Movies

[Gintaras]

Hoffman, funny seeing the article you linked reference The Stewardesses, which has to be the most successful, if one of the most awful, 3-D movies ever made with a 27 million to one hundred grand ratio between gross to production cost.

[harrie]

Watched Ink, which barton semi-recommended - and I'll go out on a limb and fully recommend it. As barton noted, Ink handles the special effects issues in an innovative, fairly effective manner -- I can't find the budget figure, but will take barton's word it wasn't mega.  Ink manages to give the viewer sci-fi in the way of demons (incubi are demons, aren't they?), alternate timelines and real characters/story -- with decent performances from no-name actors -- even if it's kind of an old reliable plot (redemption).  While I could tell where the story was going, I totally enjoyed the journey.  The chain reaction scene is trippy and fun, providing a light touch just about when you need it in this dark tale. And I spent the first couple of minutes in WTF mode, but it was worth sticking with it and finding out what Ink is all about.  Ink is on Hulu.com, and it's free; it's worth a look. Or not, you can always turn it off if you hate it.

[harrie]

Oh yeah - to go back in time, so to speak - based on recommendations by barton and knox, I thought Moon might be worth owning -- hence the purchase.  But I don't think Netflix is for me, because with working full-time (for which I'm grateful in this economy), moonlight gardening late spring through late fall, and hockey season mid-fall through early June(!) these days, I don't think I could watch enough stuff knock the monthly charge down to any kind of bargain.   As it is, we were supposed to have a real, new movie date this weekend and that's already been knocked off the calendar; so for now I've decided to go with mes amis at the good Blockbuster and/or the odd bargain purchase. Netflix does have an amazing selection, though.

[barton]

Makes sense.  One thing about Nflix, tho, is that you can turn it off and on -- do the one-disk deal (8.99) for a month when you plan to be indoors more, and then switch it off the next.  Glad you liked "Ink" and got past the initial WTF mode.   The coffee shop chat, between the dad and daughter, in the Extras, was sort of charming, too. 

Caught A Serious Man last night -- everything Whiskeypriest said, and a plate of cookies.   Love all the rabbi scenes, including the one with the young rabbi (who is a geek on The Big Bang Theory, btw) and his philosophy of the parking lot view.  No one does philosophic-comedy quite like the bros.  ASM goes into their Top Five, in my book, and shows them extending their range.

 

[Lhoffman]

Hoffman, funny seeing the article you linked reference The Stewardesses, which has to be the most successful, if one of the most awful, 3-D movies ever made with a 27 million to one hundred grand ratio between gross to production cost.

Some of the films mentioned in the article looked like a great deal of fun.   And the 3-D would have put the schlock factor over the top.  Not to mention the silliness of sitting in a theatre surrounded by people wearing kitschy eye-wear.

[luee]

Oscars around the corner; caught Hurt Locker a very interesting and different war film. Was it worthy of the Oscar, yes. My personal rankings 1. Blind side 2. Hurt Locker 3. Basterds 4. Avatar of the four I was fortunate enough to view.

[Lhoffman]

.....I can only hope that Burton's Alice will be better.  

Me too!   In the meantime:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZycu55aIn0&feature=related

[Lhoffman]

The weirdest take I've seen on Alice is Richard Elfman's (scored by brother Danny) The Forbidden Zone.   

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080752/

[Gintaras]

I've mentioned it before, but have you seen Svankmajer's Alice?

[luee]

Oscar ballot from the Times

http://oscars.nytimes.com/2010/ballot/begin

[Gintaras]

Caught A Serious Man last night -- everything Whiskeypriest said, and a plate of cookies.   Love all the rabbi scenes, including the one with the young rabbi (who is a geek on The Big Bang Theory, btw) and his philosophy of the parking lot view.  No one does philosophic-comedy quite like the bros.  ASM goes into their Top Five, in my book, and shows them extending their range.

I thought it was extremely well done also.  The Jefferson Airplane tie-in, along with the Columbia record company subscription was great and Aaron Wolf was fantastic as Danny.

[barton]

"Dad, F-Troop is still fuzzy!"

 

[Gintaras]

Barton, I think you would like The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes, if you haven't seen it yet.  It appears to draw its inspiration from The Invention of Morel with wonderful operatic performances and the kind of fantasy world one can only expect from the Quay Brothers.

[nytempsperdu]

Re The Hurt Locker, I heard an interview with Bigelow who cited Chris  Hedges' War Is The Force That Gives Us Meaning that was read and discussed by some of us.

[Lhoffman]

I've mentioned it before, but have you seen Svankmajer's Alice?

I have quite few of Svankmajer's films...I like Little Otik best I think.   The Alice is very strange...all the lips speaking up close, and teeth.  I don't quite get how it works, but it does.

We went to see Tim Burton's Alice this evening.   I loved the Cheshire cat..3-D used to great effect.   And Helena Bonham Carter overshines Depp...that was unexpected.