Welcome to The Great Society of Movie Watchers blog. It's been a while. We have no excuse. Anyways, this is a semester of rebooting, of changing it up, not taking no for an answer, eating all the custard i want, and studying the legendary Tricinemasaurus! Also, there may be chilling with Bob after fending off Megabyte and laying the smack down to Hack and Slash.
So what is this legendary Tricinemasaurus! you may ask. Well I'll tell you; it's means we make it up as we go. A group member will present a movie/movies for the group and we will then choose a theme based off of that movie. This past Sunday Stevox present us with three choices: Book of Eli, This is Spinal Tap and Minority Report. We chose Minority Report with a theme of Science Fiction. I was hoping for Chicks Who are Bald or Almost Bald as a theme. I have a film for that, and conveniently it's also Sci-Fi (go figure right.) But Sci-Fi is cool too. More on Mino Repo later.
*Side note: Science Fiction is defined as; Fiction based on imagined, future, scientific or technological advances and major social or environmental changes, frequently portraying space or time travel and life on other planets. So is it science? Is it fiction? I don't care, i just want my own Delorean Time Machine and Lightsaber! Preferably in green, but a darker green if that's possible. More Forest than Kelly, but nothing to do with DeForest Kelley who does not appear in this particular film.
After the movie is watched, and the theme is decided on; two "volunteers" pick a movie for the following two weeks based on that theme. Most likely this "volunteer" is someone who will be opinionated about said theme. Like me. Val is going next week and then I'm the week after. I'll most definitely use Val's movie to help me decide what to bring. Because lets be honest, this will most likely be the defining moment for Sci-Fi on this blog (I'd like to apologize in advance to all my fellow nerds.) So my picks gotta be good! Also, I really hope i can use my bald chick movie. And she's bald bald, not like Agatha in MinoRepo who's just kinda bald.
So buckle up the internet, we've only just begun. Alright, get this posted on the double Phong!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Godfather
This is the father of Mob and Gangster movies. The Godfather that is. Based on the book by the same title written by Mario Puzo just a couple years before the films release in 1972. It took Oscars home for Best Picture, Marlon Brando as Best Actor, and Best Screenplay based on another medium. It was nominated for 8 others including 3 iterations of best supporting actor for James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Al Pacino.
This is an incredibly celebrated movie. It is ranked number 2 out of 250 on our IMDB list. However, I didn't think it was all it was cracked up to be. It was long. And the Director agrees with me. His original cut was 50 whole minutes shorter than the 3 hour theatrical version. Francis Ford Coppola was told to go back and add more violent scenes and more scenes with the family. The acting was good, though it took me about ten minutes to take Marlon Brando's character of Don Vito seriously because it is a heavily parodied character (Robin Hood Men in Tights, an episode of Freakazoid, and Seinfeld all have an example.)
Because of the prestige this movie carries I don't want to give away too much, other than to say that there are violent scenes and it's not for the faint of heart, or the short of attentioned span. I mean i thought three seperate times the movie was ending. But, to sum up, you should see it.
Me personnaly, I give it a 6 out of 10.
This is an incredibly celebrated movie. It is ranked number 2 out of 250 on our IMDB list. However, I didn't think it was all it was cracked up to be. It was long. And the Director agrees with me. His original cut was 50 whole minutes shorter than the 3 hour theatrical version. Francis Ford Coppola was told to go back and add more violent scenes and more scenes with the family. The acting was good, though it took me about ten minutes to take Marlon Brando's character of Don Vito seriously because it is a heavily parodied character (Robin Hood Men in Tights, an episode of Freakazoid, and Seinfeld all have an example.)
Because of the prestige this movie carries I don't want to give away too much, other than to say that there are violent scenes and it's not for the faint of heart, or the short of attentioned span. I mean i thought three seperate times the movie was ending. But, to sum up, you should see it.
Me personnaly, I give it a 6 out of 10.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The Bicycle Thieves
There are very few films that shape every film made after it. People always talk about Citizen Kane in this way; I would consider the Matrix to be one of these as well. Well, the Bicycle Thieves is one of these as well.
A poor man out of work struggles to support his family. He finally finds a job that requires a bicycle of which he has none and sells his belongings to purchase one. He heads to work only to have it stolen on his very first day. Scanning the streets of Rome, he and his son wander through an endless sea of bikes and bike parts. Feeling so desperate, the father decides to steal one himself only to be caught losing his credibility with his son and his honor as a man.
While studying in England, I had the pleasure of taking an Italian cinema class that previewed many Italian films made in the 40’s and 50’s. While Hollywood was putting out great and glamorous classics like the Maltese Falcon and Casablanca, Italy was putting out films of a dark and gritty nature. Torn by the war raging on within their own borders, filmmakers made cheap, raw, and real films with real people and real situations that lacked the pretty Rita Hayworth or glamorous plots of Hollywood.
This is a film that every film buff should watch. The camera work is thoughtful and the acting is very good given the actors are not professional. You identify with the main character in his continual unfortunate circumstances; it’s hard to watch such charming people suffer. All in all it is inspirational but depressing.
7 of 10
A poor man out of work struggles to support his family. He finally finds a job that requires a bicycle of which he has none and sells his belongings to purchase one. He heads to work only to have it stolen on his very first day. Scanning the streets of Rome, he and his son wander through an endless sea of bikes and bike parts. Feeling so desperate, the father decides to steal one himself only to be caught losing his credibility with his son and his honor as a man.
While studying in England, I had the pleasure of taking an Italian cinema class that previewed many Italian films made in the 40’s and 50’s. While Hollywood was putting out great and glamorous classics like the Maltese Falcon and Casablanca, Italy was putting out films of a dark and gritty nature. Torn by the war raging on within their own borders, filmmakers made cheap, raw, and real films with real people and real situations that lacked the pretty Rita Hayworth or glamorous plots of Hollywood.
This is a film that every film buff should watch. The camera work is thoughtful and the acting is very good given the actors are not professional. You identify with the main character in his continual unfortunate circumstances; it’s hard to watch such charming people suffer. All in all it is inspirational but depressing.
7 of 10
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Maltese Falcon
1941's “The Maltese Falcon,” #69 on the IMDb Top 250 list, is an iconic piece of film that not only defined, but truly set the standard for all future film noir. In fact, many film historians credit “The Maltese Falcon” as being the first ever example of the genre.
The plot, according to IMDb, is such: “A private detective takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette.”
To be honest, I thought there would be a lot more fuss over the actual falcon, especially after hearing that “It’s the stuff that dreams are made of” line roughly a bazillion times in various movie countdowns. But, to be fair, we did learn that the falcon is “considered a classic example of a MacGuffin, a plot device that motivates the characters of the story but otherwise has little relevance.”
I loved seeing such an affable, jokey Humphrey Bogart, especially coming after “Casablanca” where Bogart’s Rick is serious, angry, and cynical. Conversely, Bogart’s Sam Spade in “Falcon” is quite irreverant and good-humored.
I recognized Mary Astor from her role as Mrs. Smith in “Meet Me in St. Louis,” and her turn as a femme fatale in “Maltese Falcon” was quite a change from the way I was used to seeing her! And of course our old friend Peter Lorre, who we’ve previously seen in “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Casablanca,” made his required appearance in the film as yet another snivveling double-crosser.
The movie was a bit confusing, with numerous twists, lies, and double-crosses—by the end I was still trying to piece together where the true alliances had lain, why certain characters had made the choices they had, and who had committed the murders after all.
The group’s reception of the film was mostly lukewarm, but generally favorable. Stephen and Kyle don’t particularly care for dramas, so I think the movie ended up being a bit of a chore for them. When Jesse saw the menu screen pop up revealing the title of the movie, he exclaimed, “I’m so glad we’re watching this!” In the end, my feeling is very much the same. I’m so glad I finally saw this movie, which is #31 AFI’s Top 100 list. It’s a film that I can recognize as being well-crafted and certainly worthy of laud, but one which I will probably not have a desire to see again anytime in the near future.
7 out of 10 stars.
The plot, according to IMDb, is such: “A private detective takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette.”
To be honest, I thought there would be a lot more fuss over the actual falcon, especially after hearing that “It’s the stuff that dreams are made of” line roughly a bazillion times in various movie countdowns. But, to be fair, we did learn that the falcon is “considered a classic example of a MacGuffin, a plot device that motivates the characters of the story but otherwise has little relevance.”
I loved seeing such an affable, jokey Humphrey Bogart, especially coming after “Casablanca” where Bogart’s Rick is serious, angry, and cynical. Conversely, Bogart’s Sam Spade in “Falcon” is quite irreverant and good-humored.
I recognized Mary Astor from her role as Mrs. Smith in “Meet Me in St. Louis,” and her turn as a femme fatale in “Maltese Falcon” was quite a change from the way I was used to seeing her! And of course our old friend Peter Lorre, who we’ve previously seen in “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Casablanca,” made his required appearance in the film as yet another snivveling double-crosser.
The movie was a bit confusing, with numerous twists, lies, and double-crosses—by the end I was still trying to piece together where the true alliances had lain, why certain characters had made the choices they had, and who had committed the murders after all.
The group’s reception of the film was mostly lukewarm, but generally favorable. Stephen and Kyle don’t particularly care for dramas, so I think the movie ended up being a bit of a chore for them. When Jesse saw the menu screen pop up revealing the title of the movie, he exclaimed, “I’m so glad we’re watching this!” In the end, my feeling is very much the same. I’m so glad I finally saw this movie, which is #31 AFI’s Top 100 list. It’s a film that I can recognize as being well-crafted and certainly worthy of laud, but one which I will probably not have a desire to see again anytime in the near future.
7 out of 10 stars.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens
Vampires. That is what this movie is about. It is a direct copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula. However they never attained the rights to the film and was therefore Prana Films one and only film. Bram Stoker's wife sued the company causing them to go out of business. Albin Grau was one of the founders of this company and it was his idea to make a vampire film. During his time in the military, in 1916, a Serbian farmer told him that his father was a Vampire and an Undead.
This film was released in 1922, but has since been updated with names of people from Stoker's book. Being a silent film there is no original score. So to make this a movie they took classical music and put in enough to fill the entire movie. There was no scoring involved, AKA, it didn't fit. At times when it should have been scary, light hearted music was playing making it almost comical. In real life there would be a piano up front, or some guys playing strings. So the music would have fit. It was later remixed with a Gothic Industrial soundtrack by Aleister Einstein. This soundtrack gives the film a much creepier feel, with indistict human voices and mysterious far away melodious that you might recognize, Silver Bells being on example. This soundtrack fits the movie much better, but is still somewhat dissapointing.
In short, it is what it is. A silent film. Being the beginning of the entire history of film there is a lot they can get away with. But there were some cool parts. Like Count Orlok/Dracula (the vampire) rising from his casket, and the shot of the caskets, from people dying of the plague, coming down the street was very poignant. It is much less morbid than this paragraph would lead you to believe, and is hardly what I, or others, would consider a horror movie.
I give it a six out of ten.
This film was released in 1922, but has since been updated with names of people from Stoker's book. Being a silent film there is no original score. So to make this a movie they took classical music and put in enough to fill the entire movie. There was no scoring involved, AKA, it didn't fit. At times when it should have been scary, light hearted music was playing making it almost comical. In real life there would be a piano up front, or some guys playing strings. So the music would have fit. It was later remixed with a Gothic Industrial soundtrack by Aleister Einstein. This soundtrack gives the film a much creepier feel, with indistict human voices and mysterious far away melodious that you might recognize, Silver Bells being on example. This soundtrack fits the movie much better, but is still somewhat dissapointing.
In short, it is what it is. A silent film. Being the beginning of the entire history of film there is a lot they can get away with. But there were some cool parts. Like Count Orlok/Dracula (the vampire) rising from his casket, and the shot of the caskets, from people dying of the plague, coming down the street was very poignant. It is much less morbid than this paragraph would lead you to believe, and is hardly what I, or others, would consider a horror movie.
I give it a six out of ten.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Children of Men
There are very few movies in this world that I will even consider watching more than once. There are even fewer movies in which I recommend, and even fewer that I, yes, cry in. Children of Men breaks all three of those barriers.
It is a movie of “what if?” Set in the year 2027, all women have ceased to give birth. The world is plunged into a state of chaos leaving all governments in ruin along with any glimmer of hope for the future. The British Isles stand alone as the only remaining intact government. With everyone in the world attempting to find a safe place, Britain is forced to forcibly remove any immigrants for fear of losing control to overpopulation.
In all of this, we see Clive Owen trying to live his life with machine gun police lining the streets and terrorist bombings an everyday occurrence. While attempting to live out his seemingly meaningless life, he gets caught up in the discovery of the first birth in 18 years and attempts to aid her in her journey to a boat safe haven in the Atlantic.
I love this movie. Indeed I love What If? films, and yes, I love Clive Owen, but what I love about this film is its willingness to not parade the future around you nor leave you asking questions about technology or history. It simply leaves you with humanity, people and their actions. We see people acting out of fear for their lives; we see people wallowing in the demise of their nationalities and even see a young spoiled generation who simply don’t care. The horror of all these people and their choices is what stuns viewers and makes them question themselves and their own priorities.
Not only were the performances of the film chilling, art direction and cinematography were worth study. Kyle noticed that there were cats in safe places while Jesse was annoyed at all the barking dogs. The most noticeable element of the film was the long takes, there were several. At one point there is a powerful war scene in which there was a six and a half minute take. You don’t even notice as you can’t take your eyes off Clive and the horror of his surroundings.
The club’s reception to this movie was warm, granted, as warm as a grotesque societal looking glass can be. Jesse was worried before watching the movie because he had read the book and found it even more horrifying and hopeless. Valerie spent the last five minutes of the movie and into the credits with her hand over her mouth.
All in all, this movie is fantastic, just one possible picture of a world without hope. Glad I don’t have to worry about that. Ten out of ten stars for me.
It is a movie of “what if?” Set in the year 2027, all women have ceased to give birth. The world is plunged into a state of chaos leaving all governments in ruin along with any glimmer of hope for the future. The British Isles stand alone as the only remaining intact government. With everyone in the world attempting to find a safe place, Britain is forced to forcibly remove any immigrants for fear of losing control to overpopulation.
In all of this, we see Clive Owen trying to live his life with machine gun police lining the streets and terrorist bombings an everyday occurrence. While attempting to live out his seemingly meaningless life, he gets caught up in the discovery of the first birth in 18 years and attempts to aid her in her journey to a boat safe haven in the Atlantic.
I love this movie. Indeed I love What If? films, and yes, I love Clive Owen, but what I love about this film is its willingness to not parade the future around you nor leave you asking questions about technology or history. It simply leaves you with humanity, people and their actions. We see people acting out of fear for their lives; we see people wallowing in the demise of their nationalities and even see a young spoiled generation who simply don’t care. The horror of all these people and their choices is what stuns viewers and makes them question themselves and their own priorities.
Not only were the performances of the film chilling, art direction and cinematography were worth study. Kyle noticed that there were cats in safe places while Jesse was annoyed at all the barking dogs. The most noticeable element of the film was the long takes, there were several. At one point there is a powerful war scene in which there was a six and a half minute take. You don’t even notice as you can’t take your eyes off Clive and the horror of his surroundings.
The club’s reception to this movie was warm, granted, as warm as a grotesque societal looking glass can be. Jesse was worried before watching the movie because he had read the book and found it even more horrifying and hopeless. Valerie spent the last five minutes of the movie and into the credits with her hand over her mouth.
All in all, this movie is fantastic, just one possible picture of a world without hope. Glad I don’t have to worry about that. Ten out of ten stars for me.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Casablanca
Before I revealed to the group exactly what we were watching this week, I told them I didn't expect everyone to like my pick. I knew it probably wouldn't be terribly popular. But, I told them, you can't be a true movie fan without seeing... "Casablanca."
This cinematic legend from 1942 tells the story of Rick and Ilsa, a sort of star-crossed pair of former lovers, who find each other in Casablanca after several years apart. The whole movie has a very film noir-ish quality to it, with lots of shadows, fog, cigarette smoke, flashbacks, and mysterious characters. This is the film that gave us such classic movie lines as "Here's lookin' at you, kid," "We'll always have Paris," and many, many more.
I warned everyone before the movie started that this is definitely a melodrama; you've got a guy standing in the rain at a train station morosely reading a letter, a leading lady who dramatically cries and turns away from the camera, young girls who implore our hero Rick for help, and everything in between.
But don't get me wrong, "Casablanca" has some amazing comedic moments as well. Claude Rains as Captain Renault in particular is an excellent character who gets to deliver some very fun and clever lines ("How extravagant you are, throwing away women like that. Some day they may be scarce. ").
After the movie ended, Jesse remarked that he expected to be bored at some point during the film, but that he really never was. I agree, it's a movie that you absolutely fall into and don't notice that time has passed until it's all over. It's somewhat a mystery, somewhat a comedy, and definitely a romance of sorts. It really has everything you might want!
"Casablanca" is one of the most celebrated movies of all time, if not the most celebrated. In addition to the Academy Award for Best Picture, it has been named one of the best movies of all time by countless magazines, film institutes, film critics, etc. And with good reason- "Casablanca" has stood the test of time and still maintains its humor, its poignancy, and even its relevance.
I own the movie, so of course I love it. Jesse and Stephen spoke highly of the film after it ended, both saying it was very "solid." Kyle kept up his reputation has the hard-to-please member of the group by not caring for the movie all that much. I suppose you can't win them all!
We ended the afternoon by watching "Carrotblanca," a very clever Looney Toons spoof of "Casablanca" from 1995. It's a great little cartoon made all the more funny as a direct follow-up to "Casablanca" itself.
Overall I would call this edition of movie club a success. "Casablanca" is a timeless classic that just gets better and better with repeat viewings. I give it 9 stars out of 10.
This cinematic legend from 1942 tells the story of Rick and Ilsa, a sort of star-crossed pair of former lovers, who find each other in Casablanca after several years apart. The whole movie has a very film noir-ish quality to it, with lots of shadows, fog, cigarette smoke, flashbacks, and mysterious characters. This is the film that gave us such classic movie lines as "Here's lookin' at you, kid," "We'll always have Paris," and many, many more.
I warned everyone before the movie started that this is definitely a melodrama; you've got a guy standing in the rain at a train station morosely reading a letter, a leading lady who dramatically cries and turns away from the camera, young girls who implore our hero Rick for help, and everything in between.
But don't get me wrong, "Casablanca" has some amazing comedic moments as well. Claude Rains as Captain Renault in particular is an excellent character who gets to deliver some very fun and clever lines ("How extravagant you are, throwing away women like that. Some day they may be scarce. ").
After the movie ended, Jesse remarked that he expected to be bored at some point during the film, but that he really never was. I agree, it's a movie that you absolutely fall into and don't notice that time has passed until it's all over. It's somewhat a mystery, somewhat a comedy, and definitely a romance of sorts. It really has everything you might want!
"Casablanca" is one of the most celebrated movies of all time, if not the most celebrated. In addition to the Academy Award for Best Picture, it has been named one of the best movies of all time by countless magazines, film institutes, film critics, etc. And with good reason- "Casablanca" has stood the test of time and still maintains its humor, its poignancy, and even its relevance.
I own the movie, so of course I love it. Jesse and Stephen spoke highly of the film after it ended, both saying it was very "solid." Kyle kept up his reputation has the hard-to-please member of the group by not caring for the movie all that much. I suppose you can't win them all!
We ended the afternoon by watching "Carrotblanca," a very clever Looney Toons spoof of "Casablanca" from 1995. It's a great little cartoon made all the more funny as a direct follow-up to "Casablanca" itself.
Overall I would call this edition of movie club a success. "Casablanca" is a timeless classic that just gets better and better with repeat viewings. I give it 9 stars out of 10.
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