WWTBAM Bored

I've been indulging myself by seeing some movies without Sparky for the first time in quite a while. One was a guilty pleasure, another was an experiment that didn't pan out, and two were terrific. The guilty pleasure was The Spirit. As a movie, it was a good comic book, though not as good as The Watchmen will be. But unless you're a teenaged boy or have the soul of one somewhere inside you, it's probably safe to pass this one up.

The experiment was the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still. If a movie is going to pretend to be science fiction, it needs to retain internal consistency. It just didn't.

Gran Torino is the best movie I have seen in years. I hope it wins many awards. I'm not sure I ever appreciated how good an actor Clint Eastwood is before seeing that movie. See it.

I just returned from Seven Pounds, which I enjoyed quite a bit. It's designed as something of a "what's going on?" movie. I figured it out roughly halfway through,

Spoiler

during the scene with the kidney patient,

and understanding the characters' motivations really helped me enjoy the rest of the movie.

Still on my list if I can find more time are Milk, Doubt, Yes Man, Quantum of Solace, and Twilight (the latter two if I can get to them before they leave the second-run theaters around here). --Bob

Bob78164 wrote:As a movie, it was a good comic book, though not as good as The Watchmen will be.

Don't get your hopes up on this one. Who knows when, if ever, it will be released. Which, of course, suits Alan Moore right down to the ground.

WheresFanny wrote:

Bob78164 wrote:As a movie, it was a good comic book, though not as good as The Watchmen will be.

Don't get your hopes up on this one. Who knows when, if ever, it will be released. Which, of course, suits Alan Moore right down to the ground.

I suspect that money will talk and the movie will be released on schedule.

earendel wrote:

WheresFanny wrote:

Bob78164 wrote:As a movie, it was a good comic book, though not as good as The Watchmen will be.

Don't get your hopes up on this one. Who knows when, if ever, it will be released. Which, of course, suits Alan Moore right down to the ground.

I suspect that money will talk and the movie will be released on schedule.

I've seen the trailers for it very frequently. I didn't pay attention to the release date but it seems like it is going to be released.

Bob78164 wrote: . . .
Gran Torino is the best movie I have seen in years. I hope it wins many awards. I'm not sure I ever appreciated how good an actor Clint Eastwood is before seeing that movie. See it.

. . .

After seeing plenty of bad acting, I appreciate just about any performance. I thought Clint was OK, although he suffered from the spaghetti westerns where he had two expressions -- regular and squint. I thought that was all he had.

Quantum of Solace was fair, at best. The action sequences were exciting, but not believable. For my money, the best Bond was From Russia, with Love, and all the newer ones just keep getting sillier.

Bob, if they're not there yet, put Slumdog Millionaire and Benjamin Button on your "to see" list.

jsuchard wrote:Quantum of Solace was fair, at best. The action sequences were exciting, but not believable. For my money, the best Bond was From Russia, with Love, and all the newer ones just keep getting sillier.

Bob, if they're not there yet, put Slumdog Millionaire and Benjamin Button on your "to see" list.

Slumdog Millionaire I probably want to see. I've seen previews for Benjamin Button and they have wholly failed to pique my interest, probably because I've read too many reverse time travel stories. (I know that's not quite the trope used here, but I would expect similar themes.) --Bob

jsuchard wrote:Quantum of Solace was fair, at best. The action sequences were exciting, but not believable. For my money, the best Bond was From Russia, with Love, and all the newer ones just keep getting sillier.

Quantum of Solace ranks with Moonraker as the worst Bond film ever. The action scenes were almost impossible to follow, with lightning edits, shaky hand held camera work and little continuity. You could see enough to realize that there was some very expensive stunt and effect work going on, but you couldn't see it well or long enough to appreciate it. Most of the time all you could tell was that things were moving very fast and usually blowing up.

In addition, both the villain and his scheme were more ludicrous than anything else. Trying to control the water supply of Bolivia just doesn't cut it as the type of master plot that Bond villains usually trot out there. On the other hand, it's too big a scheme to allow for the intense personal confrontation of a film like Casino Royale. And while the bad guy was certainly a disagreeable fellow, he seemed more like a weaselly little snitch than a master criminal.

Even the bad Bond films usually have entertaining set pieces, but this one was irritating to watch.

I have seen Doubt, and it is very good.

Bob. Please, go see Benjamin Button. It's one of the best movie experiences I have ever had. You walk out feeling different; enriched.

I had to drag my family kicking and screaming. They all thought it looked ridiculous and boring.

They absolutely adored it, each one of 'em.

It's so rich, so amazing, on so many different levels. It's so textured, and intricate, and loving, and original, and filled with humanity, and any cynical disbelief is suspended during this incredible journey. It's compelling storytelling in its most appealing form. Plus, the technical/makeup effects itself make it worth seeing.

If you at all liked Forest Gump, I think you'll love this movie. If you didn't... well, maybe not so much.

But... I'll go out on a limb and I will personally reimburse you the ticket price and throw in a popcorn if turns out you didn't like it. Honestly.

They all thought it looked ridiculous and boring.

I still think it sounds ridiculous and boring. But I did like Forrest Gump. So maybe I'll give it a chance one of these days.

Leah is out seeing Benjamin Button now. Maybe if she gives it a good review I'll see it one of these days.

I still need to see Milk first though.

Second Chance wrote:If you at all liked Forest Gump, I think you'll love this movie. If you didn't... well, maybe not so much.

But... I'll go out on a limb and I will personally reimburse you the ticket price and throw in a popcorn if turns out you didn't like it. Honestly.

I didn't especially like Forest Gump. Well, the special effects were interesting, but the story -- not so much. I was certainly very disappointed that it beat Pulp Fiction for Best Picture. --Bob

jsuchard wrote: For my money, the best Bond was From Russia, with Love, and all the newer ones just keep getting sillier.

I disagree. On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the best Bond movie. George Lazenby is not the best Bond, but Diana Rigg is the best Bond "girl" and I loved the love story between Bond and Tracy.

Second Chance wrote:Bob. Please, go see Benjamin Button. It's one of the best movie experiences I have ever had. You walk out feeling different; enriched.

I had to drag my family kicking and screaming. They all thought it looked ridiculous and boring.

I totally agree, it's a fabulous movie.

Emma doesn't usually like going to movies, but even she enjoyed this movie.

I will see Button because of Fincher.

I actually thought Quantum was fine - the fact the plot wasn't ludicrous was part of its appeals to me. Moonraker, and many other Bond films, are completely implausible. I like my spy movies mildly implausible. I thought in particularly the opening sequences and the Tosca sequence were well done.