Reviews and discussion of movies.

269 responses total.

Watched "East is East" yesterday. It's an old movie - eighties, I think. About
a Pakistani man married to an English woman and when it comes time to get his
kids married, insists that they all marry Pakistani girls from goof Pakistani
families. It was interesting, especially when you see how the kids are torn
between culture and peer pressure. Movies about Indian and Pakistani families
growing up in the west always interest me.

I watched that movie too, from the public library here.  Somewhat exaggerated,
I think.

To tell you the truth, I don't think so. We're talking about an orthodox
Muslim man, trying to control his kids. I think my parents were a lot more
liberal, but the kind of control they have wanted to exercise over us... I
can see the incidents in the movie totally happenning.

Lately Arlo has been hooked on two Disney films, watching them daily.  Since
he needs me to fast forward through scary parts, I too have seen them daily.
Might as well review them.

"Lady and the Tramp" has long been my favorite of the Disney cartoons.  It
breaks the mold of the Disney cartoons in a lot of ways.  It lacks the
standard meglomanical super-evil villian character that the Disney studios
usually lavish such love on.  Aunt Sarah and her cats stand in for villains.
Aunt Sarah is really rather nice, but has a prejudice against dogs that she
manages to get over in the end.  The film is not really a fantasy.  No magic
happens except that the dogs can talk to each other (and to a beaver - no
other animals seem to be able to talk).  Dogs cannot talk to humans, and
their relations to the human characters (except maybe to Tony) are mostly
realistic.  The animals are all drawn as animals, with many very naturalistic
animal behaviors.  The human world is all drawn from an animal point of view,
mostly dog's eye view, with humans heads cropped off the top of the frame.
That's the source of the "magic" in the film - the world seen from a dog's
viewpoint becomes a new world.

The main story works pretty well as a love story.  I've often seen the
spaghetti scene described as one of the most romantic moments in the history
of cinema.  To modern eyes, however, it's rather hampered by blatant gender
stereotyping.

The story I really like is that of Trusty, the old bloodhound neighbor.
He starts out in the role of the standard goofy Disney sidekick, a humorous
foil for Lady (well, really he's the sidekick's sidekick).  His one-time
ability as a tracker of criminals is dismissed - he has lost his sense of
smell.  But in the end of the film, it is Trusty who rises to the occasion,
tracking a horse cart through the rain to save Tramp's life.  The
transformation of doofus to hero is my favorite bit.

Lately Arlo has tranfered his obsession to "The Rescuers".  I hadn't seen
it for a long time, and the opening scene of the UN was a bit of a shock
after recent events.  This film is a story of the ability of faith to
transcend obstacles, and it treats the UN (and it's mousy analog) which
high regard, a vision of world unity.  The "Rescue Aid Society" becomes
more effective than you'd expect mice to be through the power of faith
and teamwork.

The "Rescue Aid Society" (modified from the "Prisoner's Aid Society" in
the original book which was more of an Amnesty International for mice) is
a society of mice from all nations of the world devote to answering calls
for help.  Eva Gabor voices the Hungarian representative, Miss Bianca. who
sets out to rescue a kidnapped child, Penny, with assistance of Bernard, the
RAS's janitor (voice by Bob Newhart).  The story is entirely different than
the book, and the main characters have been sharpened and improved.

The theme of faith is articulated by Rufus the cat, but embodied by Miss
Bianca.  Bernard is an amazingly capable mouse, reactingly cleverly in
difficult situations, but his faith in himself waivers and fails at every
obstacle.  Only Bianca's belief in him lifts him out of his role as janitor
and drives him through the adventure.

I also like the fact that everyone is a rescuer here.  Bernard and Bianca
rescue Penny, but Penny is a resourceful child who almost manages to rescue
herself before Bernard and Bianca answer her call, does rescue Bernard and
Bianca, and participates actively in her own final rescue.  Bernard rescues
Bianca a few times, but Bianca also rescues Bernard.  Well, nobody rescues
Evenrude, who rescues Bernard, Bianca, and Orville.  He's got to get away
from the bats on his own.

I like the message of faith in each other and in yourself.  Of little mice
being able to achieve great things.  Much as I like L&tT, this has a more
uplifting message.

Both films have weirdly blatant continuity issues in the animation.  Like
in the beginning of L&tT, newspaper is put down next to Lady's bed and it
is gone in the next scene, and the pattern on the teeth of the comb that
Bernard uses as a ladder varies wildly from shot to shot.  It's hard to
imagine a modern animation studio letting such things stand.  I guess these
were made in the movie theater days when people didn't watch a movie over
and over again every day, so little slips like that didn't get annoying.

Speaking of movies about Indian and Pakistani families growing up in 
the west, has anyone seen "Bend It Like Beckham" yet?

I recently saw "Birth Of A Nation". Was kind of disappointing. 

Bend it like Beckham is next on my To See list, maybe this weekend. The fiance
says that it's a pretty good movie. He saw it in India, about a year ago

re #4:  When Staci was age 2 through a good portion of 4, "Dumbo" was the
video of choice.  Several times a day almost every day.  Towards the end of
the run it had to be on and she would often be playing in the room or another
room and would come in to watch only at certain points.  She wouldn't let me
fast forward to those parts, it had to run to whole thing.  We considered
getting t-shirts and bumper stickers saying: "Dumbo is a drug"

For me, Monty Python is a drug.  Mary knows the details.

But they are too shocking to share in a public forum.

Oh man - Taylor made me watch "Aladdin" about 9000 times.

I re-watched "Mystery, Alaska" this weekend while knitting at the speed of
light.  (not bright light, mind you)  I really love this movie.  Hockey,
pride, great lines, speed, a guy in a jock strap and Russel Crowe.  It isn't
"Slapshot" - but then, what is?

First half of "Shakespeare in Love" last night - would have watched the rest
under more mellow circumstances, but video has to go back today.  Pretty
funny, and I'll have to watch the rest someday.

My inner 12-year-old had been waiting for THE CORE since I first saw the 
previews for it in January; he was not disappointed.   One reviewer 
compared it to a combination of the 1970s films FANTASTIC VOYAGE and
THE TOWERING INFERNO, and I might go along with that; my younger
self liked both of those films too.   
 
A few years ago we had two movies about attempts to save a planet
threatened by asteroids and comets, ARMAGEDDON and DEEP IMPACT.
DEEP IMPACT was a decent speculative fiction piece about how the 
world would react; ARMAGEDDON was a bombastic piece about noble
Americans (and one plucky Russian) saving the world, wave those 
flags, yeah.   So I wondered where on that spectrum THE CORE would 
fall.   
 
THE CORE doesn't tell about the effects on the world at all, except 
for showing scenes of destruction.  The story is all about the 
team going to the center of the Earth: two astronauts and a bunch
of scientists.   But it's not Bruce Willis swaggering bombast this 
time, the cast comes across a lot better.  Having Hilary Swank and 
Stanley Tucci anchor the crew helps a lot.

On the downside, the computer geek of the team is entirely too much 
of a stereotype.  "I'll need an endless supply of Xena videos and 
Hot Pockets."  And there are huge story logic holes: why is a 
geologist called in when 30 people drop dead on a city street?
 
Probably it's best if you don't think about the science too much.
We had a flock of geology students hooting their way through it, and
a woman near us called out that she knew one of the movie's scientific
advisors.

I don't care, I had fun.  The ending was a little weak, but overall
my inner-12-year-old and I had a great time.   (Did anyone else love
the movie AROUND THE WORLD UNDER THE SEA when they were young?)

Does it rank up there eith the one about the Crack in the earth?

Is Bend it like Backham playing everywhere, or only in select cities? i can't
find a theater playing it in Columbus.

Bend It Like Beckhan opened in Royal Oak Friday.  We saw it today.  I 
give it an A.  

David Beckham is a British soccer star and husband of Victoria Beckham 
("Posh Spice" of the Spice Girls).  His trademark is a goal shot that 
curves across the pitch and into the net.  The soccer equivalent of an 
unhittable curve ball in baseball.  "Bend it like Beckham" means making 
that type of spectacular shot.  Apart from that, and a little shrine to 
him in the main character's bedroom and a faux-cameo at the very end, 
the movie has nothing to do with him.  

The movie is full of little soccer in-jokes, such as the present that 
one of the characters' parents give her of a jersey with the number 9 
on it (property of the great Mia Hamm, to those in the know), 
references to "Posh 'n' Beck," the video hommage to the WUSA one of the 
characters plays for a disbelieving friend ("They *have* that??"), 
lesbian gags, sports-bra gags, and so on.  

The story is about a teenage girl in England who idolizes Beckham and 
wants to be a soccer star.  The two obstacles she must overcome are the 
absence of a professional women's league in the UK (hence their 
fascination with our WUSA), and her parents, who are Indian immigrants 
set in very old-fashioned ways that do not allow daughters, among other 
things, to engage in contact sports.  The girl's family are protrayed 
as figures of ironic fun, but with great affection -- think My Big Fat 
Greek Wedding.  The girl loves and respects them enough to go through 
sitcom hell to conceal her growing soccer stardom from them.  In the 
end...  Nope, no spoilers.

Re #13: Yeah...a true geek would want microwave burritos. ;)

I've been trying to decide whether to see The Core.  I like a dumb but
fun adventure movie with good special effects, now and then.  (I liked
_Die Hard: With A Vengeance_, for example.)  But the reviews of this
movie have been so crummy I'm wondering if it'll even be enjoyable.

        strange. I  read one review on the wen and it 
        was quite witty and made the film sound fun,
        like a cross between Airplane and Journey to
        the Center of the Earth. (that may not have
        been its intent.)

My friend says I should watch Bend it like Beckham because it's a lot like
my life :P I guess it hasn't released in Columbus yet :

I can't wait to see "Bend it Like Beckham" - I love footie movies.

Re #18: Not much of Airplane in The Core, but it was a fun movie, if you
don't expect too much from the science.  At least they *tried* to do a
different kind of science fiction.

Two movies and a play over the past weekend - all were
interesting and worth seeing.

"Gerry" is about a minimalist as a film can get.  I'm really 
glad I knew almost nothing about it before seeing it so I
won't share plot here.  Very cool film.  Richard, you'd like
it, but I'm not sure about anyone else.

"The Russian Ark" left me wishing I'd listened to those few 
brief moments of Russian history when they were offered, way
back when.  The entire movie was taken in one long shot.
You are given a tour through the Hermitage and the past
300 years.  Stunning.

About "Gerry", I'll note that it was directed by Gus Van Sant
("Good Will Hunting", "About Forrester") and stars Matt Damon
and Casey Affleck.  Knowing these facts will tell you nothing,
however, about what the movie is like.

"The Russian Ark" is indeed spectacular and stunning.  Over
2000 extras re-creating some eras in Russian history in real
time with nary a single slip-up.  Eye candy of the highest
order.  It's claimed to be the longest single-take movie in
motion picture history.  I don't know about that -- Andy
Warhol's "Empire" might have it beat but certainly can't
compete in the eye candy department.

   I've been on a DVD acquisition kick.

   Time Bandits is a recent addition, as is S.O.B.

   I recently purchased VideoHound and am still pawing through it.

   Cant wait to get Ben-Hur on DVD!!

Rented "One Hour Photo" sunday night...not as creepy as the description
but Robin Williams was awsome.  It makes a person think.....

yeah, it makes you vow never to send film for processing again

Manhunter already did that.

I finally rented _Attack of the Clones_ last night.

It was worth seeing, but it could have been so much better.  There's
clearly a pretty compelling story here, but it's largely one of
political intrigue.  Lucas does not do drama well, and he sure as heck
can't write a love scene.  The bad writing combined with some really
substandard acting by Hayden Christensen means that during the first
half of the movie, which should be full of suspense, you end up boredly
waiting for the explosions to start.

Once the fighting starts, things get fairly fun.  The battle scenes are
exciting, and we get to see some fairly well-choreographed light saber
battles.  Getting to see Yoda kick ass is probably worth the rental fee
by itself.  Some of the scenes seem below Lucas' usual standards, though
-- the speeder chase near the beginning of the movie, while it's set
against some lovely backgrounds, lacks the energy of the cycle chase
from "Return of the Jedi", the pod race from "The Phantom Menace", or
even the police chase in "The Fifth Element".  From most directors it
would be good enough, but coming from Lucas it's a bit disappointing.

This response has been erased.

The only Star Wars movie with good fighting was "Phantom Menace" - "Attack
of the Clones" has actors with minimal coaching doing the fights, and it
shows.

I need to see "The Two Towers" again - I realized that my Yoda voice could
be repurposed as a Gollum voice.

This Star Wars geek really could care less.

Which means that you do care, at least some?  :)

I saw Ringu, a lovely Japanese film upon which the Ring is based.  Fascinating
flick....deep story that involved an intersting look at spirtualism in
combination with modern views.  Pardon the lack of details but I don't want
to spoil it for anyone who has not seen it.

resp:33 Sure, but I decided to overlook the shortcomings.

My opinion?

Hayden Christiansen may have had a lackluster performance, but I think 
it wasn't necessarily inaccurate of how awkward, impulsive, hot-
tempered teenage boys can be, actually.

As far as Natalie Portman being miscast, well, hmm.. first of all, she 
is supposed to be Leia's mom.. and she was much younger supposedly 
when we last saw her.

The part I thought was lame was the cafe scene.. I would rather see 
aliens be exotic-looking than try to emulate Heartland Americana.

The material is a bit more interesting when you get Expanded Universe 
information.. such as is included in www.starwars.com.  Supposedly, 
Yoda heard Qui-Gon in the Force with Anakin's disturbance.

We still don't have the final product.  If what a friend told me is 
true, after Episode III runs through the theaters, all six Star Wars 
movies will be available in a DVD boxed set with more goodies.

I also think that these current movies are just a cash cow to generate 
bucks for other projects-- Lucas has admitted himself that he has 
wanted to have money to do movies that might not get made otherwise.

The valid criticism is probably that Lucas is using too much CGI and 
not enough real acting, which is taking away from the heart and soul 
of the pictures.  It was nice frosting on the old movies, but the new 
ones are like eating mostly frosting.

There is, of course, scads of novels and comic books out there that 
continue plotlines and fill in stories in between movies.. "Shadows Of 
The Empire" is one I have failed to pick up and really would like to 
read sometime.

Again, as a fan, I overlook the details.  There is a comic book or two 
where some storylines are pretty lighthearted and not part of the 
canon.

Is "Shangai Knights" any good?

It's entertaining.  It's not as good as Shangai Noon, but it's fun.

I think Lucas suffers from a common problem:  learning the wrong lessons from
an early success.  Like he learned that he doesn't really need great actors.
Mark Hamill was good enough for Star Wars, why would he need good actors for
the prequels?  (Never mind Alex Guinnes, Harrison Ford, and James Earl Jones).
Didn't need great dialogue for the first film, why would you need it for the
later films?  People loved the special effects and sound in the first film,
let's focus on that instead....  Oh well.

For what it's worth, my favorite Lucas film is "American Grafitti".

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