Twilight, Ugh

Where or where do I begin? Should I defend my man card here for even watching this movie? Should I try and find the good points in a movie that was made entirely and exclusively for women? Let’s see if I can do both.

First, I do believe that a man can watch this movie on one condition: There is a woman in his life. There is absolutely nothing about the movie trailer or the way that the movie is described that would entice a man to watch it. And you can’t say that men don’t like it’s just because it is a romance, because even women admit that the love story is terrible and cheesy. So, why would any self respecting man even sit through this movie? Because of women. Women are so obsessed with this movie and we are so obsessed with women, that we’ll cave in and watch it or just watch out of shear morbid curiosity for what goes on in that female mind (I sure as hell don’t know).

Great, so now that I’m watching this, is there anything good in this movie? The short answer is no. If you can avoid this movie, do so for as long as possible. As a man, there is nothing in it for you. Any man that tells you otherwise is lying to you and to himself. The movie is one big eye roll after another. I swear to you there’s an “I can show you the World” moment from Aladdin in this movie. At least Aladdin was a good movie.

If you’re a woman, and specifically a 12 year old girl that doesn’t fit in at school but still has a fantasy of some dreamy guy coming in like prince charming and noticing the good in you that nobody else sees, then yes it’s for you. The plot is so extremely clichéd. The recluse girl with deeper in beauty that nobody sees, the handsome prince charming, it’s all a big fantasy. None of the love is natural, or earned for that matter. Other than some pretty good music, and creative comic book style cinematography, there is nothing in this movie for us guys.

Women know it’s bad yet they still want to see it, the same way we know that Arnold flying a harrier jet, with a broken cockpit, in the middle of downtown Miami, holding onto his daughter in one hand, shooting a missile THROUGH a building at a terrorist, all to finally deliver in cool deadpan voice,“you’re fired,” is bad yet we still want to see it. The love that is being told in this story is to that level of shear hilarity. You ever wonder why women say we’re idiots? Because we are to them! Tell me that Arnold scene I just described from True Lies isn’t awesome? It’s AMAZING! Women don’t get that about us, and this is exactly why this movie does give us men something very important that we need: Insight into the female mind. Watching this lets you know how they feel during mindless action movies.

Yes, women know what goes on this movie is cheesy over the top romance, but they love it because women’s brains must work differently. Right? That MUST be the explanation. Maybe it’s our primal urge to kick ass and destroy, and their primal urge to nurture and care…but clearly the intellectual parts of our minds are not operational when we watch Twilight and action movies. And that’s what Twilight is, the female summer block buster.

One thing is for certain, any man who tells me that he legitimately like this movie, or even worse, watched this movie without having a woman forcing him to, deserves props for keeping an open mind but absolutely loses a man card.

[More funny images can be found at: http://funnyscrapsorkut.blogspot.com/]

Guilty Pleasures

Some may have noticed a decline in content recently. It is an unfortunate bi-product of a personal necessity. As I am now preparing for a very important examination my updates will be rather infrequent over the next few months. That said, I intend to return at full effort by March of next year and anticipate many positive changes to the site.

With that out of the way, I have to talk about Constantine. The three of us are fans of this film, yet we are aware that many people rapidly dismissed it because.... actually I'm not entirely sure. It certainly isn't a perfect film, but it gets a lot right and has so many cool characters and concepts that it is certainly worth a viewing.

I don't want to link you to the trailer because I find it somewhat misleading (as movie trailers often are). The movie is based on a comic book series about a man who is part supernatural private detective and part con-man. Which makes sense as he is doing battle with a variety of super natural creatures, so the best way to combat them is with his wits (as he is only a man). While the character from the graphic novel is more akin to a darker interpretation of Sherlock Holmes (with Satan playing the role of Professor Moriarty); hear Keanu Reeves plays him more like Clint Eastwood. Not to say he is an action hero, rather that he carries the grimace and foul attitude of the man with no-name. Reeves' Constantine is an experienced, and cynical, exorcist for hire preparing for his final showdown.

This is more so a film noir than an action film. Most of the movie is spent unraveling the rules of it's universe as well as the apocalyptic scheme that is unfolding. Unfortunately, there are reasons this is widely considered a guilty pleasure by those who enjoy it. While I am a fan of Reeves and Rachel Weisz, they have absolutely ZERO chemistry together. This works to the movie's credit initially as Constantine should be disconnected from the people around him given his perspective on life. But, as the plot unfolds and these characters have this significant experience together I would have expected some evolution on his part towards her. Though it is there on paper, the performances don't really convey this. That said, I like both of their performances individually; but this is definitely a movie where the supporting cast is even more interesting to me than the headliners. We have a priest with psychic powers, a divine arms dealer, a witch-doctor/bar-tender who operates a club where angels and demons can mingle, and what is one of the best interpretations of the Devil I have seen in a film... just to name a few. There are so many cool supporting players in this movie, you are bound to get attached to some of them. They are what make this world believable, as you aren't given a great deal of time with them; yet they all feel as though they have their own stories to tell (it just so happens this isn't their story).

I'll save some of my other opinions for a future podcast, but suffice to say it is certainly worth seeing. Let me know what you guys think of Constantine; I'd like to know (besides a bias towards Keanu Reeves, since folks seem to be split when it comes to his acting) why you did or did not enjoy this film.



-Alex

Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the Shell is my first experience in the world of Japanese Animation. Anime, is a style that requires a certain mood and state of mind when you are going to watch it for the first time if you are to attempt to get anything out of it. Ghost in the Shell is a story that takes place in a future where attractive humanoid cyborgs exist, and are used as police to stop anarchist hackers (both human and non human) from destroying the world. Pretty heavy science fictiony kind of stuff so you really need to know what you're getting yourself into. However, I've been told this is a classic movie when it comes to this genre, so I had to give it a chance. The genre is really a bit of a cultural hurdle to get over, and while I would not recommend this movie to most people, there are some great, artistic and thought provoking things this movie does that I really do appreciate.

First, and possibly most importantly, this movie heavily influenced the Matrix. I am a huge Matrix fan, and while most people enjoyed the special effects and action parts of the movie, I also really enjoyed the philosophy of the movie. I'm also extremely happy that I saw the Matrix first because if I hadn't, I wouldn't be able to have seen it without thinking what an incredible rip off they did on Ghost in the Shell. The Matrix took everything from the philosophy of humanity, to the visual style, to the art, to the damn floating green text. Yes, the iconic Matrix green text is not original! The parralels to the Matrix smack you in the face. The concept of "Neo" is definitely there, and done possible better in this movie.

The fight and action scenes are absolutely amazing. I never thought that traditional animation could wow me the way practical and special affects could, but they do. The action was intense, direct and artistic. In general, even during the non action scenes, the way this movie was shot was incredibly artistic. Sometimes you would see a still image that the camera would just focus in on, or pan over, and it felt as though you were flipping the page of a comic book and pausing a moment to admire a particular frame. In fact, sometimes this movie is so artistic that it doesn't even make sense! However, everything in a movie doesn't have to make sense right away if it is made that way purposely to force you to think.

The main problem I have with this movie is the delivery of the dialogue and story. I don't believe it's necessarily a flaw of the movie, but a flaw I have in myself. Japanese culture is very different to my own, and I'm not use to the over verbose, dry delivery of the dialogue. That is why is some ways I'm also glad the Matrix ripped off this movie because it let me think about the same issues as Ghost in the Shell, just from the American point of view of the Wachowski brothers. In this movie, you'll have dialogue that goes on way too long and will lead you through the following thought process: Whoa they're talking about some really cool stuff...ok, this is deep I can get on board with this...yeah...ok wait what?...slow down...wait I'm lost...huh inception?...wait what?....you lost me...you lost me....now I'm bored...I really believe that there is some gold in these conversations, but I'd only get it after a second or third viewing and paying real close attention. It's something about the style of dry, explanatory dialogue that just kills my attention span.

Finally, I have to comment on the nudity. I was aware that in certain anime movies there happens to be a lot of nudity. In general, I don't necessarily have a problem with it, especially if it is female nudity (of course). As long as it serves some purpose, I'm ok with it. The female body has always been considered a work of art, so stylistically, it is often used in many different ways. In this movie, the cyborg robot/humans run around trying to stop a terrorist plot using their advanced technology. One of these advanced technologies is the power to turn invisible. Apparently, and conveniently for men, this power is not inherent in a special cloth or coat that the cyborgs wear, but instead inherent in their robotic skin...which means that every time the cyborgs, who are all perfect 10s, want to use their ability to attack someone invisibly, they strip. How convenient right? So what is this: Is this a stylistic choice and makes logical sense given the advanced cyborg world that they live in or is it a convenient way to satisfy dork urges for bodacious nudity? I could make the argument for the former, but...c'mon.

I would recommend this movie to someone who enjoyed the plot of the matrix, I know there are a few of you out there, or someone who in general likes movies that get a little existential and contemplate the nature of humanity.

I Love to Laugh

Hi everyone:

I know it has been a ghost town around here this last week. Unfortunately our last podcast suffered technical difficulties and the resulting recording is unlistenable (which means we will have to review/talk about singing in the rain & brick... AGAIN!) We have been trying to see if any of the recording is salvageable, but alas it seems even our audio-guru Pierre cannot save it. As a result we will be posting a shorter discussion we had about the movie "money ball"; but fear not we will record Brick and Singing in the Rain again at a future date. For now the discussion is too fresh in our memories to make the conversation natural, so we are moving on to another project, and we need your help.

Comedies get the short end of the stick critically, which is unfortunate since we all agree it is significantly more difficult to make a comedy than a straight drama (because of that essential comedic ingredient... TIMING!). As a result we have decided to assemble 5 comedies to watch over the next few weeks. The plan is to discuss them in the next 2-3 episodes of the cast and see why these movies withstand the test of time... or don't; and also have a general discussion on what makes a great comedy. So, here is where you come in. I want to know what your favorite funny movies are; we are going to select 3 ourselves and the other 2 will be determined by you guys (and gals). So please let us know what your favorite (or top 3) funny(ies) is(are) in the comments below. Anything goes: slap-stick, romantic, screw-ball, etc.

Alright everyone, looking forward to this and getting the podcast back on track after our speed-bump.

-Alex

Who you gonna call?

Alright folks, this will be the first of many posts involving local events around Miami, as well as special releases around the country. As you'd likely guess from the title, Ghostbusters is playing on the big screen again for one night only. It will be rereleased on Thursday October 27th (tomorrow!!) for those interested. For those in Miami here are some local show times:

http://www.movietickets.com/movie_detail.asp?movie_id=2414&tstate=3&rel=&SearchZip=33155&ShowDate=1&SearchRadius=15

I will likely be at sunset place tomorrow night to see this one, too good a movie to miss.

Alright everyone, more news and reviews coming up... see you soon.

-Alex

Tropic Thunder

It seems a bit odd for me to start reviewing a movie that isn't that old, but isn't that new either. Also, it's probably a movie you've already seen. But... I guess let's trudge through that mire and hopefully we'll find that LZ we've been searching for on this damn map. Tropic Thunder is a comedy movie directed by Ben Stiller, with Ben Stiller as Benn Stiller. Basically. It has an all star cast of Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, that dorky dude when they need a dorky dude (Jay Baruchel), Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise. Wait..what? Tom Cruise? More on that in a bit.

The overall storyline is that there are these actors that are making a movie and are quite uptight and by a turn of fate they find themselves embroiled in the 'shit', in Vietnam...or Laos...or somewhere. It doesn't matter. Everyone in the story evolves and changes for the better. Except for the dick. As all comedies are apt to do. So the real question here is... Did You Laugh? Well, yes. But I often make the odd decision to watch comedies by myself, so I didn't laugh as hard as i thought I would. So I can't exactly give this film a standing ovation. I often smiled and grinned. But I gave no hearty guffaws. But... I will say this. The funniest guy here? Tom Cruise. He's not even a comedian. Why isn't he in more comedies. Apparently, he's crazy good at being a Jewish movie producer type. (yeah, pun sorta intended). He stole the show, and not just because his character is supposed to, he's truly the funniest guy in the room. Honestly, just watch the movie cause of him.

Writing a review for a comedy is always a bit strange. Which may be why they often get overlooked. It really just comes down to did you laugh or not. I told you what the best was. If you don't think you'd find Tom Cruise being an asshole funny, don't watch it. Otherwise, yes! Give the movie a chance. See it with someone who loved it. Or with people who will like a Ben Stiller style comedy. You'll grab some miles off of it that way. C+

 - piecar

Saints and Soliders

Saints and Soldiers takes us once again to World War 2, a genre that I love and know very well. Most of my favorite movies take place here. So, you know my standards and expectations are very high. Because of those expectations, I really had to wait and get in the mood to watch it.

This movie was very good, but I will confess its not for everyone. Most of this movie is pretty slow. There's only a couple of action sequences in the whole thing. So if you're looking for an action movie, this isn't it. Instead, the "action" in the movie is more about the suspense of following these soldiers stranded behind enemy lines and wondering if they'll make it to saftey with their critical information.

The reason I like this movie and recommend it is that it deals with subject matter that I had never heard of before, and addresses it in a way I have never seen before. Saints and Soldiers succeeds because the story is based on religion, more specifically a missionary turned solider named Deacon.

The story begins after the "Malmedy Massacre." Until this movie, I had no idea this event even took place. Late in December 1944, the Battle of the Bulge was beginning. This was the last desperate attempt by the Germans to turn the tide of the War and push the Allies back into France. Here, at Malmedy, a German army massacred over 80 captured American soliders. Apparently this wasn't the first time this had happened. The story of the movie follows the survivors of this massacre. They stumble across a downed British pilot that has information that could help stop the German advance. Their mission is to get him back to safety with this critical information.

The group is 5 soldiers. They have one working gun, and are surrounded by enemy. They have to sneak their way past the Germans and make it to safety. At the beginning we learn that Deacon, manning the only gun, is a great shot but also used to be a missionary in Germany. The juxtoposition of being religious and being a badass solider who fights for the righteous cause is something I never grow tired of. (See Constantine, where Keanu Reeves plays a damned man trying to redeem himself by murdering demons). He's interesting because of this contradiction: he's peaceful, yet kicking ass killing Nazi's in the name of the Lord...can you argue with me that there is nothing more badass as far as contradictions go? What's best is that you actively see him struggle with this contradiction through his flashbacks, and it really torments him.

So, Deacon's perspective is a little different because he sees the humanity in the enemy even when his comrades do not. He clashes specifically with the Medic, who is an athiest and antagonizes Deacon for fraternizing with the enemy. Only towards the end is when I realized that the message of the movie was within this drama between Deacon and the Medic.

Deacon at one point saves an enemy solider because he had preached to that soldier before the war. This enemy solider ends up helping the group to safety. Deacon, despite being a great shot, helped the group far more with his message as a missionary that ultimately turned an enemy into friend than he did with any of the bullets in his gun. Pretty cool eh? And it gets even better, because this conversion of enemy to friend also leads to the Medic changing his perception of Deacon too...but you'll have to see the ending to figure that one out.

****SPOILER****

In the end, the Medic survives the ordeal because of Deacon. Not only does Deacon save his life literally by holding off the Germans to cover the Medic's escape, but in dying in the process, he also saves the Medic's soul. Deacon's sacrifice with the help of the converted (ie "saved") German solider, make such an impression on the Medic, that they change the War for him. The Medic realizes that Deacon literally saved his life by preaching to the very people the Medic hated. In quite blunt irony, Deacon healed the Medic's soul and relieved him of his hate. This is proven when you see the Medic takes Deacon's Bible at the end of the movie. Thus, you imagine that the Medic, a flawed healer at the beginning of the movie, is now an impassioned healer by the end, and in theory takes up Deacon's cause.

To say that most great war movies are anti-war is now obvious, but I've never seen a movie use religion so persuasively to make the case against war. The message of peace, that ultimately saved the group, got the intelligence back to the allies, stopped the German advance, and saved the Medic was more powerful than any gun.

--Chris

Coffee and Pie Oh My!

I enjoy this film so much I don't know where to begin... I'll let the trailer speak for itself.

Brick takes film noir, boils it down to it's absolute core, then puts it's own clever spin on the genre. It is a must see movie for fans of film, PERIOD. The camera work is perfect, music beautiful and atmospheric, dialogue is sharp (I recommend subtitles, or I guarantee you will miss a lot), and the acting is absolutely solid.

Rian Johnson's debut gives me hope for the future of cinema. His movie entertains you without sacrificing any of its' artistic qualities.

The plot involves the investigation of a girl's disappearance. Brandon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a hard-boiled high-school detective, has a personal stake in the case. He must navigate a smoke filled labyrinth of questions, seedy characters, and dark motives that would be appropriate for a Philip Marlowe case. I don't want to reveal more as it would ruin the fun. Side-note: the trailer is outstanding because it let's you sample the style of the movie without telling you much.

One of the great qualities of this movie is it avoids being a comedy. It would have been easier to let this be a mediocre comedy about a high-school detective. Instead Johnson goes for grit and atmosphere, and his actors play the characters straight. It's unique, it's refreshing... it must be seen. All the acting it top-notch, in particular Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Brandon. I hope he takes on a role like this again. 

It is difficult to review this film since I am a fan; and I don't want to spoil anything for you guys. So let's agree you will all add Brick to your Netflix cues and I will agree to have a discussion with Chris and Pierre about it on the next podcast.

deal?

UPDATE: Brick is available on the netflix instant cue.

-Alex

Jammin!

Hi everyone. Sorry about the long absence, life has been quite busy so I've only had time to tweak the site a bit over the last few days. Rest assured, I will have a review up this evening about the movie 'Brick'. I just wanted to pop in this morning to point out a nostalgic article from ign. While this blog's purpose is film discussion, I could not resist sharing this article with you.

http://games.ign.com/articles/119/1197456p1.html

Toejam and Earl was one of the first video games I ever owned back in 1992. I woke up one morning with a severe pain in my stomach. When my Dad realized I had trouble standing straight from the pain in my side he promptly put me in the car and rushed me to the hospital. I had to have my appendix removed, the nurses quickly prepared me for surgery. Before I was knocked out my Mom called me and told me she was going to the toy store and that I could have whatever toy I wanted for when I woke up.

What better source of entertainment could a 7 year old have in the 90's than a Sega Genesis? While recovering at home after the surgery, I was treated to yogurt (I wasn't an ice-cream kid) and my sega-genesis. It came with Sonic the Hedgehog, Ms. Pac-Man, and Toejam & Earl.

What possessed my Mom to buy this game was beyond me, but I loved it. It was especially fun if a friend came over to play with, as we could explore this bizarre 16-bit interpretation of earth and it's inhabitants at the same time. I still have this game and my genesis, and I confess I still play when the mood strikes. The linked article explains the game-play to great length, all I'd like to add is that this is the most unique and under-appreciated game I know of. If you happen to have a wii and would like to try something different you can download it from the wii store (I believe it costs $8).

Sorry to stray off the beaten path, having just realized this game is 20 years old really made me feel nostalgic. I'll see you movie buffs again this evening.

-Alex

So what else is new.

Small update:

everyone can now access the podcast directly to the left of this post in the margin. This way we can continue to update the website with film reviews between podcast episodes. Regular reviews and opinions will now resume. We hope to update the podcast section bi-monthly (every 2 weeks) for now (though eventually we want it to be a weekly podcast). Thanks for all the feedback folks, we are definitely listening; those of you who are supporting us now will have a great influence on the content of the show as we move forward.

Until next time.


-Alex

This IS PODCAST!!!!!

okay folks:

As promised, here is the reel cafe episode 1. Please, leave us some feedback. Like it, hate it? What works, what doesn't? I am so glad we were able to complete this project; now we are hungry to continue and improve upon it. Thanks for tuning in everyone, looking forward to completing more episodes regularly (SPOILER: we already have more audio recorded). We are currently looking into embedding the podcast in the margin, or linking to a separate page. but in the meantime...

PODCAST!!!!

Update/notes: the fountain has in fact fallen out of my top 3, but remains in my top 5.

-Alex

UPDATE!

Okay folks, some quick updates:

1. Yes, the page has been totally redesigned (though this is not the final design, we are getting there).
2. You can now post comments, share posts via email, twitter, or facebook.
3. Unfortunately, the poll has been reset. So all you folks voting for singing in the rain. Get those votes in again.
4. The podcast is on the verge of launching, we are awaiting Piecar's seal of approval.
5. The first classic will become part of a segment on the podcast currently called "Movie Homework" (working title). Our goal is to assemble a list of classic films we have not seen and review them as a group on the podcast.

...

I think that is all for now, thanks for sticking with us. This will be a place of swift and constant change over the next few weeks, thanks for hanging with us.

-Alex

Technical Difficulties.

It has come to my attention people can't post comments on our blog.

Super Mario flag POST reference?? No? Anyone?









Rest assured we are aware of the issue and are going to fix it ASAP. Facebook and twitter functionality is also on the horizon, so keep an eye out for that.



-Alex

This is not the review you are looking for.

Star Wars has been released on blu-ray and has apparently broken all kinds of sales records. In one weeks time it has become the best selling blu-ray of all time.

I find this interesting because some of the most vocal "fans" of these movies seem to be filled with rage over Lucas' treatment of these movies and the less than stellar prequel trilogy. It seems Yoda was right, the dark side is not stronger. Hate has not made them powerful. The overwhelming amount of negative criticism from Star Wars fans on the web seems to merely show that (especially on the internet) negative voices always seem louder than the positive.



On to business: I am not going to review any of these movies (at least not yet). At this point it has been done to death. So many people have seen and spoken about these 6 movies, and so many have posted reviews online. They beat me to the punch, I can think of few new things to say that hasn't already been stated many times over. Instead I would like to use this opportunity to do something refreshing with the internet. Something few have chosen to do with their voices.

Thank you George Lucas.

While it is unlikely you will ever read this, I'd like to take the time to be grateful for all the great memories. The original Star Wars trilogy was the first VHS tape I owned (after dumbo and a few sesame street movies I grew up with). These three movies introduced me to the wonders of film, and the timeless magic of mythology. You took a fun and entertaining idea and elevated it into an art. The fact that people feel so passionate about your films says so much about the quality of those original three.

I confess, I am among those who criticize and scrutinize the new trilogy. However, despite my criticism I still watch them at home and enjoy the moments that recapture the wonder of the originals. I think of the younger audiences watching the prequels and hope they are as captivated by them as I am of the later episodes.

I may not agree with all the changes you have made to the classic films, I do still own and watch the original cuts. I hope they one day receive the restoration they deserve, so that the films that started this franchise can be maintained and enjoyed in their original form. That said, the work your team has done enhancing these movies for high definition is outstanding. My eyes now notice colors and textures that did not exist before this high definition release. It is as though I am seeing Star Wars again for the first time. Despite being married with a child now; the films still take me back to when I was a small boy in pajamas, sitting on the floor looking up at my small tube set, clutching my Obi-Wan action figure as the Milenium Falcon takes off on a grand adventure.

Thanks for the memories Mr. Lucas.















-Alex




P.S. The Podcast is nearly finished. Also, my next post will be the first in a series, details on that tomorrow.

The Recruit

Look past the fact that Colin Farrel doesn't look like a nerd who graduated top of his MIT class, is fitness-model ripped, AND apparently boxes in his free time. It's Hollywood. It doesn't make sense, I know, but you need to get over it. Why? This is a great spy movie. Really, it is.

It's ironic that the reason it's so great is also the reason it was so poorly received by critics. This movie does all of the conventional spy movie things. It has the technology, the drama, the intensity and the action that a spy movie should, yet it's criticized for not doing anything special or innovative. That's like saying "You know I really like Rage Against the Machine's song 'Wake Up', but everything on the album sounds just like it... it's kinda boring." I say yes, 'Wake Up' is an awesome song, and if all the songs sound like this awesome song, then ergo, visa vie, concordantly, therefore, and no shit, all the songs are awesome. If you like a good mystery, with some plot twists and some good action sequences, then this is a good movie for you. In fact, the action isn't even that over the top. A few chase sequences (on foot), but the drama and mystery make up for the lack of action; what's there feels appropriate for the movie. I felt like I couldn't trust anyone, just like the main character. I was totally engrossed while watching the movie, waiting to see what would happen next.

The reason spy movies are so great is that they deal with the idea of trust. The foundation of this country is born from the idea that too much power in one entity or tyrant can corrupt and hurt the people. So we spread the power throughout a system of checks and balances and a large bureaucracy, and even then we keep an eye on the people who are supposed to protect us. The fact that spy movies deal with multiple government on government actions usually means we're in a no holds barred battle where nobody can be trusted. The possibilities of backstabbing, double crossing, and the plot twists are endless. Who's telling the truth? Is the government really out here to protect me? And what's even MORE important, should my government lie and exploit other people for the good of our country? All very compelling, but I'm not opening that can of worms...

Chase Brandon is the adviser for this movie, making every attempt for accuracy on the technical aspects of the CIA. Apparently this guy is to the Hollywood CIA as Capt. Dale Dye is to the Hollywood Army/Marines. When he's involved you know you are getting a good movie. Brandon also consulted on the Bourne trilogy. On the behind the scenes segment, he talks about how tough the job is and stresses all the cons of being a CIA operative: The moving around, the being in harms way, the long hours, the low pay, the lack of recognition. Yet, the one glaring pro that outweighs all of it is something that he has trouble putting into words, basically Honor and Duty. My favorite scene in this movie comes early on, when Al Pacino is conveying this message through a brilliantly delivered speech to his young recruits. It is excerpted below.

So, why are you here?
Why are you here?
It ain't the money.
A GS- pay grade officer, yours truly --
I rake in about, what, grand a year?
You can't buy a decent sports car for that.
It ain't sex.
Hey, being here won't get you laid.
Oh, you're a dental hygienist?
I'm a member of the ClA, Moscow Station chief.
-Hello?!
What about fame?
Our failures are known.
Our successes...are not.
That's the company motto.
You save the world,
they send you to some dusty basement at Langley,
give you a little lemonade and cookies,
and show you your medal.
You don't even get to take it home.
So it ain't money, it ain't sex, it ain't fame.
What is it?
I say we are all here in this room
because we believe.
We believe in good and evil,
and we choose good.
We believe in right and wrong,
and we choose right.
Our cause is just.
Our enemies...everywhere.
They're all around us.
Some scary stuff out there.
Which brings us here... to the farm.
You have all just stepped through the looking glass.
What you see, what you hear --
nothing is what it seems.

-Chris

Bueller?... Bueller?

I know I've been absent for some time now. I just wanted to submit a quick update that I will publish a new post this evening. Circumstances in my life pulled me from the site for a few weeks, but I'm happy to see we have some more followers and that Chris and Piecar have kept the site active. That said there are some exciting updates planned for the immediate future (*COUGH* Podcast! *COUGH*), and there should be more regular content coming soon as well.

-Alex

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly

     The Diving Bell and The Butterfly is one of those movies that got a lot of buzz during Oscar season a couple of years back. Indie and Foreign. Yeah, it had followers for sure. The premise is of a man that has a stroke and finds himself paralyzed, only able to blink his single eye to communicate. Based on a true story, it follows him on the quest to...um... find what it means to live and be human. Pretty obvious plotline, right?
     I ain't gonna lie, I was feeling a bit trepidatious starting this movie. Clearly, this was not gonna be an easy film to sit through, and often I find that there needs to be a certain mood. But since I rarely find myself in the neighborhood of such a mood, the only way to get watch it is to just barrel through my hesitation and go for it. And it was worth it. Let me harp on presentation. At the very least, the first half of the film is in first-person perspective of the character. You are locked in there with him. It's grueling to be so limited by the camera in a way that is rare in a film and the conceit truly works. Once it leaves from that perspective, it feels like a breath of fresh air, but you still feel how limited the man is in his own body.
      Also, unlike in other movies that take the inspiration for such a viewpoint from video games with horrid results, here it actually fits. Video games are created to simulate stories or act on fictitious events. In movies, this perspective rings false, since we as the audience are not interacting, but remain observers. In The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, it works PERFECTLY then. We are as trapped as this man is. We as the audience can only observe, as can only Bauby (our protagonist). I think it is no coincidence (and fits into the backstory of Bauby) that the women in this movie are all amazingly beautiful. Achingly beautiful, even. We always see gorgeous females on the big screen and watch our hero gallantly win said beauty(s). But not this time, at least not in such a Hollywood manner. She is as close, and yet as untouchable as we are to her. It's tantalizing and rending.
      That's just smart film-making.
      Bauby goes through the story as you would expect, starting with desperation and his eventual rise to grace. But, it's not so crassly done. The only thing that felt a bit hard pressed is that the movement between despair and grace is too quick. Then again, maybe that actually is how it goes, but it somehow rings false. Bauby just declares, "I have decided to stop pitying myself." Is it that simple? Maybe. There was a lot of hurt, but it was a bit tough to see where the turnaround came. But that's fine. Because the movie is about how one finds meaning in life. You have to DECIDE to get meaning. And Buaby does that, even if the film doesn't show how it came about.
      This is hard movie to watch, but one that is just as hard to dismiss. Watch it for an emotional turn. Do it.

- piecar

War is Awesome, Sort of

That’s the impression you might get from me based on some of the movies I like. The truth is, I like War movies because a good one can stir emotions up in you, convey important messages, and educate you about sacrifices that people like you and I have made. It is most certainly not because I enjoy watching other people kill or be killed.

In fact, every great war movie that I have ever seen has been an anti-war movie. Even the good movies that are about wars that were unarguably necessary like The American Revolution and World War II, still convey the horrors and the ultimate waste of human life that the wars result in.

What’s so compelling to me is theme of sacrifice for an idea, ie. what you fight for. Patriotism and camaraderie are the major heavy lifters when it comes to these movies. Mel Gibson’s The Patriot is the obvious choice here when you talk about Patriotism. It’s basically Braveheart in America…and it is glorious. You see, it’s not all about authenticity and accuracy (though the battle scenes are very authentic), because then it’d be a documentary. Mel Gibson is great at putting emotion into his stories and making the plots personal. The reluctant hero that loses two sons for his country, the man with a haunted past, the man who rises to lead a new nation. The man who literally stabs the evil pompous Brit with the American Flag. Movie magic! Throw your fist into the air, it’s ok I know I did! Patriotism isn’t always this romanticized, but you get the idea. It’s great when it’s done well.

But there is also another kind of emotion called camaraderie. That you would sacrifice your own life for the man next to you. We’re talking about life and death here people. This is heavy stuff. As someone who regularly falls into existentialist and religious pondering, it compels the hell out of me. I mean, even if you’re not like me, maybe you don’t believe in anything. Still, the idea that without a blink you could end it all for a friend? And what’s even MORE compelling is that this stuff really happens. It’s not made up. It happens all the time to real people, not actors. When movies do that idea justice, in some infinitesimal way, we honor those brave people. Band of Brothers probably does the camaraderie idea the best justice I’ve ever seen.

But that’s not enough anymore. Too many great movies, too many good authors, too many high budgets. We’re a sophisticated audience, and sometimes we get saturated of awesomeness. (Disgression: This happens with boxing movies too, so make sure you space out these kinds of movies so you can properly appreciate them). So what’s the new standard? I’ll tell you.

Do what you always do, but tell me stories I’ve never heard before. History is littered with them. Tell me about a group of people who did something great. Maybe it was something small. Maybe it doesn’t even seem that great at all. Maybe it wasn’t extraordinary at the time, maybe it wasn’t appreciated at the time, maybe, even worse, nobody knows it even happened. Tell me those stories. That’s the stuff that will take patriotism and camaraderie, and push it to the next level and make a good war movie a great one.

-Chris

You sunk my... SOUL!

So I was at the cinema with Chris and Piecar recently when we witnessed something so offensive I nearly left the theater before our movie began. Be warned, once you have seen this it cannot be unseen.

At first I thought it was another transformers movie, but when I realized it was based on the battleship board game I was overwhelmed with fury. Is this really an economically viable idea for a film? I find it difficult to believe there aren't better scripts or ideas out there than basing a big budget blockbuster film on a board game (especially one this shallow).

I understand that from a marketing standpoint it makes sense to make movies that cater to the audience's sense of nostalgia. This way you already get people in the theater solely based on a familiarity with the plot, or curiosity... BUT COME ON???!!!!! BATTLESHIP!!!!????

This offends me so deeply. This trailer, more than any other tells me that this studio really thinks we are all nothing more than cats that would be entertained by rattling keys.

"hee-hee... it's like the robot is playing that game I liked when I was 8... yay! I LOVE THESE FEATHERS! How do they get them to float like this?!"



Stand up folks. Challenge yourselves and the hollywood system. Go online and look-up a film you've never heard of. Or rent a classic you've never seen, enjoy the ART of movie making. For the love of all that is good DO NOT go see this movie. If everyone boycotts this it will send hollywood a message, we are more sophisticated than this. You cannot keep spending this much money on the lowest common denominator. Let the artists working in your industry make movies.

The real crime is, for the same budget this crock got, the studio could have funded 10 small good movies, and each of them would have earned a small profit. Never mind this will likely bomb.


-Alex out.





P.S. Liam Neeson???!!!! WHY??? COME ON!!!!! I respect you as an actor. You are better than this.

Red Riding

Red Riding is a trilogy, with 3 distinct directors, but with the same actors. I'll try to tackle each of these movies as a whole.  Each of the three movies takes place during a different year, 1974, 1980, 1983, respectively. They are subtitled as such.

The production is British, and takes place in Yorkshire specifically. Ostensibly, the films are about a serial murder(s) that seems to not get caught. That is not what these movies are about. I was taken for a loop when I realized that this is actually a movie dealing with police corruption in Yorkshire. Which is fine, but, it wasn't marketed that way, so if you're expecting Hannibal you're going to have a dive a bit deeper into this review to see if you actually are interested.

Another misrepresented point is that this is based on a true story. Let's backtrack on that also, from what I now understand, only one movie is based on events surrounding a serial killer and very weakly at that. This is a work of complete fiction. For the most part it stays true to a realistic feel. The three movies, even though they are different in plot points and view points, seem to follow a similar story. I'll summarize each story..

The first movie is from the point of view of a journalist, played by Andrew Garfield, who looks into a series of missing cases and murders of little girls. All of this leads him to find a shady business man played by Sean Bean and his control over the police force. The journalist gets beaten for his investigation and retaliation ensues.

The second one deals with a Manchester detective that comes in to find who is killing these girls. All of these clues lead him to see how corrupt the Yorkshire police force really is. The detective gets harassed for his investigation and he sees how deep it all goes.

The third film deals with two viewpoints, one of a detective and a lawyer (called a solicitor). The detective is searching for a missing girl, while the lawyer is trying to find out why innocent people are being rounded up for murders. All of this leads the lawyer to find that the Yorkshire police force is corrupt. The detective gets midle harassed for the investigation. It all ends rather well.

Yeah... pretty similar-ish. With the first two being closest in tone. I'm harping on the negatives here, but each movie really does show off a scary group of people. The police have never looked dirtier than here. And you truly feel that the characters are trying to break through a wall or being broken by it. There is just one horrible police officer after the other. Not only are they negligent, but willfully evil. Maybe too much so. The first movie was spectacular, but the ending...it just didn't feel right. It did not fit the tone of the rest of the film, and it was a bit outlandish. The second film is the best one. It really goes foward in looking at what an utterly corrupt group looks like. It's also the most like a thriller. Finding out that it was directed by the same man as Man On Wire wasn't too surprising. The third one is probably the most watchable, because of the redemption felt at the end, but is about on par with the first one, due to some plot missteps and some confusing chronology.

The actors are all quite good and the directing was capable and even great at times. But the writing and editing needed some more work. If you have the time, I'd say, see the three movies. But if you only had time to see one, watch the second film. It's undoubtedly the tightest, but also the most depressing. There isn't too much you'll miss from the first. Ultimately, the movies were okay. I don't regret watching them, but there are better things out there.

 - piecar 

Field of Dreams

So, I just saw Field of Dreams again. I had such a great time watching this movie again I had to write down some of my thoughts on it and share.

I had it on my instant queue for a while, knowing that I liked the movie, but never really in the mood to see it again. Got home late, didn't feel like sleep so I decided to watch this movie again. Upon viewing it, I realized this movie is just as good, if not better, than my number 1 sports movie of all time: Rudy.

I think the last time I saw this I was probably still in high school. At the time, I knew it was a father/son movie, but I missed some of the bigger things that were going on. For example, there are many idealistic and fairy tale elements that blur the lines between reality, and what we aspire to be. What we are, and where we came from, over time become more important to us. The last line in the credits reads "for our parents." I read some other reviews, and one thing another reviewer said was, like all great sports movies, the sports are just a vehicle for telling the story. I couldn't agree more. In Rudy, it was a story about chasing a dream that only you believe in, and in that success, inspiring others. In this movie, yes it was a father son movie, but I didn't understand why completely. Now that I know, I don't know how I didn't see it before.

At one point, Ray says he never forgave his father for getting old. I remember that, but I never got why it was important until the end. It's because as a 17 year old shit, he got into an argument with his Father and stormed off. Of course, 17 year old shits do that all the time, so you can't really hold that against him. Unfortunately, what happens is that his father was very old when Ray was born, so a few years after Ray stormed out, his father died, thus denying Ray the ability to ask for forgiveness. Ray lives with this grief most of his life. The only solace he can find, is in his mind, going back to a simplier time when he was just a kid, and all there was was playing catch with his dad. The movie takes that, adds the fantasy/fairy tale element, and lets Ray forgive himself. Now, that's heavy heavy stuff I did not catch when I saw this a first time. So much so that I was shedding man tears for most of that end sequence. Another reviewer said he was too, despite knowing every twist and turn. Crazy that a movie can do that even when you know its coming.

So, in summation, I think you should re-watch this movie whenever you get a chance. Oh and also, the James Earl Jones "BASEBALL" speech is awesome.

-Chris

Tom Jones

For my first post, I'm going to start on a very specific sub-sub-genre. Now, I am not familiar with this topic and kind of only fell onto it by accident. Why yes, I am talking about Classic British Comedy. I'm fairly certain there are other movies of this ilk. But as it stands, this is the only one I know about. And it seems that it won best picture, director and adapted screenplay for that year.

Tom Jones follows the story/antics of it's titular character through ill-luck, discovery and sex-romp. Tom Jones is played by Albert Finney (completely different looking, if I may add. To think he was a heartbreaker...) magnificently. Good enough for an Oscar nod. Rarely does a comedic part get such acclaim, and it's readily deserved.  The man is so charming you can't help but like him.  He's always there to help men in trouble and women in distress. Especially helping them out (and in) to their clothes. Tom Jones conquers so many women it would put James Bond to shame.

Susannah York's (as the leading lady, Sophie) acting is so effortless and natural you also can't help rooting for her. I have no doubt that she had wrested the hearts of many a British teen. The chemistry between the two actors never falters and is played for laughs at every turn. I even found the idyllic scenes of them comical, although that may be more of an ironic thing. Although, I wouldn't put it pass the director, Tony Richardson, to have come upon that on purpose.

I found the film to be pretty humorous, but I can imagine that many wouldn't think it was so. There are a lot of winks at the camera and some good quips that are new to me. I wouldn't say it's an uproarious comedy, but it IS charming. I would recommend this movie for those who are fans of old school British humor a lá Benny Hill. Over all, one of the better comedies, although it may not hold up too well on some parts. But it's still worth a gander.

 -piecar

What evil lurks in the hearts of men?

I thought this would be an appropriate movie to start with given the sudden abundance of super-hero movies in recent years. It is fun to see how this particular genre has evolved over time. Earlier movies of this type had a more stylistic look than the modern counterparts; while the newer films try to craft more complicated and psychological stories. For the best example of this you should compare Tim Burton's Batman with Christopher Nolan's.

The Shadow was a popular character from 1930s pulp magazines radio serials. Here he is played by Alec Baldwin, who's cool voice sounds perfect for the role. This time the shadow must use his hypnotic powers to save the world from the ruthless Shiwan Kahn. For comic book and super hero fans this is an absolute must watch. The Shadow is a unique character and, while this movie is riddled with outstanding supporting characters, the style is the real centerpiece of this work. The movie creates a dark yet fun 1930-something New York riddled with shadowy alleys, neon signs, and warm street lamps.

The one character I always had a problem with (in the movie adaptation) was Margo Lane. In the original serial she was the Shadow's female counterpart and sidekick, much like Lois Lane to Superman. In this film she is given psychic powers, instead of being a mere damsel in distress. While I enjoy powerful female characters, I thought giving her psychic powers was a poor choice. It would have been more compelling had she used her wit to decipher the Shadow's identity. Also, some of the humor in the movie is very corny, and may fall flat for some people.

Despite a few shortcomings, this is still a very entertaining film, especially if you are a fan of comic book movies. After seeing so many mediocre comic book movies recently, it's refreshing to see one this visually sharp and creative. Who knows if someone would dare reboot this franchise?... The Shadow knows.



-Alex

Welcome to the Cafe.

Hello out there in TV land. I am excited to finally get this idea off the ground and on the web. I have always been an avid fan of film, and after one of my friends casually brought up the notion of recording our conversations as a podcast a few years ago, this pipe dream seems to finally be coming to fruition.

We have already recorded some audio content, and while the initial postings and episodes my be inconsistent as far as posting and quality (we are still learning how to run our blog/podcast more effectively); I will do my best to keep this space updated on what is going on. In the meantime I intend to spruce up some of the site's "flare"; then perhaps I will remove/replace this post with a more proper welcome.

Looking forward to seeing this take shape.

-Alex