jazz
response 180 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 20 20:45 UTC 1999

        I was surprised how few people noticed it, to be honest.

        _Phantom Menace_ had less sublety than a brick to the head.
otter
response 181 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 21 03:08 UTC 1999

The political message certainly wasn't subtle. 8^}

I walked out wanting to club Lucas for manipulating me into loving a
particular character (no give-aways from me to those who haven't seen it!).

DEFINITELY stay through all of the credits, though, for the little kick in
the belly afterward.

And I was impressed by the music. Williams toyed with "The Imperial March"
and came up with some great variations on the theme.

Remembering that the point of the whole thing (besides $, of course) is
FUN, go and have some. We did. (twice today)
mcnally
response 182 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 21 17:34 UTC 1999

  Huh?  What comes after the credits?  I watched through what I thought was
  the whole credit reel and there wasn't anything notable at the end (at least
  not to my recollection..)
richard
response 183 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 21 21:49 UTC 1999

STAR WARS-- I thought it was good and delivered what it promised.  The
special effects may even have been overdone-- you dont want the effects to
overshadow the real characters.  Movie's biggest flaw is the kid who plays
little Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd)-- his acting wasnt up to the rest of
the cast.  When you are casting the central character, you need someone
who can convey emotional depth.  Too bad they couldnt find another kid
actor with a little more experience than him.  I also wish they would have
developed the Darth Maul character better, given him some dialogue and
gotten into his motivations.  Otherwise I enjoyed the movie, and thought
it delivered what it promised *** 1/2
otter
response 184 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 22 04:11 UTC 1999

ref #182: After the screen goes green, there's an audio thing.
senna
response 185 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 22 07:50 UTC 1999

I should point out that, in my lowly opinion, regardless of what you 
think of the rest of the movie, Phantom Menace has one solid selling 
point.  I holds in it one of the most stunning, awe inspiring, 
jaw-dropping-directly-to-floor combat sequences you will ever see.  
Easily one of the highlights of the series already, and it's a pity it 
didn't last longer.  

I only add this because I melted directly into my seat while watching it 
tonight on the big showcase screen.  Oh my god.
tpryan
response 186 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 22 18:41 UTC 1999

        I went to see "Trekkies" today at the Showcase.  A documentary on
fandom put together and featuring Denise Crosby (Bing's kid).
        If it interests you, see it qucikly, as I thing lack of audience
will see it wrap up it's theatrical release within two weeks.
        For the Sat morning, 11am showing, I almost had a private showing.
Two other people did finally show up.
anderyn
response 187 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 23 00:33 UTC 1999

The Prices went to _Phantom Menace_ today. It was enjoyable, though
some of the more conscious "echoes" of the earlier movies made me
wince.
bru
response 188 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 23 02:31 UTC 1999

and we sat thru the credits and there was no green screen, no audio kick to
the belly...
otter
response 189 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 23 02:44 UTC 1999

Bummer. Slap the manager.
tpryan
response 190 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 23 10:21 UTC 1999

        One interesting thing I saw in the credits of TPM, was
(some) digital effects by Michael Smith of Jaava the Hut.

senna
response 191 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 23 17:30 UTC 1999

the visual effects crew has fun, too.  Look closely at the senate 
chamber scene.  After the no confidence vote is called for you can see a 
delegation from ET's planet in the lower left corner.  I'm dead serious. 
 
mary
response 192 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 23 22:18 UTC 1999

eXistenZ is one of the best grossouts ever.  I think for most 
scenes you could have your eyes closed and the sounds effects
would be enough to make you cringe.  The whole thing is 
fairly sensual in an olive oil and tarp kind of way. 
mary
response 193 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 23 22:20 UTC 1999

On second thought, any oil would do.
mooncat
response 194 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 24 02:30 UTC 1999

I was truly stunned by "Phantom Menace" Saw it twice today (once
with Jim and Michelle and once with Sarah and Matt) the combat
scenes Steve mentioned were well done.  It was neat to see people
use the force to a full extent (not fumbling with it like Luke- who
I do like...)

Anyone else notice how similar Leia and Queen Amigdala look?

rcurl
response 195 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 24 04:40 UTC 1999

Do you realize that you can use the "force" just as well as they can?
mcnally
response 196 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 24 05:36 UTC 1999

  Geez, Rane, get a life.  You're clearly not really stupid enough to
  read everything literally, so why pretend to be?

  Of course she realizes that it's just a movie and they're all fictional
  characters.  But, like many others, she's excited about the further
  development of a shared story-line that has given her and many others
  a great amount of innocent pleasure.
mooncat
response 197 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 24 12:22 UTC 1999

What #196 said.   Yes they're fictional, but for all that, they're a lot of
fun to watch on the big screen.  I enjoy watching good guys and bad
guys that have extraordinary powers, I like watching characters do
things that they couldn't do in real life.  <shrugs> The Jedi and the
Sith are great types of characters.  And I was pleased to see the 
two 'new' Jedi characters that Lucas developed.

md
response 198 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 24 13:35 UTC 1999

Recent rentals:

VELVET GOLDMINE (F) -- It's about something called "glam
rock" or "glitter rock" and the you-cannot-possibly-imagine-
how-boring people who make it and listen to it.  I gathered that 
for a certain type of person, going to a live concert of this 
music makes them feel as if they're starring in an interesting 
version of their own lives.  I also read somewhere that the
movie is loosely based on the relationship between David
Bowie and Iggy Pop.  But the music, dear God, the music.
It went on and on and on and on.

STAR TREK INSURRECTION (B) -- A little drifty, but a lot of
care went into the production.  I liked it.

THE EXORCIST (not rated) -- My son wanted to rent this movie
after seeing THE EXORCIST 2 on cable.  There's a new 
25th anniversary edition out, with interviews, trailers, etc.  But
when we put it in the VCR, it made the VCR turn off immediately.
You could turn it back on again, but it would turn itself right off.  
So there sat our VCR with The Exorcist permanently stuck
inside it.  Finally, my son, who has Nintendo-honed reflexes, 
managed to hit the "eject" button in the tiny gap of time between 
turning the VCR on and the VCR turning itself off, whereupon the 
tape slithered out and the VCR went back to normal.  Oo-ee-oo.
jazz
response 199 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 24 13:45 UTC 1999

        Really, you'd rate Insurrection that highly?
mooncat
response 200 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 24 13:52 UTC 1999

"Velvet Goldmine" wasn't *that* bad.. I saw it this weekend too...
I wouldn't call it a wonderful movie... but.... Hmm... The music
was a bit weird though...

But hey, Ewan MacGregor is in it...  And dances around mostly naked 
during one scene (only mostly cause him pants are around his ankles...)

rcurl
response 201 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 24 14:43 UTC 1999

Re #196: just who is it that should "get a life"? 
jep
response 202 of 292: Mark Unseen   May 24 15:04 UTC 1999

I rented "Asteroid" over the weekend, and regretted it.

I was thinking I'd seen "Deep Impact" and this was "Armageddon", but I'd 
really seen "Armageddon" and was looking for "Deep Impact", and got this 
turkey instead.  No characters, no plot, just an asteroid heading toward 
the Earth, with nothing anyone can do about it.  At one point, I was 
ready to shout at the hapless cardboard people on the screen: "At least 
call the guys from Armageddon!"
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