Too Late for Ticker Tape

Love note to Lion's Gate Films

2009-02-02T17:20:00.002-05:00

Dear LGF,

I love you. I really do, not just for the jois you brought me when you distributed House of 1,000 Corpses, or took it upon yourself to produce American Psycho, but for bringing me Diary of a Mad Black Woman & other Tyler Perry projects. You brought me Gods & Monsters as well as The Cat's Meow. There seems to be no end to the delights and jois you bring me. You satisfy my needs for gore porn & heartwrenching family dramedy. I love you for it. I truly do. Thank you.

Less forbidden...

2008-09-16T21:31:00.002-04:00

Forbidden Kingdom - was not the greatest movie, but it was pretty to see the fighting & costumes. I realized that I love Jet Li's laugh, unrestrained, simple, HaHa laughter. It warmed my heart. The story itself is sweet mythos, fun for kids, ages 9ish up maybe...

Motorcycle hero....

2008-09-16T07:58:00.003-04:00

Ghostrider - I can hear Henry Rollins in the back of my head, singing the song w/ feeling. 2 things I like about this movie: 1 Sam Elliot - he saves the movie. His performance was brilliant. He is the perfect man in the perfect moment. 2 Wes Bentley - I straight up have a crush on this cat. Performance-wise, pretty decent. Storywise the movie covers the bases: hero makes a deal with the devil & has to live w/ the repercussions. The special effects are most pleasant. I dig on the flames & overall they are well done. Sam Elliot is totally the old Ghostrider & kicks ass. Of course the movie overall is just namby enough that he "did it all for love" as Nic Coppola finally comes to grip at the end. I crave darker things.

Such a Ball

2008-09-06T11:14:00.001-04:00

Monster's Ball - I intensely disliked this movie in a very Deerhunter (Hi, I hate the DeerHunter in a way that only a girl whose first viewing of it occurred when she was like 11ish & she was curled up on the stairs watching it without permission while her parents viewed it and were completely unaware that she was there) sort of way. I can acknowledge & appreciate each performance, each movement, but I have no desire to see it again. Covering everything from the racial tensions to the death penalty it is a study of human emotions. Heath Ledger's performance right up until his suicide (which is fairly early in the film) is my favorite part. & the only part I am willing to watch repeatedly.

Oh so dark...

2008-08-25T20:22:00.000-04:00

Dark Knight - Beautiful stunning, complex in it's simplicity - I love the path that they took & the punches that they did not pull - there has been so very much written about this already that finding new words to say the same thing is ridiculous to me. I can only offer up that I will own it as soon as it is released. & they finally did it right. The Joker really is crazy , one of my saddest moments in understanding Ledger's death is that he will never reprise the role. I truly found this to be his best performance since Monster's Ball. But you should probably know that his performance was the only thing I like about that particular movie, Dent really will be 2 face & the best moment ever - the "normal" guard guy hands the detonator over to the convict & he throws it the fuck overboard. It was perfect.

So much sensemaking...

2008-07-21T19:10:00.002-04:00

Revolver - the latest offering from Guy Ritchie. So many old familiar faces... such a different film than anything he's done before. I loved it. Dark and rich and complex. Andre Benjamin was amazing - I'm coming to love his versatility more and more. Every piece that I catch him in I like him better. This movie was a tale of money and greed, cons and the art of conning, ego versus id. Just watch it & don't expect it to be Snatch. Luc Besson had a hand in the adaptation & it shows. I have no real spoilers here - perhaps that Jason was Mr Gold or that the 2 most likely suspects are his old jailmates.

From Kirill w/ love

2008-07-21T18:59:00.002-04:00

Confessions:1 I am not the world's biggest fan of Vincent Cassel, you'd think that I would be: he is an excellent actor. I'm just not. Something about him just rattles me, not in a good way. 2 I am not the biggest fan of Viggo Mortenson's acting either - not that he isn't amazing, just that I'd rather hear his poetry.
All of this being said.
Eastern Promises was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant - twisty & turny & chock full of suspense and goreful gritty wrongs. There is the Russian mob - even touching on the story the tattoos across the body telling the story of the man. Underage prostitution, rape, bastard births, & murder - that's just the first 1/2 hour. Naomi Watts plays a perfectly naive creature who finds herself caught in the middle. Vincent's character can't get it up, channeling his desires and shame into violence and prideful boasting. Viggo's character is a double agent giving up his freedom to take over the local family & ultimately protects Naomi & her family & the orphan child. Justice for all, but to watch it unfold - perfectly brilliant.

The legendary tale of the legend of legend...

2008-07-06T20:28:00.003-04:00

Ahhh KungFu Panda was a treat. I don't like much of the ads or the excuse used throughout the movie that Po is the "laziest" or "fattest" creature in the valley. If you like nothing more than sitting down to catch the performances of Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat, and/or Donnie Yen then this is the perfect way to start kids watching the genre. THERE IS NO CRAP ROMANCE THROWN IN TO THE STORY!!! There is enough reality mixed into the film, whether it be the various fighting styles of the animals: Tigress fights tiger style, Po fights bear style, etc... to the use of acupuncture to treat the days injuries. Even the points used to hold Tai Lung captive & paralyzed are excellent. The voice work is fantastic: Ian McShane, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Randall Duk Kim, & of course Jack Black, whose influence is seen throughout the piece. I tossed this in the spoilers because I like guessing while watching the animated features. One of the best parts of this film is that they never explain how Po's dad is a crane & that there is no secret ingredient. A perfect lesson for all viewers.

So much fun...

2008-07-02T20:47:00.003-04:00

I was soooo not expecting to like Botched. It was an amazing slice of fun cheesy pie. Stephen Dorff is part of a botched robbery & must make it up to his bossman (Sean Pertwee) - he stumbles into a mad mad place of death & cannibalistic dismemberment. & the hilarity ensues... I truly enjoyed this, sooo much - as in I want to watch it with a large group of friends & giggle a lot.Disco death god & finding out that Pertwee is the brother of the family of crazies are only a few of the unexpected twists.

Long awaited across the lake

2008-06-23T18:48:00.002-04:00

The Mist, I waited to watch it, I was in the midst of a break up when it released & it was something he & I shared in common so I waited until I was in a good place to enjoy it. The brilliance of Stephen King's characters brought to the screen was lovely to slide into. Emotionally deep the performances are spectacular. Mist comes - after a big storm & there are things in the mist. Then we watch the stranded in hostile territory story unfold as each character fully develops & spins in & out of control. The end of the movie as the good father takes responsibility & ends the situation for his son & other survivors by killing them moments before rescue: moral is you wait til death is imminent or torture has begun before ending the suffering.

Fixed

2008-06-08T16:38:00.003-04:00

Here we have Michael Clayton. A man who fixes everything almost gets fixed himself. I loved the acting & the editing. It was fascinating watching the characters unfold & implode. Yes, there was murder & insanity & adventure, twists & turns & addictions.

Just for the record

2008-06-06T23:15:00.003-04:00

There are few things sexier on this planet or the next than Mario Van Peebles in Posse. It is such a well done movie. Harsh & honest, it tries very hard to give a history that is often overlooked. But I have to tell you, just lovely, just enough comedy to smile, just enough pain and truth to make you cry. A momentary pause & poof he walks across the screen in all black & 2 guns in his belt. Just lovely.

Old school days

2008-06-01T13:45:00.000-04:00

"Mr Woodcock" was formulaic to say the least. Boy's most hated teacher ends up dating his mom, boy, now a man tries to stop it. Amy Poehler is brilliant as usual. Lil scary when I think about my mom dating - though I think she wouldn't go for my most hated teachers (I hope). The rest was just cruddy. Though the references to other movies was interesting.

Hopefully my interweb bachelors turn out better

2008-06-01T13:11:00.000-04:00

Perfect Stranger" - Corporate sexy & journalistic fanaticism. It is hard for me to watch Gary Dourdan play a bad guy - not in the sinister sense of the word but in the "show me a beautiful woman & I'll show you a man who is tired of fucking her" sense - seriously. Though really having Giovanni Ribisi play the overlooked assistant is just ridiculous. I don't particularly find him attractive but he was hot in this role - or I just dig the perpetual friend. hmmm seems to be a theme in my life. Silly Hollywood.

I like the twists in the movie - just enough to keep things jumping.

I did not see the Halle Berry as a mastermind thing coming. I had my money on Mrs Hill. But I really liked the way they ended it. A little open to a sequel, but I don't dislike Halle Berry enough to be happy at the idea of her getting caught, I hope she got away with it.

OK - Fresh Start

2008-06-01T02:34:00.001-04:00

There are a few things I need to sort out (the hidden split to the post to save your tender virgin eyes from the spoilers, etc...) - but this blog will be resuming soon. w/ the new scheduling feature on here I can keep a rolling posting rather than the vomitous torrents you've all been exposed to in the past. I've sorted the new look - If you have any complaints or trouble reading it, just let me know - I'm more interested in ease of read here than I am on the other blog.

I'm going to be working on refining my writing style w/ these entries so please leave me a comment if you have anything constructive to add in any way - either to me directly or regarding the movie - I'm always looking for new perspectives.

And back into the fray we go...

2007-05-23T21:12:00.000-04:00

28Weeks Later - Oh my - I can't believe they roped a sequel like this out of that movie. And got Robert Carlyle to boot. I liked some of the acting and 3 of the scary moments - the rest was the usual apocalyptic tripe. Marshall law and all that rot and of course the spread of the disease thru the rest of Europe. Cheers.

Modern Stand w/o the devil...

2007-05-23T21:08:00.000-04:00

28 Days Later - was enjoyable for it's scary moments. I liked the mirror of society's insanity driven to the extreme. Far creepier than the infected was Christopher Eccleston's character as he offered the female survivors up to the men to slake their desires with. I loved the ending and the alternate ending. A good time if you are willing to really suspend that disbelief.

Bloody funny

2007-05-23T21:04:00.001-04:00

Hot Fuzz - I caught it this weekend in St Louis. I laughed so hard I almost cried. It is far less rife w/ Spaced references than Shawn of the Dead. But it is hysterical nonetheless. The story is very simple and straightforward as you follow the greatest copper London has ever known as he takes a turn at the countryside. Just sit back and let them entertain you.

I swear I am the only one who liked it

2007-03-25T14:00:00.000-04:00

300 - I don't need to own it, but I probably will. I liked the faux-plot back home while the bois were fighting. I liked the acting for what it was. I wasn't expecting Sin City or anything close to it. I wasn't expecting Oscar caliber performances. I wanted to see guys wearing notsomuch and fake blood splatter, and gore and violence. I wanted to hear Gerard Butler yell, a lot - did I ever mention I have a thing about getting yelled at by a big strong man w/ a Scottish burr in his voice? - Cause I do, it is not a new thing. I liked the fight scenes, and I loved the way most of the shots line up beautifully as a comic book. I even found my way to get over the gratuitous and bullshit facial piercings - sooooo fake looking.

As to the whole reports of current politics - I say projection. For me watching the film I stepped past the racial boundaries & all of the "oh the brown guys from the east are invading" tripe, and saw it more as a story of how the few led the way to prevent the overthrow of their current governing body. Or rather how there is this nation (ours) who has a leader, who states frequently that it is his divine right to rule, and they are invading other nations under real or false pretenses and his people follow him and do his bidding because they are forced to (switch out the whips for $$$) and eventually the invaded nations stand strong enough against them that they stop (that is to say the "insurgents" protecting their homeland do things that are unspeakably violent and gore-ific that the invading nation is simply shocked). Maybe I'm the only one who saw it that way - again -PROJECTION.

AGAIN, I know this is the unpopular opinion, but I liked it. I like the fun, I liked the sheer raw screaming of it, I liked the performances. I liked the way it was filmed and presented. I enjoyed the timing and the choppiness of the editing.

"Motherfucking cocksucker motherfucking shit fucker what am I doing?"

2007-03-23T19:55:00.000-04:00

I Heart Huckabees – existential love story w/ many or no repercussions, all in the eyes of the beholder. It was truly a lovely fun romp. I loved the flicking about twixt the real and the unreal and the too real and the stuff we just ignore, cause that will make it all ok in the end, right?

The performances were light and perfect. A truly intelligible moment to enjoy.

The term "shocking" is such an understatement

2007-03-07T21:16:00.000-05:00

El Maquinista (The Machinist) – Christian Bale in the performance of a lifetime, It was a little obvious by the time things really got rolling, but the lead in was so entrancing that I couldn’t look away even when I knew I should. I wonder what I would look like if I hadn't slept in over a year. Regardless of my reasons.

C'mon it's me...

2007-03-07T21:12:00.000-05:00

Find Me Guilty – Funny as hell, a hysterical look at the mob. And true, based on a really real true story about a guy who believed in the ideals of the family of the mob more than the people around him. It warmed my cold little heart. Just a good time for anytime.

What's wrong w/ killing? - everyone has got their reasons

2007-03-05T20:12:00.000-05:00

Batoru rowaiaru (Battle Royale) – MURDER DEATH KILL – I love it, First you take a bunch of kids, and then put explosives on them, then you strand them on an island and give them weapons and make them kill eachother. HEEHEEHEE Then when u think they’ve had enough, add in more death and make parts of the island lethal according to your own timetables. Gratuitous violence with a side of surly delinquents. There can be only one.

Is it a coincidence that there are 42 children in all on the island - or that they are numbered just like the bachelors in my Bachelor Hunt - I think not.

Oh those skills

2007-03-05T20:09:00.000-05:00

Napoleon Dynamite – you either love it or you hate it. I rolled on th3e floor w/ laughter it was beautifully true and absurd and wonderful all at the same time. Nothing made laugh harder than when Napoleon was yelling at the llama. A llama named Tina.

There are more quotables in this movie than any other on this list so far.

And it warped my fragile little mind

2007-03-04T21:38:00.000-05:00

A Clockwork Orange – The story of the Nazis or simply a modern morality tale. This disturbing and brilliant story was brought to the screen by a mad genius. Ok, he wasn’t that mad to me, I love his work. Nothing brings me more joi in life than finding references scattered throughout modern culture, whether it is the droogs attacking JB in Tenacious D – Pick Of Destiny, to the Rob Zombie “Red red kroovy” remix. Besides it was my first introduction to Malcolm McDowell, and that has led to a lifelong love affair with his work regardless of how”c” rated.

Fizzgig and the Skexis

2007-03-04T21:26:00.000-05:00

The Dark Crystal – Classic Henson love. I keep hearing rumors of a sequel. Apparently they are true - YAY just have to wait til 2008. I loved this simple story and old special effects. The story is a simple fantasy tale of a journey to rejoin opposing forces to a balance. A classic theme expressed with fantastic puppetry and imagination. Besides it was the first time I heard -
Jen: "Wings? I don't have wings!"
Kira: "Of course not. You're a boy."

Truer words were never spoken.

Now finish up them taters, I'm gonna go fondle my sweaters.

2007-03-01T20:42:00.000-05:00

Wet Hot American Summer – Full of the last days of summer joy and wonder. A little closer to the truth of how a summer camp staff spends its’ days when the campers aren’t looking. I broke in half when they forfeited the game cause they didn’t feel like doing it. I love this movie. It made me miss camp more than I have words for. My favorite moment is in the deleted scenes – with Christopher Meloni as the chef telling them what to bring him back from town. I literally laughed so hard I cried every time he was on the screen. He made me feel free.

Maybe the critics just forgot our Truman

2007-03-01T20:39:00.000-05:00

Capote – I was unimpressed on the whole. I loved the acting, the cinematography was interesting and the overall movie, highly overrated. Read the books instead.

Blecccccchhhhhhhhh

2007-03-01T20:38:00.000-05:00

Ultraviolet – Sucked donkey balls, slimy donkey balls. I saw this in the theatre, and it sucked then. I saw it again at home, on DVD, it still sucked. It looks pretty, It looks pretty. That is as far as it goes, the plot is predictable and weak. The music was obvious and notsomuch fun. The acting wasn’t horrible, but it was not good either. I enjoy many of the cast members, but perhaps it was the fault of the script and cruddy dialogue that dropped the ball.

Bring on the Red Threat...

2007-02-27T20:19:00.000-05:00

Nochnoy Dozor (Night Watch) – Crazy Russian LOVE. Maybe I don’t watch enough Russian films, but this caught my eye and has yet to let go of it. The cinematography was pretty, but the editing was thrilling. I loved it from the first moments of narration to the inevitable end. Every time I watch it (yes I now own an official copy) I discover new details. The acting was perfect for the story and setting.

On a side note the book is nothing like the movie – there are some bits and crossovers, but the mainline story is very different from the basic plotting of the movie. I LOVE the book. Sergie Lukyanenko is brilliant. I'd follow Antoshka anywhere, Gesar not so much.

Tell me my future

2007-02-27T20:17:00.000-05:00

Yogen (Premonition) – As I saw the first preview for the Sandra Bullock American version of this beautiful piece of Japanese cinema I was saddened. I enjoyed the logical yet inevitable outcomes this movie portrayed. The creeping horror was kept at the perfect levels throughout. Both thought provoking and sad this story of love and dedication touched me.

Fuck yeah...

2007-02-25T20:41:00.000-05:00

Jackass Number 2 - I enjoyed this movie – I know I am better than that. I adore it. I don’t want to pay them money. I don’t want to date them, although I can see the appeal. I am utterly disgusted by them in general. So you see I enjoyed it just like I did the last one – w/ Laurie half soused and happy to laugh. Yes, they made me gag. Yes, they were foul. Yes, they caused themselves bodily harm, and left their messes for someone else to clean up. Yes, they tortured Bam’s mother (that poorpoor woman). But it was a ball. In the old AC/DC version of a ball.

Waves, waves as far as the eye can see

2007-02-25T19:57:00.000-05:00

Step Into Liquid – Surfing, and more surfing, and pretty waves, and beautiful sun, and more water. Think Endless Summery. Or just last fall in Maui. The downside is the quickie chop shop editting and the music - toss the volume and throw on something else, whatever touches you and brings you to the beach will do much better.

RUN!!! faster than Forest Gump & more fun too

2007-02-25T19:53:00.000-05:00

Run Ronnie Run – actually fun, had a very “My Name is Earl” edge to it, before that show was on the air. I watched it in August of ’04. I liked it. Just take a deep breath, sit back and be ready to laugh. I'm not one to advocate booze, but sitting back w/ some cheap beer or ghetto fabulous Gin & Juice is the perfect accompaniment for this flick.

Blows me away daily

2007-02-25T19:48:00.000-05:00

A Mighty Wind – this was a fun movie to relax with. The mockumentary styling is well done. And I have had pts just like each and every one of the characters which is terrifying. And heartening at the same time, that they are so closely related to real people. Ok, more terrifying, imagine trying to get them all to do their exercises and they are in pain which they cannot control. Just a corner of my day everyday.

On the flipside the music is folksie and wholesome and love. I have it all on my lil iTunes. I love throwing it randomly into mix discs and onto playlists just for an extra giggle - cause I never did no wanderin'.

The weight of my soul

2007-02-25T19:44:00.000-05:00

21 Grams – This was a thought inspiring movie. I enjoyed it. The edits were interesting, and at times harder for slower minded souls. Least that’s the impression I’ve gotten from people who watched it. But then those were the same people who couldn’t follow Memento.

There was only one the first time around

2007-02-25T19:40:00.000-05:00

Highlander 4: Endgame – Yummy all of my favorite Highlander men all in 1 film, from Peter Wingfield to Christopher Lambert – together. Yumm. Pretty much anything that gets Methos on the screen is ok w/ me, no infact it is FREAKIN’ WONDERFUL!!! OK, not all of the guys I love No Roger Daltrey…oh the sadness and heartbreak w/o him.

On a side note I am usually all against the blending of story lines and the fact that they can't seem to keep the story straight, but as far as such things go this was exceptionally done, blending the tv series with the movie, if you could just suspend the disbelief long enough was warming and sweet.

The new beginning

2007-02-25T19:34:00.000-05:00

The Chronicles of Riddick were far more intense and enjoyable than anything previously in the series. I loved the performances from Dame Judi Dench to Alexa Davalos to Colm Feore (a secret guilty pleasure of mine for quite some time now). I love the effects and the crazy blend of messiah and conan the barbarian mythology. And then we come to Karl Urban, of late he has managed to be in every SciFi Fantasy film that I have truly enjoyed, hurling himself headfirst into the mythos. I love to curl up with some knitting and cruise thru the evening with this on in the background.

The beginning

2007-02-25T19:29:00.000-05:00

Pitch Black was fun. I caught it in the theatre, I ws hooked from the moment the voice started. I am not the biggest Vin Deisel fan, but I won't turn movie off just because he is in them. I like the fully thought out ideas of space and society. Again, it was just fun.

Little Amuse Bouche

2007-02-25T19:26:00.000-05:00

The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury – a nice morsel – but I wanted more, much more for the segway tween the movies, hell, I would have loved an entire anime documentary about the new mythology. I still would.

OK so life happened

2007-02-25T19:23:00.000-05:00

And I have been doing everything but updating this site.

I am back for all previous intents and purposes.

I figure that it would make sense to start back on Oscar night.

YAY!!!

Speaking of Little Red

2006-10-18T00:06:00.000-04:00

Hard Candy - Oh me oh my goodness. I loved this piece. I actually started watching it with firm belief that it would be tripey B-movie that I would FFwd thru - oh my how wrong I was. I loved it. Lil 14 years old doing what the guy on Dateline keeps skipping 2º the whole legal issue... WATCH IT!!!

Little Red, little Red...

2006-10-15T15:45:00.000-04:00

Hoodwinked - This was fantastic, the flim noirish take on it all was brilliant. I loved all of the layers that were added to the story. I watched it alone, but can't wait to see it with my niece, future niece, and godchildren. I think Twitchy the squirrel was my fave. But then Nicky Flippers is brilliantly handled. Just watch it. Go now, rent it, curl up with some kids big or small and enjoy this lil animated treat.

"I want ROOM SERVICE..."

2006-10-15T15:38:00.000-04:00

Johnny Mnemonic – "I want ROOM SERVICE! I want the club sandwich, I want the cold Mexican beer, I want a $10,000-a-night hooker! I want my shirts laundered... like they do... at the Imperial Hotel... in Tokyo." That is one of my favorite speeches ever and Spider, the same name as my favorite comic book hero (Spider Jerusalem) – and played by one of my favorite men (Henry Rollins). I loved the cast on so many levels, Dina Meyer, Keanu Reeves, Ice-T...the list goes on and on. The down side is that the plot and dialogue weren't all quite as developed as I would have liked. It remains a fun flick to catch periodically, but not something I need to see everyday.

Kill the big purple one...

2006-09-28T20:52:00.000-04:00

Death to Smoochy – Unexpectedly rollicking romp. A very very well handled dark comedy. The colors that were used - just pop out perfectly. I loved Edward Norton’s performance all around, despite the giant purple dinosaur suit. Robin Williams was so brilliantly twisted, so diabolical, I just wanted to take him home and tie him up somewhere to entertain my niece. Ok, me too, maybe just both of us.

Oh how I hate this movie

2006-09-28T20:48:00.000-04:00

Ripley's Game – Sucked like the giant Succubus Queen of all Suckland. And all of her merry suckers. I hated this movie. I wanted it to be at least vaguely interesting, and was utterly disappointed. At every turn, had I paid money for it I would have demanded it all back, as it was, I did not. 1 note of redemption: Ray Winstone was perfect - in a very imperfect role.

Oh Mommers...

2006-09-28T20:43:00.000-04:00

Gothika – OK, this was fairly predictable. It featured some decent acting. And an enjoyable trip down crazy lane. I loved Halle Berry’s portrayal towards the beginning because her professionalism reminded me of my mother. Seriously, the entire portion of the movie before she goes nuts is so much like my mother’s everyday interactions, I could close my eyes and it even sounded like her. Just close your eyes and imagine the character had a daughter and that daughter is me… You’ve just got to see it to believe it.

Save me Mr Zabladowski!!!

2006-09-08T16:22:00.000-04:00

Dr. Seuss's The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T – I remember watching this movie when I was a child and as an adult it still leaves an impression, but the most important influence on he had to be the phone call from Dr T to his “physics” dept to discuss having the plumber disintegrated. I loved that. And so much more accurate than to talk to his “magicks dept” or something hokey like that.

My favorite terrorist

2006-09-08T16:19:00.000-04:00

V for Vendetta – Remember, remember the 5th of November… And I do. I truly enjoyed the graphic novel, and the movie did not leave me wanting. It brought me joy. I was even pleased w/ the casting choices for a change. I was expecting to hate Natalie Portman (I am decidedly not a fan). Hugo Weaving was BRILLIANT – as always. Hard to imagine I first noticed him in The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, in a frock. It was the perfect blend of political commentary, and explosions; violence and symphony. I now own a copy.

My ears are still bleeding

2006-08-28T20:30:00.000-04:00

Oh my God, You'd think w/ Isabella Rossellini & Mark McKinney would be fabulous in a movie together. They are not. The Saddest Music in the World was possibly the worst movie in the last 6 months at least. I had heard it was bad, but w/ the cast I just couldn't believe it had no redeeming qualities, it didn't. The concept of a beer baroness w/ fake glass legs full of beer seemed like the clincher for interesting and funny. It sucked so bad it makes a mammogram seem like a fun endeavor and entirely worth the pain if the movie is just turned off.

Here we go...

2006-08-27T17:40:00.000-04:00

This space is live, today, 8/27/2006 the 3 year anniversary of my father, Walt Miller's death.

Spanish Inquisition -

2006-08-27T17:31:00.000-04:00

Day of Wrath was an utterly unexpected enjoyable movie. I know this ended up in the machine because of Christopher Lambert. But was surprised by Brian Blessed and Phyllida Law, they were the first clues that this wasn't to be the dismissable B-movie tripe I was half-expecting. It was heavy on the suspense and twists, very Name of the Rose - ish. but clearer on the intent. I enjoyed all fo the performances. The costuming is exquisite and the set designs and cinematography were spot-on. I recommend it for a night in, when you really don't know what else to throw in and just want to be entertained for a while.

Teenage tripe with a silver lining...

2006-08-27T00:22:00.000-04:00

Yes, She's the Man was teeny garbage. Yes, it is a bad redo of 12th Night. But, Vinnie Jones is perfect. He is a fantastic force every second he is on the screen. The rest of the movie isn't terrible, it is tolerable. The plot moves at a good pace and there are a few funny moments. It is perfect if you aren't looking to think too much and enjoy Vinnie as much as I do.

mmmmmm SEX

2006-08-25T21:29:00.000-04:00

Exotica – Best use of Leonard Cohen in a striptease. Nothing about this story is as straight-forward as it seems. Watching it all unfold is a treat. Full of every erotic moment that the title promises. Order a pizza (light on the garlic), open a good bottle of red wine, and snuggle up w/ someone you’d like to grope and enjoy.

& this time I hope it doesn't come back

2006-08-25T21:25:00.000-04:00

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines –OK I love Nick Stahl as much as the next girl, but this has to end – I was completely unimpressed with this last installment of the Terminator legacy. Not just because of the actor changes, but 2º to all the badness. It was dull, not very imaginative. I WANT MY LIFE BACK!!! – even just those hours, which seem like days. Hamilton???

Rats, foiled again...

2006-08-25T21:04:00.000-04:00

Willard – I was excited to see the new one, but it wasn’t nearly as creepy as the original. Again I thing this is tied to the details of my viewing the original. I was in elementary school, and we had the week off of school 2º to the weather – snow day after snow day after snow day – so we were all staying at my gram’s house while our parents were at work (my sisters, my cousin and myself). We talked her into some movies we prolly shouldn’t have and were too young to be watching back then. It scared the pants off me. I loved it. We also watched Motel Hell and The Howling.

Pillowcases

2006-08-25T18:00:00.000-04:00

The Four Feathers – very disappointing – I watched it mainly because Wes Bentley- boi from American Beauty impressed me, and I wanted to see what all he had to offer. I was just unmoved by the experience.

No flame could re-ignite my interest

2006-08-21T21:15:00.000-04:00

Cold Creek Manor – A colossal disappointment. I was expecting more, the acting talent is there. Maybe it was just the story that wasn’t – at least not for me. I liked the ending, but I don’t know if I liked it more that it simply was the end or for the way that it ended. Either way it was over.

Long pig for dinner again???

2006-08-21T21:09:00.000-04:00

Cannibal! The Musical – A musical about a cannibal – what more could a girl ask for? – beyond every single video store I’ve ever frequented has had their copy stolen within the first month of arrival. I mean it is exactly what one would picture from the above mentioned theme involving Matt Stone and Trey Parker and Troma. It is hokey and silly, but if all you are looking for is a movie about a cannibal set to music – you are totally in luck.

I sees too much

2006-08-21T20:17:00.000-04:00

The Eye 2 (Gin gwai 2) – This was a bit of a different take on the whole “eye” thing. I loved it just the same, even though I figured it out early on. It didn’t have the same chill factor that the original did. Just so there is no mistake - It is not a "horror/abortion-oriented/slasher film". It, as it comes to the surface throughout, is a beautiful piece about karma. I don't want to give away too much - it is a joi to discover. Although the blending of suicide and abortion taboos was brilliant. I would enjoy watching it with some pregnant women sometime.

It made me shut my eyes - tightly

2006-08-21T20:15:00.000-04:00

The Eye (Gin gwai) – Creepy and fun. I loved watching this unfold and am so pleased that it has not be co-opted by some bored US director yet. Watch it in the original Japanese, and subtitled. It is worth the read and watching it again just to make sure you didn’t miss the finer details. The ending is perfect. I even shrieked a little - not in the lil girlie way, but in the happy EEEEEEEEEE!!! I can’t wait to see what’s next sort of way.

Write me in...

2006-08-21T20:07:00.000-04:00

The Pillow Book – more Greenaway – fucking brilliant piece – and for a change I am not completely talking about the full frontal nudity on the part of Ewan McGregor. The imagery is breathtaking. The spectacle is utterly worth beholding. And for those looking to spice up their bedroom life, writing it always an option. I enjoy watching this anytime anywhere. Greenaway manages to keep a beautiful oriental sensibility throughout without going overboard.

Beyond words

2006-08-21T19:30:00.000-04:00

Irreversible Oh the things I could say about this movie. It has hands down the most realistic, sadistic, violent, and gut-wrenching rape scene I have ever seen some will argue that they have seen better, but alas I have not. It is like 9 minutes of pure torture to perceive. That is whI i like it so much. That is how rape scenes should be portrayed. Not the namby bullshit where if you take out the rest of the surrounding actions/music it could just as easily be a normal sex scene. A scene that doesn't just cut away when the audience is uncomfy. It makes them more uncomfortable. The movie's entire point is that rape is a completely horrific irreversible act. It helped that the victim and boyfriend were in real life husband and wife. When he flips out, goes hysterical about seeing what is left of her - it is scary-real. It is something everyone should see - just once. Maybe hide their eyes, maybe muddle thru it. The very last thing this movie does is desensitize you to the violence. It is a masterpiece. An Indescribably gruesome beginning turning a mans head to hamburger (finely ground hamburger). This coupled with one of most beautiful shower scenes, or maybe I am just a fan of Monica Bellucci in the nude. She is breathtaking, and Im straight. Just take a step past the massive visual vertigo and give it a whirl. The camera work, at moments makes The Blair Witch Project look professional. It is a perfect movie for the subject matter, I dont know a better way to portray it.

Not-so-scary here at all

2006-08-21T19:28:00.000-04:00

The Mothman Prophecies – Creepy at moments 2º to being from a small town like that and driving waaaay to many nights alone on roads all alone kinda like those. No creepy visions for me. I’m not protesting to get those precious moments of my life back, but if I could do it all over again, I probably would skip it.

A stop sign, maybe...

2006-08-21T19:27:00.000-04:00

Signs – Again, I was willing to go blindly in, I purposefully avoided the previews for this one. I wanted to escape reality, immerse myself in the movie and get swept away. It failed or I did, I don’t know which. I was disappointed, and Dissatisfied to say the least.

Who loves "Hondo"?

2006-08-21T19:24:00.000-04:00

S.W.A.T. – Collin Farrell, he is hot, and this movie has enough twists and turns to make it interesting. Not something I need to watch many times over, but I don’t regret watching it. Literally once seen the thrill is gone and it’s time to take it back. And Sam L Jackson playing a guy named Hondo - freakin' sweet!!!

Make it stop, just make it stop.

2006-08-21T19:22:00.000-04:00

House of the Dead – Dear God I wanted to take my eyes out. When I think about this movie I still want to take my eyes out. w/ a grapefruit spoon. I spent more time watching thru the fast fwd and even those few precious moments I want back.

Burning up

2006-08-21T19:19:00.000-04:00

Cabin Fever – yesyes the movie was fun, but the Rotten Fruits in the extras on the DVD made me crack up for days. I’ll never eat pancakes the same again. It is definitely worth watching once. Just once.

I don't like him, I want him...

2006-08-20T15:20:00.000-04:00

Yummmmmmmmm - The Libertine was a fantastic. Johnny Depp's performance was amazing. There was not a trace of Willy Wonka or Jack Sparrow on him. Despite the many drunken rumblings of his character. It is dark, it is sexually explicit, it was lovelly. I liked the grainy feel to the film, and it was shot w/ a lot of handhelds so that added to being off balance.

Truth in advertising

2006-08-20T02:09:00.000-04:00

There were motherfucking Snakes on a motherfucking Plane . And I loved it. Someday I will own a copy just to have it running in the background. Sam L Jackson was perfect. Surprisingly it did not get tedious. It was just what I was hoping for, nothing more, nothing less. And most important it delivers exactly what it promised, there were snakes and they were on a plane. That truly says it all.

Let's all go to Lomilagi

2006-08-20T02:06:00.000-04:00

WOW, I just finished Broken Saints. WOW again, It was 4 discs worth of maze to follow. The animation was excellent, and uniquely comicesque. I was not expecting to enjoy it nearly as much as I did, but it was so very nice. The music and narration added to, rather than distracted from the story. I had to look at the timestamps a few times to make sure this piece was done for 2000. It's story is more than a lil relevant to today's political, economic, and cultural climes. I say watch it. It is a beautiful, violent, thought-provoking myth for the new millenium.

2 words: Peter Stormare

2006-08-16T22:07:00.000-04:00

Bad Boys II – yeah I watch mainstream movies too. I enjoyed the first 15 mins and the last 10. The rest was interchangeable tripe. If nothing else 2 reasons for watching this were 1. Peter Stormare - he is a fantastic actor. I love catching his pieces no matter how obscure (even the Volkswagon ad campaign) 2. Henry Rollins. I would watch video of him fully-dressed in a bio-hazard suit buttering toast if necessary. Just for a glimpse. The rest of the movie however was a cacophony of one-liners, shoot 2ce and blow-em-up stylings

Oh oh I cried buckets...

2006-08-16T00:36:00.000-04:00

Secondhand Lions – I admit walking into this movie I was expecting drivel. I’d seen the previews, and was quite frankly watching it solely because I love Michael Caine and Robert Duvall. I was slowly drawn into the story. It is humorous without being syrupy sweet, the ending was predictable on many levels, little boi unwanted by his mother left to live w/ his 2 great uncles. They are mean and crotchety and unpredictable and eventually come to love him. There is sadness and it doesn't play out as planned. The final twist was again, sweet – but did not leave me w/ a toothache. And I cried, but then again a fatherless girl who lost both of her grandfathers before she was old enough to walk does that every now and again.

Sticking around for dessert...

2006-08-16T00:24:00.000-04:00

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, & Her Lover – I love this movie – Yes, the story is brilliant, the vision is breathtaking, and the acting is superb. Dame Helen freakin' Mirren - amazing, beautiful and breathtaking. Like it is with all food, it is not for everyone, perhaps even an acquired taste. It is a morality tale, it is grotesque. Having said that, I love it. It is Greenaway in top form. A beautiful piece rife w/ revenge, true love and food, delicious food. I cheer and cry, laugh and shriek.

1 word SOCIOPATH

2006-08-15T16:27:00.000-04:00

Chopper – Funny, graphically violent and utterly unapologetic. Though I don’t know if I would have found it so if I were more familiar the real life story. The interviews and time spent w/ the man the movie was based on in the extras was disturbing as hell.

It's not all in your head

2006-08-15T16:22:00.000-04:00

Graveyard - Your boss has killed you, and brought u back to work for him. It's CLERKS w/ Zombies!!! – this was a bright and imaginative, original story. Well done, just like the life I live everyday. The shorts on the disc are a treat as well. It has been over a year since I saw this, and I still remember the short w/ the microwave.

BRING OUT YOUR TEETH!!!

2006-08-15T16:17:00.000-04:00

Darkness Falls – The movie was adequately done, the acting not terribly impressive nor were the special effects. The editor clearly decided that giving the audience visually induced ADD was the only way to keep their attention. The choppy edits were interesting at first but gave way to boredom later on. Clearly the people who survived the altercation w/ the tooth fairy should never have survived any horror movie – let alone this one. To say their logic was akin to a 3 yr old’s is an insult to 3 yr olds. I enjoyed the bits of the actual events the story was based on in the Special Features of the DVD far more than the movie. I would’ve loved to have had a documentary wholly dedicated to the legend instead.

2nd best use of Portishead in a movie

2006-08-15T16:06:00.000-04:00

The Watcher – has the Second Best use of a Portishead Song in a movie for their use of “Roads” in the cemetery scene. James Spader is enjoyably crazed thru most of the film. Reeves’s performance is not as creepy as it could have been. Maybe I’m expecting too much and it just wasn’t written that way. The premise is fun, but with most in this thriller genre, it is entirely to interdependent on chance and luck, and everything falling together “just” right.

Re-education from down-under

2006-08-14T22:21:00.000-04:00

Rabbit-Proof Fence – a shocking story. Well, shocking to me as I am an American and not that familiar w/ the particulars of Australian history – usually too blown away at the atrocities committed on this land that I forget how much damage the colonization has done to almost all indigenous peoples the globe over. It was totally worth hanging around thru the entire story to see what ended up happening to the girls. The plight of the "half-caste" children was scary. An ever-present truth of the proof, if it could happen there it can happen again somewhere else.

Back to the film: the girls were truly enchanting; the star was "Moodoo" the tracker who hardly utters a word, but steals every scene. AND on a further sidenote they built a fence across Australia!!! - DUDE: that's like a continuous fence from Mexico straight up the middle to Canada - they certainly never covered that in the history books they taught me out of.

Whoopity freakin' do...

2006-08-14T22:14:00.000-04:00

Whale Rider – very disappointed. I have no idea where the “critical acclaim” came from for this piece. It just left me wanting. I’m not sure if I want more of the Maori story/backstory, or just more in depth in general.

Yes, it is a cute story. Yes, the relationships tween grandfather and son and granddaughter is malleable. Yes, the girl changes everything. But, I was expecting all that. The acting good; that is not in question. I just wish I had those hours of my precious life back.

You can't cast a bloody love spell...

2006-08-14T15:12:00.000-04:00

Practical Magic – Something so basic and sweet about this movie. I love the performances. ALL of them. The eyes on Goran Visjnic were fantastic and his performance worth picking it up alone. I like the story line, the way the older ways are mixed w/ the new. The emphasis on the simple basic facts: you can’t practice magic half-assed, exorcisms are more complicated than a chant and a douse. It is not something I have to watch everyday, but I enjoy it when it is on.

My big problems: I don't care how you word it, or what you think you are doing: "YOU CANNOT CAST A LOVE SPELL!!!" They try to slip by in this movie by the girl casting a spell with the intention of never falling in love and "Whoops!" it turns out attracting her perfect mate. Even her first love and marriage was caused by her aunts giving her a "push". I hated this. If you aren't ready to fall in love and truly happy with yourself, you will never be happy with anyone else. So blessed be - the goddess is real and walks among us. You cannot use any spell/prayer/energy manipulation to "make" someone fall in love with you.

I want a blanket...

2006-08-14T15:04:00.000-04:00

The Price of Milk – Brilliant little piece out of NZ. I loved it. There were a few moments towards the beginning that were iffy, but past that I loved it, the whimsy was irresistible. The subtle plays on words and the jois of a presumed fantasy coming together with an actual reality were wonderful. And of course trading 117 cows for love, for a blanket, for a ring, and for a life. It is also a perfectly wonderful chance to see Karl Urban before he goes all Action/Fantasy in Riddick and LOTR.

French Movie 2

2006-08-14T14:39:00.000-04:00

Don't Let Me Die on a Sunday (J'amerais pas crever un dimanche) – WOW, how do you not fall completely in love with a movie that opens with a morgue employee having sex w/ a corpse and bringing it back to life? The story was perfect – dealing with the reality of life, death, taboos, alternative sexualities and of course the choices we make changing the the world around us. I truly saw so many things that reminded me of my friends and my life much of my life during the late '90s. Jean-Marc Barr was spectacular. I loved it.

I will be writing more soon, as soon as I watch it again - it has been a while.

The hunt continues...

2006-08-14T01:21:00.000-04:00

Embrace of the Vampire – I hated it. I watched it because a long time ago a friend gave me a compilation made from a soundtrack for a movie (still trying to find the movie) and one of my old housemates threw out the tape. So I am still looking for it. I had an amazing score very harpsichord sound to it, w/ this deep mysterious voice (vampire dude) speaking to his intended victim.

I STILL WANT THAT SOUNDTRACK. THIS WAS NOT THE MOVIE.

Oh yeah and Alyssa Milano naked.

French movie

2006-08-14T01:02:00.000-04:00

The Crimson Rivers (Les Rivières Pourpres) – Brilliant detective is on the case of gruesome murder at a teeny tiny out of the way university in the middle of nowhere. Fantastic – the plot twists brought me joi as well as a healthy dose of science fiction fact. The studies of eugenics were fascinating to touch on. And of course any extra dissection that can be thrown into the film is always a plus with me. Witty dialogue and beautiful mountains made it an all-time favorite of mine.

NOTE: The English dub should be destroyed. The vocal replacing Jean Reno’s is ridiculously light. Is it almost mind numbing how much of a differential there is tween it and his actual deep gravelly voice. (I love that man - he has brought me joi whenever I see him onscreen even if the rest of the movie falls apart around him, he is always spectacular and well worth the price of admission.)

Speaking of disappointment

2006-08-14T00:55:00.000-04:00

Red Dragon – this was enjoyable mostly for the fact that Ed Norton’s character is living on Marathon Key where my best friend got married. It brought back memories and joi - of the island. Wasn't I supposed to be paying attention to the movie? Comparisions to Manhunter were unavoidable. I felt the original was far superior. Other than that I was unimpressed. I was hoping for more. I have vivid memories of finishing the book in the back seat of the mini-van when I was like 10 on vacation with my family. I reached the very tail end of the book as we were waiting in the car and my mom was checking us into the hotel. It was my fatal mistake – she saw what I was reading thru the window and got upset w/ me because she didn’t want me reading it yet, I was too young. It was too late, but I remember being sternly talked to about sneaking into my mom’s books.

Too true

2006-08-14T00:43:00.000-04:00

Wit – A woman is diagnosed w/ cancer, gets sick, gets treatment, and dies. Very well done, Emma Thompson at the top of her game. The terrifying parts were the reality of being so very alone at the end. They dealt with so many of the issues I see people deal with every day and are subtly missed by most productions. So much more was expressed in the silences, in the space between big events. I fully fess up to crying like a lil girl who skinned her knee and just found out her puppy died. When I had my first cancer scare this year – I couldn’t describe it so well how I felt, but this movie was the only image reverberating in my head as I lay all afternoon alone in the hospital room. (the tumor is small and benign – YAY!!!)

A fairy tale of another name

2006-08-13T21:29:00.000-04:00

Ahhh yes masqerading as a "typical" M Night Shyamalan film Lady in the Water was a very pleasant fairy tale. There is no big twist to be built up to. Perhaps that is the twist. The movie is rife w/ references to how silly it is to walk into movies believing you have all the answers - as always things are not what they seem.

The interaction between Cindy Cheung and June Kyoto Lu as daughter and mother was perfect. And I will admit that for the first time ever I didn't hate Paul Giamotti - to me he is forever "Pig Vomit". His performance was appropriate, and for a few moments in there he was Clevelad Heap. Though by far my favorite was Bob Balaban's portrayal of the film critic. The character development was really spot-on, something I haven't seen in quite a while anywhere. On the whole it was good to see once, but short of watching it w/ my niece, I doubt I will sit thru it again. It is by and large a sweet fairy tale, a bedtime story, full of a Narf, a Scrunt, and the underlying theme that all humanity is connected. It felt a little heavy handed that M Night chose to play the author whose work is destined to change the world. Though I liked that it didn't just work out perfect in the end, that there were complications and the ending wasn't perfectly happy.