![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I didn't see most of the Oscar Nominees
Feb. 26th, 2012 06:35 pmTherefore, I caught up by seeing them Re-enacted by kids. This is in two parts.
Doctor Who on the Big Screen
Nov. 18th, 2011 12:48 pmAt least that's the rumour.
The piece says it will have no connection to the series, but I'm not sure what they mean by that. The two "Dr Who" films were remakes of specific storylines from the TV show, but I suspect that this time they really are going to do a "reimagining". As always, that can be good or bad, depending on what is done.
The piece says it will have no connection to the series, but I'm not sure what they mean by that. The two "Dr Who" films were remakes of specific storylines from the TV show, but I suspect that this time they really are going to do a "reimagining". As always, that can be good or bad, depending on what is done.
Lips red as blood, hair black as night...
Nov. 18th, 2011 12:44 pmTwo very different takes on Snow White coming out, although it seems both are willing to recast her role to be more active than "perfect housekeeper" thankfully. Despite that, it still looks like the Evil Queens (Charlize Theron and Julia Roberts) will be the most interesting characters to watch.
Epic Fantasy version
Self-aware Comedy version
Epic Fantasy version
Self-aware Comedy version
Quick Thoughts on The Captains
Oct. 14th, 2011 12:59 pm* William Shatner is not a very good documentarist.
* The film was fun anyway as an obvious labour of love.
* I may have developed a crush on Kate Mulgrew after years of disliking Voyager.
* Avery Brooks reminds me uncannily of Brother Blue, who I had the honour of storytelling with during my time in the greater Boston area.
* In one of the time points he was interviewed at, Patrick Stewart looked very frail. In the other not. He was fascinating in both.
* Scott Bakula looks fantastic now that he's embraced his aging.
* I think Shatner is trying to overcome his misogyny, but his very mode of expressing that is uncomfortable.
* The film was fun anyway as an obvious labour of love.
* I may have developed a crush on Kate Mulgrew after years of disliking Voyager.
* Avery Brooks reminds me uncannily of Brother Blue, who I had the honour of storytelling with during my time in the greater Boston area.
* In one of the time points he was interviewed at, Patrick Stewart looked very frail. In the other not. He was fascinating in both.
* Scott Bakula looks fantastic now that he's embraced his aging.
* I think Shatner is trying to overcome his misogyny, but his very mode of expressing that is uncomfortable.
Dame Helen Mirren as everybody
Sep. 27th, 2011 09:28 amLinda Holmes at NPR has a wonderful list of twenty iconic male movie roles in which Helen Mirren would have ruled.
I think they are all great, but #5, 7, 19, and 20 really appeal to me. (#14, too, but that's just because I have a crush on Tilda Swinton, too.)
I think they are all great, but #5, 7, 19, and 20 really appeal to me. (#14, too, but that's just because I have a crush on Tilda Swinton, too.)
A Royal Affair
Aug. 29th, 2011 10:12 amHaving now heard something of
Johann Friedrich Struensee, I really want to see Lars von Trier's film of the story, coming in 2012.
A summary of the Struensee story, as per Crooked Timber:
"What they would have seen was the rise to power of Johann Friedrich Struensee, appointed as a travelling physician to the crazy Danish King Christian VII in 1768 and then as his personal doctor the following year. By 1770 he’d managed both to become the lover of the Danish queen and to persuade the king to get rid of his other advisers and grant him almost unlimited power which he used to promote various Enlightenment goals such as the abolition of capital punishment and torture, and the end of censorship. However it wasn’t to last. He’d upset too many people and the King’s mother denounced his relationship with the Queen in early 1772 and he was tried and then executed (after having his right hand cut off). The Queen, Caroline Matilda (British in a Saxe-Coburg-Gotha kind of way) who had borne Struensee a child, Princess Louise Auguste. The child was recognized as the King’s but the mother was swiftly divorced and exiled to Germany."
Johann Friedrich Struensee, I really want to see Lars von Trier's film of the story, coming in 2012.
A summary of the Struensee story, as per Crooked Timber:
"What they would have seen was the rise to power of Johann Friedrich Struensee, appointed as a travelling physician to the crazy Danish King Christian VII in 1768 and then as his personal doctor the following year. By 1770 he’d managed both to become the lover of the Danish queen and to persuade the king to get rid of his other advisers and grant him almost unlimited power which he used to promote various Enlightenment goals such as the abolition of capital punishment and torture, and the end of censorship. However it wasn’t to last. He’d upset too many people and the King’s mother denounced his relationship with the Queen in early 1772 and he was tried and then executed (after having his right hand cut off). The Queen, Caroline Matilda (British in a Saxe-Coburg-Gotha kind of way) who had borne Struensee a child, Princess Louise Auguste. The child was recognized as the King’s but the mother was swiftly divorced and exiled to Germany."
Pirates > Thor > Priest
May. 25th, 2011 09:13 amHaving seen a flurry of blockbusters this week or so, I am sad to report that none blew me away.
However, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides was entertaining, and I thought better than the last two entries in that series. (I didn't like those much at all.) The de-fanging of Jack Sparrow is somewhat countered by Barbossa taking that role, and they are smart enough to let the film focus on Depp, Rush, and McShane and just use the pretty mermaid and pretty priest as eye candy.
Thor was fine, but lacked the wit and storytelling chops to match Iron Man. Some pretty man flesh and some good continuity for the whole Avengers thing, but nothing to write home about.
Priest is a mess that probably could have been salvaged if the material had been approached another way. Bettany and Urban (the latter especially) seem to be having lots of fun with the roles, though.
However, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides was entertaining, and I thought better than the last two entries in that series. (I didn't like those much at all.) The de-fanging of Jack Sparrow is somewhat countered by Barbossa taking that role, and they are smart enough to let the film focus on Depp, Rush, and McShane and just use the pretty mermaid and pretty priest as eye candy.
Thor was fine, but lacked the wit and storytelling chops to match Iron Man. Some pretty man flesh and some good continuity for the whole Avengers thing, but nothing to write home about.
Priest is a mess that probably could have been salvaged if the material had been approached another way. Bettany and Urban (the latter especially) seem to be having lots of fun with the roles, though.
Not really a review. I saw Ink last night, at the behest of my houseguest. I enjoyed it immensely. I thought it did a dreamworld better justice than Inception (although both pretty much use the dreamworld as an excuse for fight scenes). It makes no pretensions to serious depth, though, even if they overlap on a core message - you can't hide from the shame/guilt of your past mistakes or that will destroy you.
Now that's a twist!
Aug. 18th, 2010 01:28 amLast thought from Scott Pilgrim. No spoilers.
During the previews, a film about people trapped on an elevator, but one of them may be some kind of supernatural beast, came on. Whatever, could be ok, seemed to be the crowd reaction.
Then in the middle of the trailer, the writer/director's name was revealed.
M. Night Shyamalan.
The crowd burst out laughing. Pixie assures me this has happened every time she's seen that preview. He's become a punchline, the crowd immediately tuning out a potential horror flick based on his name alone.
Amazing.
During the previews, a film about people trapped on an elevator, but one of them may be some kind of supernatural beast, came on. Whatever, could be ok, seemed to be the crowd reaction.
Then in the middle of the trailer, the writer/director's name was revealed.
M. Night Shyamalan.
The crowd burst out laughing. Pixie assures me this has happened every time she's seen that preview. He's become a punchline, the crowd immediately tuning out a potential horror flick based on his name alone.
Amazing.
"It won't turn over"
Aug. 18th, 2010 01:21 amThat review reminded me - some time ago I mentioned how I saw Wizard of Oz and was shocked that a scene I *knew* was in the film, wasn't. Namely, when Dorothy is in the Witch's castle, there is an hourglass counting down the time she has left. In my mind, Dorothy goes to the hourglass, desperate for more time, and tries to turn it over, but it won't move. "It won't turn over. It won't turn over!" she cries.
I could even remember the tone of voice she said it in.
The scene doesn't exist. At least, I couldn't see it when I saw the film in a rep theater. I thought perhaps it was something not in the theatrical release, only on TV, but no one I told this to remembered such a scene.
I eventually dismissed it as my subconscious desire to have Dorothy be less passive making up a scene.
A while back, I watched Flash Gordon (the 1980s one) with a friend. In it, Flash is scheduled for execution, and Dale Arden goes to visit him. They are given a small amount of time together - measured by an hourglass (one which falls up, btw). They confess their love, but they have so little time. Dale goes to the hourglass, desperate for more time, and tries to turn it over, but it won't move. "It won't turn over. It won't turn over!" she cries.
So yeah - I somehow cut a scene from Flash Gordon into The Wizard of Oz. My brain is, upon occasion, odd.
I could even remember the tone of voice she said it in.
The scene doesn't exist. At least, I couldn't see it when I saw the film in a rep theater. I thought perhaps it was something not in the theatrical release, only on TV, but no one I told this to remembered such a scene.
I eventually dismissed it as my subconscious desire to have Dorothy be less passive making up a scene.
A while back, I watched Flash Gordon (the 1980s one) with a friend. In it, Flash is scheduled for execution, and Dale Arden goes to visit him. They are given a small amount of time together - measured by an hourglass (one which falls up, btw). They confess their love, but they have so little time. Dale goes to the hourglass, desperate for more time, and tries to turn it over, but it won't move. "It won't turn over. It won't turn over!" she cries.
So yeah - I somehow cut a scene from Flash Gordon into The Wizard of Oz. My brain is, upon occasion, odd.
Scott Pilgrim vs The World - Spoilers
Aug. 18th, 2010 01:01 amNon-spoiler version, this is a visually delightful film and a great way to while away a couple of hours.
( I could not think of something appropriately geeky for this cut text. )
( I could not think of something appropriately geeky for this cut text. )
Top 25 Movie Fight Scenes
May. 30th, 2010 07:03 pmThe people over at Movifone picked their top 25. A few of my favourites got in there. I am particularly pleased to see that the infamous Alleyway Sunglasses Fight from They Live placed as high as it did.
I don't think I agree with their #1.
I don't think I agree with their #1.
[review] - Alice in Wonderland
Mar. 6th, 2010 05:40 pmWell, it is Tim Burton doing Disney, so it is very pretty and rather tame.
( Curiouser and curiouser as we wander Spoiler land )
However, seeing it in 3D might be worth it for the Tron:Legacy trailer which made my little geek heart race with joy.
( Curiouser and curiouser as we wander Spoiler land )
However, seeing it in 3D might be worth it for the Tron:Legacy trailer which made my little geek heart race with joy.
On Images both still and moving
Mar. 5th, 2010 06:19 pmSome sensuous photography from Zhang Jingna (the site has some very nice things)
On the motion picture side of things, Chromakey is everywhere
I sort of knew they did a lot of CGI background work, but had no idea just how extensive it is even for seemingly mundane shots.
The shot lengths in movies are approaching the pink noise ratio of 1/f - a ratio found in many parts of nature and possibly the rhythm of the brain, according to a recent study. This may help make them more grippy, even if it doesn't make them better.
And as long as we are talking movies, an argument in favour of piracy.
Finally, a series of gender-swapped superheroes from the annual calendar at PortalComic, assessed by the people at Comics Alliance.
Some are fun, and the line about Rebel being "like if Shawn Michaels got super-powers in 1992" is very funny. But for me, the crowning glory of the piece is definitely Cross-gender Asterix and Obelix!!
On the motion picture side of things, Chromakey is everywhere
I sort of knew they did a lot of CGI background work, but had no idea just how extensive it is even for seemingly mundane shots.
The shot lengths in movies are approaching the pink noise ratio of 1/f - a ratio found in many parts of nature and possibly the rhythm of the brain, according to a recent study. This may help make them more grippy, even if it doesn't make them better.
And as long as we are talking movies, an argument in favour of piracy.
Finally, a series of gender-swapped superheroes from the annual calendar at PortalComic, assessed by the people at Comics Alliance.
Some are fun, and the line about Rebel being "like if Shawn Michaels got super-powers in 1992" is very funny. But for me, the crowning glory of the piece is definitely Cross-gender Asterix and Obelix!!
Classic Cinema Online
Feb. 22nd, 2010 09:01 amSometimes, you just want to watch old movies.
The Horror & Sci-Fi silent movie section alone is worth a look.
Metropolis (1927)
L'Inferno (1911)
Frankenstein (1910) [Edison]
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)
The Horror & Sci-Fi silent movie section alone is worth a look.
Metropolis (1927)
L'Inferno (1911)
Frankenstein (1910) [Edison]
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)
