Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Life After Death (30 Days of Night Spoiler)

Why does Hartnett leave the axes behind in 30 Days of Night. I absolutely loved the movie, but that part made no sense.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

3:10 to Yuma

Watching the b/w version of 3:10 to Yuma. I'm not sure I recognize any of the stars. The wild west costumes are awesome. Some Batman/ bugle music during scenes where people shoot near each other.
Early in, it teases me with a long side story about an arthritic drunk who may be the main character. I was slightly disappointed to see him used for a short physical comedy bit.

Alex Potter. They won't let him join the posse, like a Rudolph with a bright red knuckle instead of nose. Looks like the arthritic guy made the posse after all. The other "men" in town didn't want to drive the convict to the station to catch the 3:10 to Yuma.

The old music is tough to take, if you ever rent it and have a soundtrack off option, take that option.

Uh-oh, here come the pan flutes, must be trouble ahead.

Dinner at the rich guys house, the convict is chained up, but having dinner with the fam. The convict is sweet talking the rich guy's wife.
The hats are going to be much bigger in the remake. I really hope they keep the arthritic guy, but I keep trying to see if his hands are... Now he's begging a twelve year old for some booze. The boozie arthritic antihero. I wonder if Hitchcock directed this.
After leaving the rich guy's house they arrive at a sleepy town where it appears they will put the convict aboard the 3:10 to Yuma. It appears to be about six o clock Ante Meridian so our band of three heroes (the drunk arthritic, the rich family guy and an aging hero type) will hold with with their prized convict in the local swank hotel for several hours.

I can tell it is swank because it has a tub in every room.

The convict is in a bedroom with the rich family guy pointing a gun in his face. The convict is bouncing on bed asking how many brides "you know..."

It now appears that the rich family guy has some debts he needs to pay off.

Convict's accomplice on wives: "I always treated mine alright, never hit her too hard."

It turns out that the convict offers $10,000 to the now poor family guy. He took the security job for $200.

The convicts accomplice just found out the hotel room they are staying in. I think I'll watch the rest after I see the Christian Bale version.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Pathfinder

Pathfinder was exceptionally disappointing because it was supposed to be a graphic novel film. Note to film makers, frame the shot just like the picture in the graphic novel. Don't use the steady cam shot. Not even in "emotion scenes".

Hot Fuzz was good

There was no way the guys from Shaun of the Dead were going to have the kind of big success and surprising charm the second time around. "Hot Fuzz" is no "Shaun of the Dead."

The over arching story is more preposterous than the dead coming back en masse. The best cop in England is getting sent to the quietest suburb because he's showing everyone in the big city up. It is tough to see Shaun from the appliance store as the toughest cop in all of England, but he does a good job of playing the part.

I loved the sudden couple of moments of gore in an otherwise gore-free movie and story-line. I want people to see this film unprejudiced, so will simply say it was not as good as Shaun of the Dead, but it was very enjoyable to watch the battle against the suburban archetypes towards the end of the film.

Godzilla vs Rocky

I watched the high def version of "Godzilla the final battle" and it devolved into a Matrix-like battle between two guys in jump suits. I realize the Matrix stole its fight style from Asain film, so it was supposed to be ironic.
I wish I could post more about the movies I watch.

Godzilla was a mess, the movie was a mess. The film tried to modernize Godzilla the way the American Pepsi commercial tried to a few summers ago. I turned it off after twenty minutes.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Squanto: A Warrior's Tale

Native American's speaking English in pre-colonial times, but it switches to native tongue pretty quick. The movie shows none of the important scope of the pre-colonial society that existed in Squanto's time.
Recommendation: Read 1491 and don't see this movie.
Goodbye 1491

Reincarnation: The following is rated "R." No need to change into clean underwear.

Now we are looking at a Japanese movie that will be remade in America in about two years.
It starts out with the shot of people commuting across Japan. Follows with Japanese school girls gossiping. Something is wrong with one of the phones and she sees the reflection of a face. Rushing wind accompanies this graphic to let us know it is ominous.
Now we have a guy in an elevator. Camera whips around a corner and he's stunned. Now a guy in a restroom with the same camera whip and sound. More horrified looks.
Someone just hit by a car. Now flipping between bathroom mirror and car accident scene. The driver is trying to get away. Zombies. It just got better.
The story took off to the point where there is something legitimately creepy going on, so I would recommend seeing at least the first half hour. Beyond the camera whips and noise. After creepy scene, we get opening graphics. This is how a horror movie is supposed to be written.
11 minutes in and you want to know what that cut scene was all about. Creepy dolls and disappearing kids flashing across the screen. None of it out of place. I am digging this film.
I'm not giving away any more of this movie accept to say that it awesome. After the 25 minute mark.
An old horror story that is done well.
The next time you are over, remind me to put it on so we can watch a good movie.