The Watercooler: 6/9/08
Happy Monday everybody. It was very nearly a movie-free weekend here at LiC, but I rallied on Sunday and caught a couple of screenings so I wouldn’t be the only guy who showed up at the Watercooler with nothing to talk about.
First up was Mongol, a serviceable if unremarkable historical epic about the man who would become Genghis Khan, King of the Mongols. To qualify as a classic, it would’ve had to be either more layered or more action packed. Not bad as is though.
After that I went to an evening screening of Kung Fu Panda in the hopes of minimizing the number of demon-spawn in the theater. Mission accomplished. The movie itself was a nice little surprise. It probably won’t go down in the annals of animation history, but it was nice looking and most importantly it was funny. Jack Black was pretty terrific as Po the tubby Panda who becomes a Kung Fu hero. Dustin Hoffman was excellent as his master and Ian McShane was good as the bad guy. The comedy managed to target both adults and the Sponge Bob set without overly pandering (no pun intended) to either one.
Trailerwise I caught Religulous with Bill Maher. Bill kind of bugs me, but in an era where religious wingnuts threaten to take the whole world down with them, this looks potentially great.
The best part of the whole evening was there was a guy at the theater whose hair looked exactly like Sideshow Bob’s.
Filed under: Watercooler
“It probably won’t go down in the annals of animation history, but it was nice looking and most importantly it was funny.”
Most importantly it was funny.
Most importantly it was funny.
oh, I see you said that, Craig. I know you do appreciate the entertainment value, but it does bug me (not about you… but about “others”) when I hear an animated feature being evaluated to an inflated degree on the basis of how realistic the fur looks or whatnot.
Sure, that stuff is cool as heck, and I really respect and admire the technical skill. But if we try not to judge a live-action film by the standards of how cool the ’splosions are, then I’ll be glad when animated features are not discriminated against for using last year’s graphic algorithms.
Not that Kung Fu Panda isn’t quite stunning to behold — and you said so, Craig, so this isn’t about your appraisal.
I guess I’m still peeved that The Simpsons only got 4 Annie nominations last year, while Surf’s Up got about a dozen. That’s like Pirates of the Caribbean getting more Oscar nominations than There Will Be Blood. Just because the behind-the-scenes computer stuff was cooler.
I have to say, I think Kung Fu Panda has the best and funniest screenplay of any summer movie so far (of the big loud ones I mean.)
I was beginning to worry that I’d lost the ability to chuckle. Until this weekend with Panda, I don’t really think I’ve laughed in a theater since February (tee-hee, that crazeee Le Scaphandre et le papillon!!! LOL!)
I had a fairly quiet movie weekend too, with Dark Blue on Friday and Logan’s Run on Saturday. I DID see SatC last Thursday and found it…. fine. I’d recommend it to fans of the show, but not to anyone else. I enjoyed spending time with these characters again, but it wasn’t very cinematic, and it was very, very loooooong.
“…but it wasn’t very cinematic…”
You forget, Hedwig,
“It’s not a movie, it’s HBO.”
I’m a huge fan of the series, but it was disturbing to see our girls morph into short-tempered beings with uncharacteristic behavior outbursts. Brooklyn has changed Miranda, and not in a good way.
They all need to get rid of their husbands and boyfriends for the sequel. One fell swoop. Clean slate. Boating accident or something. Miranda might perish too. Carrie inherits the penthouse. Reboot like Bond.
(congrats on recent DVD celebri-tee-ishness!)
I took all the kids to see KUNG FU PANDA, and rightfully they adored it. The lovable lead is an admitted throwback to the original SHREK, and the sumptuous and colorful oriental set design with its Chinese architecture and fireworks displays boasts a nationalistic flavour to match the one in RATATOUILLE. Kinetic animation, wonderful secondary characters, great voice work from Joe Black and Dustin Hoffman and a most serviceable stor (if at times a bit static) all add up to a distinguished animated feature. Maybe its not completely orginal but that hardly matters—it delivers on all fronts. I see the reviews are excellent.
The big event in my neck of the woods was a very sad one—the closing of a single-screen movie house–the Ridgefield Park Rialto, which was in operation since the 1920’s. The final weekend schedule, which was comprised, appropriately enough of eight screenings of the Italian classic CINEMA PARADISO brought the kind of bustling business that the theatre hadn’t seen in years—the last show at 7:00 P.M., which I attended with my entire family and several friends was literally and figuritively a tearfest, and a night never to be forgotten. For the past nine years the theatre had exclusively shown foreign and art-house fare, the last film was BEFORE THE RAINS, after a few weeks of THE VISITOR. The reality of the bleak situation sunk in when one noticed the signs in the lobby advertising that the audirorium’s 500 seats were up for sale at $20 a pop, the final step before the promised conversion into offices and stores. I reserved two.
Everyone sees the same thing happen throughout the country, and this is the reality with single-screen theatres, which generate little revenue, but when a building holds in it so many indellible memories, it is truly a cultural tragedy.
The tears that flowed in the final scenes of CINEMA PARADISO had much to do with the domestic situation, and the full understanding that, while the Rialto was not the central symbol that the Nuovo Cinema Paradiso was in the little Italian village it was the center of, it was nonetheless a place that so many of us witnessed real magic on the silver screen.
Sam, your post is achingly sad and heartfelt. You stated your point of view beautifully and eloquently – and I agree with everything you said.
This has been going on for a very long time. Since the 80s it’s become more and more common across North America. What’s particularly crushing is that the gorgeous old single screen movie palaces are connected with the dreams and artistic enrichment of generations of film lovers – and now they’ll be gone too.
As brutal as the movie industry can be, the film exhibition business is stark in its odious simplicity. It’s strictly profit and loss. The almighty dollar is far more important than anyone’s enjoyment or happiness.
It’s harshly discouraging. But it sounds like you had a wonderful night out. Memories (fortunately) are priceless.
Hmmmm…The way of the future. Indeed…
I told y’all that “Panda” was pretty good, it kills me that I still am not allowed to publish my review.
I saw “Definitely, Maybe” and “Speed Racer” this weekend, and I enjoyed them both, but in terms of “Speed” I have no idea how much I enjoyed it. It was so weird, and visually amazing, but so weak in other parts. We’ll see, my review is only due sometime next week.
Whatever, a totally lame movie-going weekend if you ask me.
Next weekend I am seeing 6 films, and studying for exams, and then it’s the holidays and films are going to be coming out of my ears {which I imagine might be painful}, so I don’t mind that this weekend SUCKED.
Miranda: Your own response to my submission was deeply moving and eloquent beyond words. And it could not have been stated more accurately as to the state of affairs today with the profit and loss situation.
Yes it was a night none of us (who were in attendance) will ever forget.
Thank you Miranda.
Hah Ryan, what you say is all too true. I often find myself defending my opinion that a popcorn movie should have some decent characters and storytelling beyond the “blowedy-up-stuff-real-good” quotient and in equal parts, defending this same idea in the face of purty CGI with animated fare.
But you both have my hopes a little higher for Kung Fu Panda.
I saw Stuck this weekend and I’m still sorting out my thoughts on it. I had a hard time buying Brandi’s switch from sweet, caring retirement home nurse to monster and the movie seemed to awkwardly switch between ghastly horror and absurd dark farce for me, but I see what Gordon is getting at and I think otherwise he did an admiral job. I need to wade through the comments on Craig’s review and think about it some more.
There was one guy in the theater (of about a dozen people) who was literally hooting and hollering through the last 15 minutes of the movie. On one hand, I could see the humor in it but his response was so disturbingly grotesque that it actually made the movie hard to watch. Or maybe I’m just getting really old.
Otherwise, I checked out the commentary tracks for The Shining and Full Metal Jacket this weekend. The Shining commentary has some amazing info from Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown and the first half of the FMJ commentary is fairly interesting, but why is it that there are still people in this world that feel a commentary track is a good place to recount the plot as it unfolds or tell you repeatedly how great the movie is? I really don’t get that…if you have nothing to say, shut up.
“it is truly a cultural tragedy.” Most Americans who are scarfing down $12 sodas while they watch The Strangers wouldn’t think so, Sam, but I share my deepest sympathies and I totally agree. The single screens seem to be doing OK for now here in the Twin Cities, but I’m increasingly nervous and I try not to take the experience for granted.
Joel, it’s people like that hooting guy in the theater that make the hairs on my neck stand on end. Granted, Stuck is kind of a dark comedy from what it sounds like, but I remember people cackling and guffawing through movies like The Passion of the Christ and The Pianist. It’s like Jerry making out during Schindler’s List.
So I need to see Panda. OK. I’ll try for a double feature midweek since my curiousity about Zohan is still strong despite the terrible reviews.
I saw a public preview of Quid Pro Quo with Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga. I went in almost completely blind (other than what you can guess from a still) and was really pretty impressed. I wouldn’t expect anyone to take me on my word, but don’t dig too deep in trying to find out much beforehand. I think it might be out in New York this weekend and the producer said it’s already On Demand in some areas. Weird. I recommend it. Provocative and a little troubling, but fine acting and an interesting story. Filmmaking debut of Carlos Brooks.
I also saw The Foot Fist Way, which I didn’t find nearly as funny, through and through, as the trailer. I’m not taking anything away from your thoughts, Craig. There were a handful of really, really funny parts (pretty much every interaction between him and his wife), but I thought it was otherwise pretty flat. Too much action/seriousness and not enough puffy boasting. As you’ve said, best for viewing with some friends after a few drinks. It does have some great lines, though.
Thank You so much for your kind words and sentiments Daniel. Our own esteemed friend Don (“Pierre la Plume”) sent me links to those single screen thetres in the twin cities where he also resides. That is proof parcel that the ultra-liberal bastion of politics and the arts, St. Paul-Minneapolis is one place in the nation that is defying the popcorn crowd. In this day and age that at least fosters our belief and confidence.
I didn’t know he was a local! Good thing somebody other than me is around to represent this part of “flyover country.” You should all come out. We’ll converge on the Coens as they film A Serious Man this summer.
There are going to be some fireworks here to be sure when the GOP convention rolls into town. This was the situation last week. Odd place, here. Outside of Minneapolis (including most of St. Paul) it’s as red as Texas. Then we had Jesse (Ventura). Now here comes Al Franken running for Senate…
Regardless of one’s politics, yes, we can all enjoy some fantastic neighborhood theaters. Here’s to hoping the spirit isn’t gone from your neighborhood, Sam.
By the way, Sam, thanks for reminding me to visit my local arthourse and neighborhood theaters. We have a couple in Portland, including one only a few blocks away that is operated by a married couple. It shows only mainstream fare, but the whole experience is so charming there that I try to see a movie there every once in a while.
Thank you for sharing that story, Sam. It truly is a cultural tragedy that these houses are closing one by one. I loved CINEMA PARADISO and it certainly seems a fitting movie to play last.
Whenever I’m at my Mom’s we go to the Roberts Theater in Chatham. Same type of theater – one screen, low-key and they only play the foreign or independent movies that don’t get screen time in the large multiplexes. I hope this theater sticks around. It’s a charming place and one of the few left in this area that shows things like THE SAVAGES and THE VISITOR. We certainly do our part to keep the place going.
The family is in town this week so it wasn’t a big movie weekend. I caught SOME LIKE IT HOT on PBS the other night – one of the funniest, with Jack Lemmon at his topnotch comical best. And last night after my niece was asleep my Mom babysat while we got out and saw SEX AND THE CITY. I was lukewarm about it, though I liked it more than my brother and sister-in-law did. It was great to be with those characters again, there were some good laughs, but all in all I would say the movie is too long for what it is. 1-1/2 hours would have been sufficient length and not the 2-1/4 hours that it is. Still, it was relatively painless, I’m glad that I saw it and I don’t mind that I gave money toward the box office of this flick.
I haven’t had a chance to rewatch I’M NOT THERE YET. I’ll have to wait until this weekend probably.
Thanks Joel, Daniel and Alison for those marvelous submissions!
Joel, your terrain is truly God’s Country, I hope one day to visit that paradise. And like Daniel’s residence, it is home to liberals of all persuasions. I compltely agree with your desire to pay an occasional visit to that single-screen theatre, regardless of the fare. As you say, the experience is priceless.
Daniel, it may indeed be “red” country in the rural areas of Minnesota, but I am confident that St. Paul-Minneapolis will deliver big for Mr. Obama in November, as will Joel’s state! Not even the GOP convention, nor the chance that your governor may be picked as McCain’s VP will alter my perception of the final outcome……….and I assure you Dan, we still have the spirit here, although many of us in North Jersey must often make the short trek to Manhattan to see all the good stuff, which is nonetheless a fun experience. We are of course over-protective of the small neighborhood theatres, that have been all but pushed out by the multiplexes.
Alison: I know the Chatham Theatre, which is at the end of a small strip mall. I saw BRASSED OFF there years back. This is the kind of place that the Rialto was in a number of ways.
Hedwig, I haven’t seen Logan’s Run since probably 7th grade. How does it hold up?
Obviously I agree with Ryan and Sam on Panda, though maybe not in as strong of terms. Some of the better comedies these days are animated in my opinion. A lot of live action stuff leaves me cold. Since most animated stuff in the US is aimed at the family crowd, it has a pleasing innocence to it…when it’s done right. There also seems to be an extra layer of inventiveness because of the animation and a greater attention to detail.
Sam that’s terrible news about the Rialto. I hate seeing this kind of thing happen, regardless of where it is. What can be done about it? I don’t know.
Nick. It felt like an off weekend here in the US as well, much as I liked Panda. I almost didn’t go at all.
Joel, I found myself laughing at Stuck near the end, but a lot of it was uncomfortable tension release laughter. I wonder though if your theater had the same guy my theater had. He was one of those people who laugh too loud to show everyone how hip and in on the joke they are. He made jokes all through the trailer for the upcoming showing of Godard’s Contempt. Admittedly a fruity trailer, but it didn’t need his MST3K style commentary. I wanted to punch him in the neck.
Daniel, I’m looking forward to Quid Pro Quo, as disturbing as it sounds. I’m not shocked you were underwhelmed by Foot Fist and I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression of it. I tried to be clear that I wasn’t nearly as jazzed about it as some of the reviewers I’ve read on the Internet.
Alison. I don’t know if I’m just getting impatient, but increasingly for me a movie has to really earn a length more than 2 hours. Speed Racer, a movie I liked, should’ve been shorter too. I was surprised to hear that SatC was so long and I’ve heard grumbling about it from other people who’ve seen it.
On the other hand, they say a good movie can never be too long and a bad movie can never be too short.
Oh, also, I caught the last 10 minutes of Finding Nemo on ABC Saturday night and they had an extended clip of WALL-E that is now up on YouTube.
Sasha’s got it up at AwardsDaily or you can see it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSBUxxkeI5w
In short bursts the cuteness factor works like gangbusters, but it remains to be seen if it wears out its welcome over 90 minutes.
I was talking about “Finding Nemo” like the entire day today, and I don’t know why.
Dory is my fave animated character ever, I doubt Wall*E can take her place, I love Ellen DeGenerate.
I wasn’t sitting close enough to him to know if he was commenting through the movie, but he seemed *extremely* amused by the ending of the film. This wouldn’t have bothered me, as there is a dark-humored aspect to it and it’s absurd enough (and played for some laughs), but this guy didn’t seem to laugh at any of the actual jokes earlier in the movie. Further, he laughed so heartily and loud that I thought he was going to have a heart attack. I’ve rarely heard anyone laugh that loud and hard at anything I’ve ever seen.
Some might say it was a bit disturbing, considering some of the things he was reacting to.
I’ve lost a lot of my tolerance for horror and on-screen violence over the years when it results in gorey effects. I think I’ve been conditioned by Hollywood’s willingness to dumb down violence in the pursuit of a PG-13 rating, which is not a good thing.
I guess I’m here as “the only guy who shows up at the Watercooler with nothing to talk about” this week, since I saw no movies over the busy weekend of Bee-clan birthdays. We finished watching the DVD of the BBC miniseries State of Play, which was highly entertaining, and just did a bunch of work.
The single-screen theater closest to my heart is now closed in Little Rock, the former UA Cinema 150. It was a big, round, dome-shaped building with a 150-degree curved screen and curved, amphitheater-esque stadium seating before that was the thing. They didn’t show arthouse films there–just the opposite. It was THE place to see the big blockbusters. The first movie I remember seeing there, when I was a wee thing that my parents could swing between their arms in the parking lot afterwards, was Star Wars. I also saw Superman, most of the Star Trek movies, Indiana Jones, ET and so many other big movies there. Back then, we judged how good a movie was by how far around the building and out into the parking lot the line was. They closed it down a number of years ago, but recently renovated it and reopened it as a small concert venue. I haven’t been, but have heard good things about it now. I’m just glad they didn’t tear it down. It’s such a weird building. Here’s a pic:
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1060/
I have no desire to see KUNG FU PANDA. And I’m a martial arts nut. I just don’t like the total lack of style that all Dreamworks toons have. Everything looks committee designed and plotted. And actually using “Kung Fu Fighting” in the movie is as lazy as can be. Maybe I’ll check out a matinee.
I’m in Portland as we speak, enjoying the green and gloom (and cheap beer!) – went to the cool Clinton Street Theater that had an evening of experimental shorts from my old ATA stomping grounds.
Then went to the oddball Kennedy School to see PARANOID PARK — a low key somber meditation on guilt with gorgeous photography.
Yes, I’m moving here at the end of the year. Buh-bye Hell-A.
christian, “Paranoid Park” is still my favourite film of the year, and the best film I have seen all year, and it is going to take some kind of masterpiece to knock it down from there.
I wonder if I would have liked it less if I was older and found it hard to connect with the characters…who cares, I did and I love it.
I just want to move to NYC, that has always been a dream of mine, but I would love to visit LA and Portland someday. Hell, I want a US road trip, Wong Kar Wai style.
That’s a heartbreaking story, Sam, and it sounds like it was a truly powerful and cathartic moviegoing experience for you seeing Cinema Paridiso there just as the theatre is about to close down. Thanks enormously for relating that so well.
Friday I saw Roman de Gare again. I liked it even more, and am in the middle of writing a review of it for my blog. Tricky but fun film.
Saturday, I saw the 2003 Hungarian film Kontroll, which I enjoyed tremendously, never having seen it before. May have to write a review of it for my blog. Such a fascinating mixture of thriller, comedy, mystery and national-flavored allegory and metaphor.
Then I saw the 1960 suburban domestic drama Strangers When We Meet, starring a restrained Kirk Douglas and Kim Novak as two separately married people who have an affair with one another. Walter Matthau plays a closeted scumbag and lecher. Directed by Richard Quine, who was engaged to Novak at the time, and had made about four or five films with her before (like the noir Pushover and the comedy Bell, Book and Candle). I’d rather watch this ten more times than look at American Beauty again but that’s just me. A lot of it may be seen as cliched today, but try to put more recent “there’s something beyond what you’re seeing in the suburbs” movies in context as being at least partly inspired by films like this from this period of time, and it’s even better.
Sunday I watched Blazing Saddles again, partly in honor of Harvey Korman. Still hilarious.
Then I saw a little 1938 gangster comedy starring Edward G. Robinson, A Slight Case of Murder. Dated, kind of stilted in places, but overall charming and funny.
Jenny Bee, glad you enjoyed the festivites. Seattle used to have one of those UA Cinema 150 domed theaters (I assume there was some chain of these crazy things way back when?). Amazing theater, even after it had become a run-down, second-run theater that was primarily a haven for drunk homeless people. With a liquor store a block away, $1.50 ticket prices, and a staff of high school students that couldn’t care less it was a great place for the less fortunate to escape the cold and wet.
I fondly recall a weeknight screening of Jurassic Park where some drunk woke up midway through the T-Rex attack, pissed off that the movie had stirred his slumber. He knocked over his half-empty bottle of god-knows-what, which then rolled 15 rows down the sloping concrete floor (loudly) before crashing and breaking on the steel divider rails. Then he passed out again.
Or the midnight showing of Reservoir Dogs where the staff had the stereo system in the theater cranked up playing Pink Floyd’s The Wall so that they could hear it clearly in the lobby. It was so loud I had to shout to talk to my friend sitting next to me. The movie broke in the opening credits and rather than showing that, they ended up screening Robert Rodriguez’ From Dusk Til Dawn instead. No one seemed to mind.
Good times.
Craig, know that I fully understood your tempered thoughts on Foot Fist. I most likely would have gone even without the early attention you brought to it. Danny McBride was pretty great. I think he has a lot of potential to “carry the torch” for Ferrell, if that’s the idea. I just don’t think the script gave him enough opportunities to shine. Of course maybe he was adlibbing half of it anyway.
Favorite line/scene: “I can’t even believe that’s something that’s real.” “Well you better get untired, because crab legs are half off at Captain Oleaaaanderrs.”
I can see why they (apparently) quote it “all the time.”
HAha, wow, Joel. Those are the kinds of places that need to be saved. Seriously. Gimme a place with character.
I saw “Kung Fu Panda” and was shocked out how good it was. I think it’s the best summer movie so far this year, better than “Iron Man,” “Indy 4,” “Sex and the City,” and “Speed Racer.” It’s funny, gorgeously animated, has great action sequences, and is surprisingly moving. It’s one of those films that truly has something for everyone.
Have to agree with you, Matthew. “Best movie of the summer so far” — same phrase in the last line of an item I posted on AwardsDaily Sunday morning.
We went to see it with zero expectations, literally to kill time before the start of Saturday night’s partying. Too bad more movies are unable to arrive under the radar, keeping a lid on the hype, or we might be disappointed less often.
(In the spirit of tamping down expectations, here’s a caveat: The piece I wrote Sunday isn’t a review by any definition. Just a few loosely linked paragraphs of meandering impressions.)
Jeff Wells is on a banning binge. Kinda ironic for a liberal freethinker to be so ascared of other’s opines, no?
Anyway, a slow news Monday.
He’s neither liberal nor a freethinker.
Between work and the iphone news, I missed that you’re in town Christian. Hope Portland is treating you well.
The Clinton Street Cinema is probably our most indie theater in town, followed by the Hollywood Theater over on Sandy. Cinema 21 on NW 21st is the nicest art house in town. The NW Filmcenter at the art museum does some cool stuff too.
There are a slew of second-run theaters dotting the various Eastside neighborhoods, and the Kennedy School is one of a handful run by the folks behind McMenamin’s. Right down the street from the Kennedy School is the Concordia Pub, which has one of the largest beer selections in town.
Anyway, the movies don’t arrive here quickly but when they do, there’s quite a few options…some with beer and food service.
You’re welcome, Sam. A person who shares my opinion and can express it in such a gorgeous, evocative fashion deserves all the tributes he can get.
I live in a west coast city of 2,000,000 where we have barely any theatres left downtown. We have more 20+ cinema megaplexes in the suburbs than anywhere else and I staunchly refuse to see films at those places if I can help it. They’re too impersonal, corporate.
COLD…
Plus the owners are keeping it under wraps but I strongly suspect that we’ve lost one of our precious discount theatres. (We have hardly any left.)
I saw MISS PETTIGREW there (again) almost two weeks ago. Nothing was amiss or felt different. The following day new listings were put up in our big local newspapers for the week. All it said for that particular cinema was to call the theatre for showtimes. (That NEVER happens BTW.) Their phone is out of service. Last Friday the theater listings for this enterprise said, “Closed for the summer.”
Pretty ominous. I bet they’re looking for a prospective buyer as we speak. I never went there in the glory days as I was kicking the slats out of my crib. It WAS a gorgeous art deco palace. Odd that it adjoins a mall (though it’s not actually IN it) and the theatre is below street level. But it has operated as a discount venue for TWENTY YEARS now. It’s in a beautiful neighbourhood and I would hate to see it go.
But this is progress as we know it…
Nicky, my childhood memories of Portland are hazy. But I do remember it as being very nice. My relatives actually lived in another city close by.
joel and Danny, I can’t stand rowdy people in the theatre. It’s not an amusement park or the Calgary Stampede. Have some bloody decorum. Guess their mamas never raised them right.
Some people should be shot on sight. Or something…
look what I’ve found…all the best of Hollywood-Elsewhere without the insufferable Jeff Wells!!
Nice site Craig…I think I’ll stick around for a while…
Welcome to the party, rocco.
Thanks for dropping by, Rocco. I hope you see something to encourage you to come back.
That’s it Rocco — no insults against Wells you low-thread rube red-stater — you’re outta here! Craig!
My sincerest thanks to Alexander and Miranda (again) for their deeply moving comments to me.
and lest I forget Craig, whose e mail lamentations and commentary have basically “said it all. Thanks.”
I nearly caught Kung-fu Panda with a buddy and his wife Sunday afternoon but the crowd in the lobby was so crazy we hightailed it to a bar instead. I’m in a location now that is a bit more welcoming of seeing dif. things (the errol morris movie is here, which was unthinkable in my past neighborhood). I may try to check The Visitor tonight, or tomorrow. Hoping for The Fall soon.
What did I watch? Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Paul Newman, which I hadn’t seen. And They Shoot Horses Don’t They and The Yakuza, a belated tip of the cap to Pollack.
Thanks Craig…you may remember me as “delbomber” from the H-e days …
The problem I foresee with Religulous is that it will be more about making Maher look smart than actually having anything intelligent to say about the failings of organized religion.
I (obviously) havent seen it yet so I can’t say, but it looks like it will be more about mocking faith than seeking to understand it…
…someone on some board asked why Maher always looks like he just got finished judging a wet t-shirt contest…after I finished laughing I realize it sums up his entire package very concisely…
Welcome to LiC, Rocco.
Either tomorrow or Thursday I’ll have to go to the Opera Plaza Cinema on Van Ness in San Francisco to see both OSS 117 and Alexandra…
OSS 117 is out on DVD here, but I cannot seem to find it to rent, and I have no interest in buying it, even if it is good. Want to see it first, you know?
But finding the time, gosh. Not enough of that.
I find Maher an insufferable pompus bore these days.
Nothing to do with previous posts, but I thought I would mention that today is the DVD street date of a film that Living in Cinema denizens absolutely adore (myself included), Christian Mungiu’s 4 MONTHS THREE WEEKS AND 2 DAYS. Inexplicably I had accidentally forgotten to pre-order it from amazon, so I picked up a copy today at Border’s. I know Craig, Pierre, Alison, Matthew, Joel, Alexander and sartre among others were gushing on this…and rightfully so. The IFC Region 1 disc is flawless.
You can add my name to the list of impressed. Should have won BFLF Oscar last year. Thanks for the heads up, Sam.
So we don’t have to go to Blockbuster to get it?
Delbomber! Two things: First, HE really started sprinting downhill around the time you checked out and second, you probably don’t remember, but something you said was the final straw in convincing me to start this blog. This was over a year ago now, but I was bitching about Wells constant box office analysis and general negativity and I wondered allowed what could be done about it besides starting my own blog that only 4 people would ever read and you said I should start my own blog that only 4 people would ever read.
So I did.
And here it is.
Anyway, good to hear from you again.
“The problem I foresee with Religulous is that it will be more about making Maher look smart than actually having anything intelligent to say about the failings of organized religion.”
That’s kind of my fear too, but we could use a bit of religious bubble bursting right now, as long as it’s spread around evenly.
Chuck, good to hear you’re in slightly more movie-friendly digs and i have to say you could do a lot worse than Panda. I don’t think it’s any kind of genius and I don’t think I’ll bother with a proper review, but it’s a genuinely decent comedy.
As for the IFC/Blockbuster deal Jeff, nothing prevents other outlets from getting their own copies, but they cost more. Netflix is carrying several other IFC titles it looks like including 4 Months.
As for the mom and pop stores around town…well it’s completely up to them.
I have Yakuza sitting on top of my TV, but I haven’t gotten to it yet. I’ll save my Horses comment for B-C.
I wonder if my lunch break is long enough for me to get to Amoeba and back.
“That’s kind of my fear too, but we could use a bit of religious bubble bursting right now, as long as it’s spread around evenly.”
Looking forward to it — (finally a choir I can join to hear the preaching I appreciate!) — but I wish we could pass DVD copies around quietly among those of us with valid Liberal membership cards.
It’s no use antagonizing the right-wingers. Wish the media would stop poking a sharp stick at the zealots so maybe they’ll remain unenthused about McCain and stay home in November.
Likewise, gay couples who’ve waited this long to tie the knot, I caution not to flaunt the nuptials in the prune-faces of too many Baptists, please — not until after Obama is safely ensconced in the “room of elliptical walls.”
Jeff. There’s always time for a trip to Amoeba.
Ryan. It’s true, this kind of controversy generally stirs up more trouble than it’s worth. Gets the wrong people angry and voting.
Welcome Rocco :-)
As for Religulous…I don’t know. My cousin has an atheist blog (even selling “atheist” T-shirts), but I’m conflicted about it. I mean, I’m an atheist…but one of my big beefs with religion is that people don’t just apply what they believe to themselves, but that they somehow feel like what they believe somehow applies to everyone. Atheism, in my view, is also a belief (albeit in the non-existence of something rather than the existence, but it’s just not-believing in one more God than your average reli-nut), and to me, trying to “convert” people would make me just as annoying and potentially dangerous as conversion-obsessed believers.
Anyhoo, I watched Pulp Fiction with my mom tonight, and she liked it a lot (though she did think the cursing was rather excessive). She even said she’d watch it again by herself to try to get to the bottom of the chronology, themes and motifs. What can I say, my mom kinda rules.
I try to keep out of discussions of spirituality because I secretly want everyone to love me, but you’ve just laid out the big reason I’m not an atheist: it’s a belief just like any other.
On a scale of probability I’d say it rates a lot higher than many other beliefs, but I’m not throwing in all my chips with just one until I have more evidence.
“because I secretly want everyone to love me”
everybody loves you Craig.
everybody except Jesus.
(sniffle)
on the upside, Buddha thinks you’re the shit!
Jesus’ love is overrated.
According to Amazon, “4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days” won’t be released on DVD until June 17 in the States. Has it been released for rent early?
“Jesus’ love is overrated.”
And lucky for us, Jesus has that easy-going New Testament sense of humor so we can joke about it. We wouldn’t be laughing with swarms of locusts flying up our asses and w– [turns into pillar of salt.]
Netflix says it’s available “now”
hahah Ryan. At this point I’d say pillar of salt is going to be the least of your problems when the bill comes due :)
I’m fairly certain that I’ve insured myself an eternity of cleaning Satan’s toe jam long before that last crack, so take it as you will.
All I know is that my pillar of salt will probably be coarse-ground.
Christian Divine will try and save your poor souls.
But for a price, Ugarte. For a price.
Thanks for all the warm welcomes…I’m sure I’ll be ruffling a feather or two before long, especially Christian’s, but it’s nice to have found a place where differences of opinion both exist and are tolerated all the same…
…Craig, it’s touching to hear I played a role in this blog…your wit and likeability always stood out over at the ole poopshoot and I’m glad to see you’ve got a great blog chugging along full steam ahead…
…that’s one of the things that makes good message boards so compelling…a lot of it is useless banter but there are also connections to be made that wouldn’t come along otherwise…so cheers!
Hedwig…I don’t want to delve too far into religion yet, I just got here! Oh what the hell…
Similar to the sentiment of others, I’m agnostic…I think it’s foolish to take an absolute position one way or the other…the devotion to the unknown (and unknowable) taken by atheists is no different than that of christian fundamentalists…
…I get frustrated when people try to blame basic human faults on religion, likewise I abhor the ignorance on which many religious leaders prey and wish to perpetuate…the battle against ignorance is a noble one, but the war on faith is very very ugly…
…ironically, I think each side is driven to their extremes by the other in an escalating war of words that is fueled by today’s hyper-connective and transparent world (and by opportunists such as Maher, whose film will do as much to foster and harden militant christianity as it does to assuage it)…unfortunately both sides seem to be becoming less and less tolerant of each other…based on scale there is much more ignorance than ugliness to overcome, but one side seeks to shame while the other seeks to ridicule, and at the extremes they are equally repugnant…
..I told you I wasn’t going to get into a religious discussion…
They’re a mostly civil bunch who hang out here, though maybe you’ll be the guy to change all that….heh, heh.
What worries me a little more than religious people fighting with non-religious people, it’s religious people fighting with religious people of different beliefs.
Back, if I may, to 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days…they didn’t have it at Amoeba or at my nearest (ugh) Blockbuster. Anyone in Los Angeles know of a place to buy a copy?
Both Box Office Mojo and Amazon list it as coming out June 17, and I haven’t seen it anywhere. Netflix may have it, or somebody made a mistake somewhere.
Can’t speak for LA, but here in the San Francisco Bay Area a guy in the know who I know says it won’t be hitting stores or anything until the 17th, as Amazon and Box Office Mojo say, so…
But, I’ve already got it in widescreen on DVD. Thanks, Comcast!
They had it for rent at Blockbuster, they just didn’t have any copies for sale.
…which is maybe the plan?
Probably is.