Sorry for the recent lack of posting, but I've been a bit detained as of late. I'm out of the country until December, which means that the posts will be fewer, since I have yet to find time to go to a movie theatre or look up what's playing. I will participate in the October Movies You Didn't Know You Needed to See, however, and I'll undoubtedly see a dubbed version of Harry Potter 7 (Part I), so expect something on that :)
I'll keep up with the news, but it'll be hard for me to find out what's big on the radar for Fall. Until next time, enjoy this:
It's bootleg and shitty, I know, but it was my favorite dance in the movie (yes, I did see this, and yes, I paid for 3D). Water getting splashed to the ceiling. Gimmicky? Yes. But still awesome.
Last week I named movies that I thought could live up to one another in terms of quality. I got a couple of heated responses, which I enjoy, because what’s the point of blogging about movies if everyone always agrees? After this one, I’m definitely hoping to get more (although someone on my side is always pleasant). So let’s reiterate:
Rear Window (1954) /Disturbia (2007)
Friday the 13th (1980) / Friday the 13th (2009)
The Parent Trap (1960) / The Parent Trap (1998)
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)/ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
I already went over what I liked and disliked about all the “contenders.” Now, here comes the real challenge: deciding which, if I had to choose, I would rather watch on one of those nights where you’re just dying to veg out on the couch with a film and there are only two choices in your cabinet (which, in my case, I’d never let happen, although sometimes it feels like it… in that case I normally head to Family Video or the like). So, after a lot of thought, I came up with the following:
Disturbia- Hate me all you want, but I just did not find Rear Window scary. I loved the way it was framed almost like theatre and the vulnerability of the main character, but I found it to lack the intensity of a lot of Hitchcock's films. You don't get the heart pounding anxiety when Jeff is sitting at the window that you do in, say, North by Northwest, when Cary Grant is walking along a ledge above a quarrel trying to not be detected. Anyway, I'm not saying Rear Window is bad- on the contrary, I found it quite enjoyable to watch all the fabricated relationships Jimmy Stewart dreams up in his over active imagination. I'm just saying that when I want to watch a thriller, I want something to make me scared, and Disturbia does that. Maybe it's because the main character has nothing going for him. Maybe it's because it's easier for the neighbor to cover things up in his garage than in a living room. Whatever the case, I would choose Disturbia on a Friday night with nothing to do.
Friday the 13th (1980)- In my last post, I talked mainly about how in the newer version, you get to know the characters really well before they all die. The reason I like this one is because you really don't need to know them. Who really watches a horror movie for plot? Is it really as important as seeing someone with an axe outside the window of a camp counselor's room (even if it doesn't make any sense)? I think not.
The Parent Trap (1960)- Although the newer version seems to be infused with much more "Disney magic" and is better paced, I find the comedy to not be as genuine as in the original, and to me, that's what matters. Aside from the fact that Lindsay Lohan's accent is close to atrocious, I would rather watch a girl cut up another girl's skirt from behind than see furniture on the roof, and I'd rather see the girls serenade their parents awkwardly in song than see the parents awkwardly reminisce about thirty year old wine in a nasty basement. I'd rather watch the old version because it takes a highly impossible situation that would really never happen and makes it believable, instead of taking an impossible situation and making it funny, because in the end, it's still not possible, and we're just left with chuckles at bad sight gags... and a painful English accent. Although, a painful English accent is better than a painful coke addiction (I'm just saying).
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)- No, I did not like the creepy melting dolls that greet all the children when they enter Wonka's Factory. However, I did like the songs because they were taken right out of the book, and the plot was as well, unlike the old one in which Charlie drinks some weird shit that makes him float on the ceiling. Wait... wasn't the point of the book that he was the only one not to be tempted? Now, don't get me wrong- I love the old movie, for its Oompa Loompas, special effects (since most of my readers know how iffy I am about CGI) and of course, Gene Wilder. But if I want a good, solid, take-me-back-to-my-childhood story, of course I'm going to pick the new one because it's faithful to the message and mystical wonderland that Roald Dahl wanted to create for us. And Charlie's family is actually poor, and actually English. Just like Lindsay Lohan... oh wait, never mind.
Debate! Argue! Spill some blood.... or maybe just cyber ink.
Given Hollywood's current state of panicky mass remake mode that they've been in for the past, oh, maybe, twenty years, I decided to scour the books for the originals and remakes that go head to head (and also hope to spark heated arguments). I realize that there seems to be a usual trend of a remake butchering the amazingly done original, but every once in a while you find a gem of a film that both honors the content of the original movie while bringing in its own take. I'm going to list the contenders here for now, and say what is great about both, and then say which one is, in my opinion, the best. This is going to be super boring without participation, however, so I'm really asking people to get involved. There will be blood.
Rear Window (1954) or Disturbia (2007)?
Even though there was never an official "this is a remake" statement, the fact that Spielberg was slapped with a lawsuit from the Hitchcock estate is good enough cause to list Disturbia as a remake of this other thriller. Both have pretty riveting plots with amazingly well thought out character restrictions, although I find Disturbia's main character's house arrest a tad more interesting than the broken leg in Rear Window. Then again, there's the voyeuristic quality in Hitchcock's thriller that Spielberg's lacks, as Disturbia finds a way to maneuver its hero into the heart of the action via cameras and an underground passageway, thus taking away the quality of vulnerability brought about by only being able to observe what's going on from across the way. However, the dependence on tech rather than binoculars brings about a whole other quality of heart pounding fear, as you're much more invested in whether the characters will get caught since bugging someone's home is illegal while looking at it with binoculars is just creepy. At the same time, however, the fact that the salesman is able to hide what he's doing so easily in Rear Window makes our hero's obsession more compelling. What do you think?
Friday the 13th (1980) or Friday the 13th (2009)?
Both of these are horror films. Both have the same name. However, the plots are pretty different. There were a lot of people that criticized the 2007 version for essentially summing up the plot of the 1980 version in two minutes and then taking it in a whole other direction. While it’s valid that a remake should be pretty faithful to the tone of the original, I think that with a horror film, you can take some liberties. I mean, the original exists on its own, so to not make changes to it would be silly. If you don’t want changes, just watch the original film.
Now that I’ve said that little bit, on to the contenders. I like the first film because the large portion of the story or plot is focused on Jason and not the camp counselors, because, hey, they’re all gonna die anyway, so who gives a shit about their baggage? On the other hand, the newer version had its ups in making you invested in the college students because you actually wanted them to live. Yes, it was fun to watch Kevin Bacon get chainsawed, but it’s nice to sometimes NOT want the characters to die, too. Just a thought. At the same time, however, I have to say in all honesty that the special effects in the new one SUCKED. Sometimes, to make a horror movie, all you really need is a bucket of fake blood and a mask. The audience can put together the rest.
The Parent Trap (1961) or The Parent Trap (1998)?
Don’t you ever look back on the 1998 version and think, Wow, Lindsay Lohan was so cute. What the fuck happened?
Anyway, this is one remake where I honestly love both movies, and it comes down to this: I love the 1968 version for the girls, and I love the 1998 version for the adults. The camp scenes in the original are so hilariously reminiscent of the summer camp nightmares every kid experiences, from the bugle horn to the classic pranks and cabin rivalries. In the remake, I found the camp scenes a bit too sappy, but the sappy scenes that went with the romance of the two adults worked really well. It was nice to see what it was exactly that our two young heroines were fighting for. I don’t really remember there being quite as much chemistry between the parents in the original, which could have been casting, or could have been the protocol of a 1960s Disney movie. One thing I did like was the casting of Hayley Mills in the original, who was actually about fourteen, making her a way better actor than eleven year old Lindsay.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)?
To me, this is a hard one. I love Gene Wilder. He was a genius in this role, and Johnny Depp’s quirky eccentric-ness doesn’t quite compare. However, I didn’t really like the content of the original, since it doesn’t exactly follow the intentions or tone of the book. The remake, though it delves into an entirely unnecessarily backstory about Wonka’s daddy issues, keeps the exact plot and tone of the book, even keeping with the Great Glass Elevator. I like the original for the songs and Wonka, but I like the new one for the story and the other characters, such as Charlie and his family, who are (gasp!), actually English.
I'm sometimes not good at concealing my opinions, but I'll do a follow-up post with which versions I (honestly) think are better.
I've reached 10,000 visitors!! To celebrate I'll give a little shoutout to all my fellow movie bloggers who make the world of watching and reviewing and listening a fucking load of fun.
Also, thank you so much to whomever thought of me for Best Classic Movie Blog in the Lammys. I have no idea who it was, but I'm flattered.
As I'm still not fully up and running yet, I'll keep this short, but to keep you all entertained post a video (as always). Anyone remember this? It is, hands down, my favorite Pixar movie. Feature films included. I think Geri's Game kicks ass. :)
I realize haven't posted in almost a month. I apologize, although I'd be happy if no one noticed. I have a lot going on right now, and I'm also working to develop a new skin for the blog. Woooo! So I should be up and running soon and better than ever!
Until then, you should enjoy this wonderful work of art:
Taking a break from my normal discussions of lists and reviews, My Floating Red Couch has brought me into this mystical game of Movie Bloggers sharing their insights about themselves, and I feel the need to oblige. The harder part for me will be figuring out who I should "tag," but we'll worry about that later. We'll keep it short and sweet so that you can all get out on time.
Top Ten Movie Facts About Myself:
1. The first movie I ever saw in the theatre sans my parents was Babe 2: Pig in the City. I was eight and thought it was the coolest thing ever that my friend and I got to go in without an adult.
2. I didn't see Gone With the Wind until this year (sad, I know, but totally worth the wait).
3. I'm not one for buying food at the movie theatre unless it's like five people sharing one thing of popcorn. As a result, my friends and I have smuggled everything from gourmet salads to root beer floats into the theatre without ever getting caught.
4. I'm still bitter about Judi Dench winning Best Supporting Actress for Shakespeare in Love (even though it was over ten years ago), and will be for a long time.
5. I cried for over an hour when Christopher Reeve died.
6. My favorite child actor is Justin Henry in Kramer vs. Kramer. A close second would be Anna Paquin in The Piano.
7. I'll admit to taking part in a Disney movie marathon... over the age of eighteen.
8. Movies I have memorized all the way through (and can literally recite from opening statement to end): Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Ever After (although I haven't tried to recite this one in a while so I don't know well it would turn out).
Because blogging is largely about reading others' work and saying "I could do that, but better...." I've decided to do a response post to a recent post by one of my fellow Movie Bloggers, Heather of Movie Mobsters. I read the Top Ten Action Stars (which I'll give props to being well written and well thought out and entertaining) and was slightly uncomfortable that there were no women on the list. I get that the typical action "hero" in the past has been a male-dominated genre, but there are plenty of women that kick ass on screen and ones that I would argue rose to fame as being action stars. So the following is a list of my favorites, in a moment of Female Empowerment:
10. Milla Jojovich
I haven't seen Resident Evil, nor do I intend to. However, I did see the Fifth Element, and I think that to call Bruce Willis the star of this movie is an overstatement, because Milla Jojovich as an action star provided cause for the entire plot to happen. There wouldn't have been a movie without her, and if you don't have any idea what I'm talking about, go out and rent it because all I can say is that action movies are where she belongs.
9. Sienna Miller
She was the only remotely interesting character in G.I. Joe. Most likely because they gave her actual action skills to work with instead of computer animated technology. Let's ponder this and make the connection between her being the lead female character.
8. Franka Potente
I first saw her in the Bourne Identity and thought she was pretty awesome. Then, I saw Run, Lola, Run. All I can say is, if there were more female characters that were along the lines of Lola, the movie industry would be a much better place for women.
7. Lucy Liu
From being the only one to actually look like she has some sort of fighting skills in Charlie's Angels (Drew Barrymore? Really? We're not that stupid) to being a murderess in Chicago, to playing the head of the Japanese Mafia in Kill Bill, I think we can successfully come to the conclusion that Lucy Liu is ruthless.
6. Jennifer Garner
She successfully took her TV action skills and seamlessly transitioned from "Alias" to Daredevil, and then to Elektra. We forget that before desperate Mom-to-be in Juno, there was Jennifer Garner the action hero synonymous with being a double agent, and later a superhero.
5. Rosario Dawson
Sin City. Josie and the Pussycats. Deathproof. Men In Black 2. Is there anything Rosario can't do? There are no words. I tried to find a clip from Sin City to show how awesome she is, but alas, there were none on youtube save for stupid fan shit. We'll just have to tap into the most memorable parts of the movie stored in our brains.
4. Sigourney Weaver
I have yet to see a movie Sigourney Weaver in which there aren't aliens involved, unless you count GhostBusters. And WALL-E. But... yeah. She's kind of always fighting something, which is what makes her an awesome action star, from Alien to Galaxy Quest to Avatar. You can't have a list like this and not include Sigourney Weaver.
3. Linda Hamilton
There is no better female action hero than Sarah Conner. Although Linda Hamilton has had a pretty successfully diverse acting career since 1984, the world will forever remember her as the awesomely ripped gun-loading futuristic female hero and later mom (I, personally liked Judgement Day waaay better).
2. Kate Beckinsale
Although a lot of people associate her with being in serious indie movies, people seem to forget that Kate Beckinsale first came to our attention kicking ass and taking werewolf names in Underworld, and then again in the sequel (both of which I have seen, although I must admit that I never saw Rise of the Lycans and opted instead to see My Bloody Valentine in 3D. I still am not sure if I made the right decision). Needless to say, I would call her a pretty awesome female action star.
1. Anjelina Jolie
Though she has dabbled more recently in serious dramatic roles (and even won an Oscar for Girl, Interrupted), I would argue that Anjelina Jolie, whether you're a fan of hers or not, is the Queen of Action Movies. From the time she took on Lara Croft, America has embraced her as this emblem of what the most awesomely badass female can aspire to. Add that to Gone in 60 Seconds, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Wanted, and now Salt, she dominates the action world. Even at forty, she still can hang out of a car window and shoot bad guys. If that's not an action star, I don't know what is.
I have a question for all you lovely bloggers out there: if the Oscars have been traditionally career-stunting in the past (Halle Berry and Kate Winslet, anyone?), what is someone like Sandra Bullock, who didn't really have a stellar acting career to begin with, to do? At this point I think returning to duds like All About Steve is just awkward, not to mention cements the fact that she shouldn't have gotten the damn Oscar to begin with. On the other hand, however, I just can't picture her in mind-blowing, career changing roles. So... if she can't go up, and can't go down, does that mean even more movies as terrible as The Blind Side will be made? I hope not.
On a better note, I was immensely happy to see Mo'Nique win Best Supporting. More happy than I was when she won the Golden Globe (I mean, this is the fucking Oscars). She gave, as always, a heartfelt and touching speech, and I mean that with the deepest sincerity. Only a real asshole would turn the cut-off music on her. I haven't seen anyone as openhearted. Just to show some love:
I was also really happy to see Kathryn Bigelow win Best Director. It's high time that the award goes to a woman, and I loved that they kept flashing to James Cameron's reaction to the results. I couldn't find her actual speech, but there was a great interview with her afterward:
My only other gripe about this year's Oscars, was, of course, Up. I knew it would win Best Animated Film, but I was still immensely disappointed when I compared it mentally to what it was up against. I've said this before, and I'll say it again- I have a lot of issues with Up and I think that to call it a children's film is to cheat children out of a full film. It basically insinuates that it doesn't matter if you market a film to kids that they'll only understand a quarter of, and the parts that they do understand are cheap laughs and side gags. Because I don't feel like going more into this, I'm just going to say that Coraline had a more sophisticated animation style and The Secret of Kells was more concise, and either deserved the award more than Up.
If you didn't watch the Oscars this year, I'd say that the overall feeling was that they were very rushed. It was as if there was this race or push to get to the end, the very thing that the Academy always tries to avoid!! I just felt that because of all the Best Picture Nominations, they didn't take any time in relishing any of the movies, whether the nomination was for Best Picture or Best Documentary Short. The Oscars are not just about announcing the Best of this year's films- they are about appreciating what is out there in terms of cinema, and for some reason, this year's awards ceremony seemed to forget about that goal.
Thanks to M. Carter for pointing out that I was listed on "600 Movie Blogs You Might Have Missed"! I'll post the link here. Also TotalFilm is super fucking fun to poke around in, if you are like me and have no motivation to actually work.
Up Next: Once Upon A Time in the West (1968). Also there might be a double feature if I'm feeling particularly generous. I haven't exactly been whoring myself out to movies lately, so it might be high time to do so.
So I just realized that my previous post was #100. That was exciting, even though it wasn't a particularly enigmatic one since I didn't really like the movie. Annnnyway, I decided I'm going to actually follow through on one of my promises on an earlier post and help you celebrate. So, without further ado....
THE TWILIGHT/NEW MOON DRINKING GAME (trust me- it will work with either movie)
1. Every time Bella changes her emotion 2. Every time Bella stutters 3. Every time Bella looks high 4. Every time there is a cutaway to forest scenery 5. Every time slow motion effects are used 6. Every time anyone says the words "I can't live without you" 7. Every time you a vampire starts sparkling 8. Every time Jacob says a joke that isn't funny 9. Every time Charlie mentions the fact that he's a bachelor to Bella (which, btw, is kind of creepy)
and, if you REALLY want to get fucked up,
10. Every time Edward looks like a creepy sex offender/stalker
If you want to take it for a test drive, here are the trailers for both:
So... Can I just say that I am so fucking happy that Avatarwon Best Motion Picture? I saw it twice (once in a regular theatre and then again in 3-D) and I have to say that I think it deserved recognition. James Cameron's little sci-fi that could went far, and no matter the mixed reviews, you have to admit that it's pretty fucking awesome. No one really expected it to reach the mass appeal that it did, and yet the box office sales are close to passing Titanic. Anyway, if you missed the awards, the Movie Mistress is here to point out the night's highlights so that you can have even more savvy knowledge of popular culture over your peers. So, without further ado, The Golden Globe goes to...
1.) Mo'Nique- Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Well deserved, and the first award to start off the evening. It was actually legitimately exciting to watch her win because you could tell she genuinely cared and was totally grateful. Plus, Precious is a fantastic movie.
2.) John Lithgow- Best Supporting Actor in a Television Show
If you haven't ever seen Dexter, John Lithgow is a creepy mother fucker. He completely sold us on the role of the Trinity Killer and props to him for winning.
3.) Chloe Sevigny- Best Supporting Actress in a TV Show
I watch Big Love regularly, and last season, Chloe Sevigny totally stepped up to the plate in terms of character. Hers is one of the most interesting and complex characters I've seen on television in a while, and I was so happy that she won.
4.) Glee- Best Television Show (Comedy or Musical)
Doesn't it just make you want to start singing?
5.) Christoph Waltz- Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Best villain ever. Haven't seen Inglorious Basterds? Well, all I can say is, that is NOT a BINGO.
...Aaand, of course, there's Meryl Streep competing against herself... and winning. I was really glad she won for Julie and Julia, since she was the best part of that movie and pretty much made my viewing experience worthwhile.
Oh, and Ricky Gervais. I don't think there has been a host who has overused the self promotion card the amount of times that he did at the Globes. The weird thing was that it just got funnier each time, most likely because he had already set the precedent of not being PC at all so it didn't end up looking pathetic. The best moment was when he nearly lost it and actually professed that he most likely would not be asked back. Which is probably true, since I don't think Americans are as open as the British in terms of telling penis jokes on public television without masking them with clever jargon. Anyway, he had everyone in the room in stitches, and was definitely something to watch.
Now, I wouldn't be the Movie Mistress if I didn't also discuss the Low Points of this year's awards, or, as you can cleverly say to all your friends and coworkers, the What The Fuck Was That Garbage About?!? Awards. First Up...
1.) The Hangover- Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical
I'm sorry, but as much as I enjoyed this movie... no. It isn't deserving of a Golden Globe. It's entertaining, but it's a ridiculous frat boy comedy with cheap laughs. Give it to It's Complicated or something more original.
I knew this was going to win, but I was still sad when I compared it to what it was up against. Well, ok, maybe not The Princess and the Frog, but The Fantastic Mr. Fox? Coraline? Waaay better than Up. I know a lot of people will disagree with me on this one, but I'm pretty particular on my animation preferences.
3.) Sandra Bullock- Best Actress in a Motion Picture (for The Blind Side)
Should have gone to Gabourney Sidibe for Precious. Not even going to go any further in explanation.
So there you go. Now you can be on top of all the post Awards gossip. Unfortunately, for all us movie buffs, however, Hollywood never sleeps. On to the Oscars!
