Monday, May 19, 2008
Raiders Rating
Oh, and Raiders of the Lost Ark definitely gets 4 1/2 out of 5 delicious fedora-tastic muffins.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Indiana Jones, and other things
So laziness has won yet again and alas, it looks like Musical #2 will not happen. I could say a few words on Sweeney Todd anyway... for example, it was almost exactly what I expected, that is, a Tim Burton movie in which Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp sing, complete with the expected accoutrements (deliciously dark moments, fantastic gothy-type costumes [including some black-and-white-striped dresses for Helena Bonham Carter that, while being completely expected in a Tim Burton movie, I also really coveted], etc). It was obvious that neither Depp nor Carter were really singers per se, but both carried it off relatively well, and as mentioned all the way back in the third or so entry in this blog, there is no movie than Alan Rickman does not make better.
As Sarah mentioned in a conversation we had on the film, Across the Universe and Sweeney Todd could be quite usefully contrasted by saying that Across the Universe cast singers rather than actors, which made the acting less impressive, and Sweeney Todd cast actors rather than singers, which made the songs less impressive. I think it should be at least somewhat obvious which approach I prefer-- yes, Burton's-- and even though the all the fake blood was a bit much for me to take (very intentionally over-the-top and stylized yes, but still gross) I did find Sweeney Todd to be quite entertaining.
Well. It seems I've said more than a few words on Sweeney Todd. I didn't intend to, I promise-- and I don't want to say anymore because it's been a few weeks since I saw it and without the film freshly in my head, I don't want to make any sort of foible that could later be used to poke holes in my credibility. ie make me look like a jackass.
My thought here actually was to tackle Raiders of the Lost Ark. Not in fact "Raiders of the Lost Arc," as I accidentally typed into imdb.com the other day... ah, Spielberg's epic film about the cosine that got away...
So much for not looking like a jackass.
Anyway. Indiana Jones and Star Wars were the two movies my dad made my sister and I watch as children and whatever differences my parents and I may have now, I still absolutely love both of these movies and I'm glad my dad introduced me to them at such a young age. In anticipation of the upcoming Indiana Jones movie, I thought I'd dash out a review of Raiders of the Lost Ark. I know it's the hip thing to be doing right now-- the Onion AV club just did it after all-- but what the hell. All I have to say is, I had better not get my heart broken again like with those tragic Star Wars prequels-- I hold out hope, but it is the hope of a movie-goer who is all too familiar with betrayal of a disastrous sequel.
Raiders is far superior to Temple of Doom, and somewhat superior to Last Crusade. Everyone says it, but it's true. Last Crusade is sweet due to the dynamic between Sean Connery and Harrison Ford, but Raiders is the true gem. Yeah, it's not a fantastic film (again the [perhaps-contrived?] contrast here between Film and Movie) but it's a damn good movie. George Lucas' vision (and he should stick to the 'visioning,' really), combined with Steven Spielberg's ability to create lasting movie images (witness Indiana Jone's iconic fedora-silhouette) combined with John Williams' ability to write comparably iconic theme music, combined with Harrison Ford's charisma make this a quality quality flick. And Karen Allen is the best of the Indiana Jones heroines/love-interests. She is the most likable, the most intelligent, and has the best dynamic with Ford. Yeah, she does the wilting useless woman thing from time to time, but she's feisty in a way that isn't irritating. The fact that she's going to be in the new Indiana Jones movie is one of the things that gives me hope about it.
And John Rhys-Davies is so wonderful. I would so have his Sallah/Gimli/Treebeard/DaVinci babies. He's good without trying, in the same way Harrison Ford is. And there's a monkey-- how can you argue with a monkey? And oh shit Nazis! And the best movie-scene story ever, of an elaborate market-place swordfight scene changing to Ford whipping out his pistol and just shooting a guy due to having diarrhea that day. Maybe it's an urban legend, maybe not, but I like it.
It's really difficult to write or think anything about Indiana Jones at this point, given just how iconic it's become, how much a part of our cultural lexicon. That scene with Indiana running from the giant rock-- what can you even say about that? Even people who haven't seen the movie (all fifteen of them) have seen that scene referenced over and over in pop culture. How can anything be said about Indiana Jones on its own, as it doesn't exist on its own anymore but rather as this thing, out in culture, that immediately comes to mind whenever one sees a fedora, or a whip, or hears the tiniest snippet of that theme music? Da-dada-da... da-dada... you know you're thinking it. If not, I refuse to acknowledge you as a person.
Anyway, in the end, it's really that very iconic quality that makes me have to nod to Spielberg and say Well Played, Sir, Well Played. Cause how many movies have taken on that quality in our stimulus-bombarded culture? Jaws, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park? Well done him. Again, not great films, but damn good movies. Not Room With a View, but Room With a View of Hell, Staircase of Satan, Pond of Death.
I will continue to hold out hope for the new Indiana Jones movie (perhaps only to be dashed on the cruel rocks that only a bad sequel to a beloved original can provide), and will write about it when I see it.
As Sarah mentioned in a conversation we had on the film, Across the Universe and Sweeney Todd could be quite usefully contrasted by saying that Across the Universe cast singers rather than actors, which made the acting less impressive, and Sweeney Todd cast actors rather than singers, which made the songs less impressive. I think it should be at least somewhat obvious which approach I prefer-- yes, Burton's-- and even though the all the fake blood was a bit much for me to take (very intentionally over-the-top and stylized yes, but still gross) I did find Sweeney Todd to be quite entertaining.
Well. It seems I've said more than a few words on Sweeney Todd. I didn't intend to, I promise-- and I don't want to say anymore because it's been a few weeks since I saw it and without the film freshly in my head, I don't want to make any sort of foible that could later be used to poke holes in my credibility. ie make me look like a jackass.
My thought here actually was to tackle Raiders of the Lost Ark. Not in fact "Raiders of the Lost Arc," as I accidentally typed into imdb.com the other day... ah, Spielberg's epic film about the cosine that got away...
So much for not looking like a jackass.
Anyway. Indiana Jones and Star Wars were the two movies my dad made my sister and I watch as children and whatever differences my parents and I may have now, I still absolutely love both of these movies and I'm glad my dad introduced me to them at such a young age. In anticipation of the upcoming Indiana Jones movie, I thought I'd dash out a review of Raiders of the Lost Ark. I know it's the hip thing to be doing right now-- the Onion AV club just did it after all-- but what the hell. All I have to say is, I had better not get my heart broken again like with those tragic Star Wars prequels-- I hold out hope, but it is the hope of a movie-goer who is all too familiar with betrayal of a disastrous sequel.
Raiders is far superior to Temple of Doom, and somewhat superior to Last Crusade. Everyone says it, but it's true. Last Crusade is sweet due to the dynamic between Sean Connery and Harrison Ford, but Raiders is the true gem. Yeah, it's not a fantastic film (again the [perhaps-contrived?] contrast here between Film and Movie) but it's a damn good movie. George Lucas' vision (and he should stick to the 'visioning,' really), combined with Steven Spielberg's ability to create lasting movie images (witness Indiana Jone's iconic fedora-silhouette) combined with John Williams' ability to write comparably iconic theme music, combined with Harrison Ford's charisma make this a quality quality flick. And Karen Allen is the best of the Indiana Jones heroines/love-interests. She is the most likable, the most intelligent, and has the best dynamic with Ford. Yeah, she does the wilting useless woman thing from time to time, but she's feisty in a way that isn't irritating. The fact that she's going to be in the new Indiana Jones movie is one of the things that gives me hope about it.
And John Rhys-Davies is so wonderful. I would so have his Sallah/Gimli/Treebeard/DaVinci babies. He's good without trying, in the same way Harrison Ford is. And there's a monkey-- how can you argue with a monkey? And oh shit Nazis! And the best movie-scene story ever, of an elaborate market-place swordfight scene changing to Ford whipping out his pistol and just shooting a guy due to having diarrhea that day. Maybe it's an urban legend, maybe not, but I like it.
It's really difficult to write or think anything about Indiana Jones at this point, given just how iconic it's become, how much a part of our cultural lexicon. That scene with Indiana running from the giant rock-- what can you even say about that? Even people who haven't seen the movie (all fifteen of them) have seen that scene referenced over and over in pop culture. How can anything be said about Indiana Jones on its own, as it doesn't exist on its own anymore but rather as this thing, out in culture, that immediately comes to mind whenever one sees a fedora, or a whip, or hears the tiniest snippet of that theme music? Da-dada-da... da-dada... you know you're thinking it. If not, I refuse to acknowledge you as a person.
Anyway, in the end, it's really that very iconic quality that makes me have to nod to Spielberg and say Well Played, Sir, Well Played. Cause how many movies have taken on that quality in our stimulus-bombarded culture? Jaws, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park? Well done him. Again, not great films, but damn good movies. Not Room With a View, but Room With a View of Hell, Staircase of Satan, Pond of Death.
I will continue to hold out hope for the new Indiana Jones movie (perhaps only to be dashed on the cruel rocks that only a bad sequel to a beloved original can provide), and will write about it when I see it.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Another Hulk movie
Really? I mean... really?
I think the obvious question here is.... why? And now they're dragging Edward Norton into it. I am decidedly skeptical.
Oh, and a review of Sweeney Todd will be coming soon, which should make the last post's title of "Musical #1" make a lot more sense. And a new muffins-based rating system. Promise.
I think the obvious question here is.... why? And now they're dragging Edward Norton into it. I am decidedly skeptical.
Oh, and a review of Sweeney Todd will be coming soon, which should make the last post's title of "Musical #1" make a lot more sense. And a new muffins-based rating system. Promise.
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