movies

[Richie Allen]

The Dictator: Often thuddingly obvious in its stereotypes and humor, but there's still plenty of worthwhile humor. The closing speech is obnoxiously didactic, but I'm not sure that doesn't make it even more effective, since seeing it all laid out like that is pretty amusing in and of itself. Worthwhile, but nowhere near Borat (haven't seen Bruno). Oh, and I think I laughed every single time Cohen made that head-chopping gesture. Somehow that never stopped being funny to me.

Always surprised when I see this picked as Chaplin's best film, which it sometimes is, because it's my least favorite of his. Just can't deal with that final speech.

[The Third Man]

Haha, erm...

EDIT: Unless you were just going off on a tangent, in which case, I never saw The Great Dictator.

[Maclowery]

Finally saw Valhalla Rising, after putting it off for ages. AV Club reminded me that I had missed it. Good lord that is one gritty movie. I'd say a full fifteen minutes worth of screen time depicts men staring into the distance, wordless. Absolutely bizarre film. I definitely enjoyed it - although I had to cringe and look away about six times during the hyperviolent scenes. Definite candidate for "Absolute worst date movie ever."

[Vidor]

Haha, erm...

EDIT: Unless you were just going off on a tangent, in which case, I never saw The Great Dictator.

I did. I really like it. I like the speech at the end--of course it is just that, a speech, with a big moral and everything, completely unconnected with the plot--but I liked it. The part that jars for me is when Charlie goes to a concentration camp and it looks like a Boy Scout barracks.

[TheoSqua]

Just saw a commercial for the release of "Ted" on DVD, and it was a 2-pack with a regular DVD and a Blu-Ray. See this a lot nowadays. Why do people do this? If you have a regular player you can't play the Blu-Ray and if you have the Blu-Ray you don't need the regular DVD.

I have a Blu-Ray player, but my parents don't. Sometimes when I buy a new movie, they'll ask me to bring it over, so it comes in handy here.

Also, I suppose it's possible for people to have a blu-ray player in their living room and a regular dvd player in the bedroom. If you want to watch a movie in bed, you'll need the regular dvd.

I'm betting it has to do with production, shipping, and storing the products. The big money maker in DVD/Blu-Ray right now is having different editions of the same film. So when a big film like Batman or Avengers comes out you can get the normal cheap one, the "Deluxe" package with a CD and some art for a few bucks more, the 3-films-in-one that squeezes money out of the previous films, etc. I've seen some films with 4-5 different versions of the same film, not including differences for format. If they split out 3 versions of a film, then need a Blu-Ray and a DVD version of both....you're looking at 6 different packages for the same film. Adding to it that a 3rd format, 3D films, is now prominent and that problem is compounded even more.

But if you bundle together all formats into one package you're likely saving more money from designing/shipping/tracking/storing only 2-3 formats of a film instead of 6 than you would lose from putting in multiple versions of a film in one package. This also appeases the major retailers like Wal-Mart, Best-Buy, and Target who have tons of influence on the way film-media is sold and put huge value on space within their stores and the amount of effort it takes to inventory their products. Reducing the number of skus those companies have to deal with (or contract out to other companies) makes them happier.

Plus all the bonuses of marketing a 3-for-1 deal and the "futureproofing" sale they can advertise.

[Richie Allen]

Haha, erm...

EDIT: Unless you were just going off on a tangent, in which case, I never saw The Great Dictator.

I knew something didn't feel right there, although the "final speech" analysis still applies.

While I'm here, I'll give my thoughts on this week's watches...

Children of Paradise: Wonderful! It didn't kill me right at the start, like some films do, and I can't really point to a single moment or think of a clip that would single-handedly sum up my love for the film but it's just a great snapshot of a uniquely interesting world that you live in for a few hours. I can't wait to go back. This will be a re-watcher for at least a number of years to come. ***** out of *****

Ikiru: I already made mention of. It's Kurosawa and it's pretty great but the topic is not one that excites me when considering Kurosawa. I'd always heard of this film and its subject and assumed I would love it, as I typically like these types of stories, but I have to say I was a little let down. Will likely re-watch again to see how I feel about it later but right now it's between **** and ****1/2.

Red Beard: Enjoyed it more than Ikiru, although it's a much less significant film (other than the last pairing of Mifune and Kurosawa). I just prefer my Kurosawa films to be set in past centuries, I suppose. Other than its length, it's not a very big film but it's got a great feel to it and Mifune is incredible. And I love that there was an obligatory fight scene where the stately doctor snaps about 20 arms and legs. ****1/2.

[lukethedrifter]

maybe I'll go see a movie tonight.
options:
Argo. She's already seen it.
Lincoln. Hmmm.
Killing Them Softly. I think you guys recommend that one
Smashed. I heard it was pretty good
Looper. The good news is it's playing at the dollar (cheap) theater. The bad is that it's playing at the cheap theater.

[thrill]

Finally saw Valhalla Rising, after putting it off for ages. AV Club reminded me that I had missed it. Good lord that is one gritty movie. I'd say a full fifteen minutes worth of screen time depicts men staring into the distance, wordless. Absolutely bizarre film. I definitely enjoyed it - although I had to cringe and look away about six times during the hyperviolent scenes. Definite candidate for "Absolute worst date movie ever."

Really liked that movie but yeah, intense.

[MrSaigon]

I didn't know there was a Jackie Robinson movie coming. Trailer doesn't give me a sense of it will be good or not, but I sure hope it will be.
Wasn't that always Spike Lee's dream though, to make a Robinson film? Sucks for him I guess.

[Freed Roger]

Lincoln, I liked it a whole lot. Though, I steered away my in-laws from seeing it because father-inlaw is a bit ADD and listens to Rush Limbaugh- figured he wouldn't like a nuanced character portrait. Mostly dialogue, and Lincoln's interactions with other people on the politics of the amendment to abolish slavery. In the manner of the Doris Kearns Goodwin book, by focusing on Lincoln's political dealings in this one aspect and how he was viewed by his cohorts -the genius of A Lincoln is revealed.

[SHOW]

I was predisposed to like this movie, which can taint my opinion either way.

A screenwriter had to fill dialog and take artistic license to make a story. How this would be done, was the part that concerned me going in. At the beginning, with two black soldiers appearing before Lincoln who recounted the Gettysburg address to him - soaring music and all- I was squirming that this movie might be a schmaltz-fest. Then it moves on though - I saw a reviewer mention how the movie had completely won him over when Lincoln crawls down on the floor to hold his sleeping son. I agree.

The main artistic license they chose was to flush out Lincoln's personal relationships with his wife and sons, as well as embellishing on Thaddeus Stevens (played well by Tommie Lee Jones). This was all satisfactual. Use of kid's in movies can be dangerous, but Willie's role was well done.

Again, the vehicle story in which Spielberg does this character sculpture - was nuanced and tricky. I had background from reading " Team of Rivals" yet was still unsure how they could make a story out of political showdown amongst the confusing various factions. Spielberg etal was ballsy and up to the task. Some correllation to today's factional politics and the need for compromise can't help but be noted.

If I have a negative for the flick though, it might be the 3 lobbyist guys (played by James Spader etal) hired to win votes. A bit too slapstick for my liking.

Awesome casting. DD Lewis performance is as epic as it gets. Random good plays down the line. Hal Holbrook as Blair, guy who played Seward, the scrawny dude from Breaking Away that played Alexander Stephens. I just noticed that Grant was played by Jared Harris of Mad Men fame -but I didn't notice during the movie itself.

Movie probably should have ended with passing of the amendment and Lincoln walking down the hall of the WH to leave for Ford's theater -a real moment. Though Spielberg extends it a bit, and manages a decent second ending.

It's been 3 weeks since I saw it, so the lasting impression -great movie.