Sunday, November 27, 2005
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Review: Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
This is when the books went from medium to large. So from now on, it is going be quite tricky for the team creating the movie to cover the territory completely enough to satisfy an audience that in some cases tends toward the obsessive. What I will say is that they have made a good start of it. Yes, things get left out, but the core of the book is there, and enough of the periphery is covered to not require too much backtracking through the rest of the series. What gets left out is detailed explanation of some things, such as the workings of the pensieve; there is an extent to which the film relies on the audience being able to fill in the blanks for themselves.
Some of the criticism I have seen talks about the pacing of the movie, and it is true that some parts feel rushed. But it doesn't really detract from the story. We also get a darker tone, but considering the direction of the series from this point forward, it has to be dark. The effects are fluid and generally integrate well into the live action shots. And the casting is spot-on all the way through.
It's pretty much a given that any fan of the books will see this movie, so this review is less about making a recommendation than simply acknowledging that this is a worthy addition to the series, in fact the best so far.
Side note: the kids at this showing were very well behaved, and there was about a half hour's worth of commercials and previews prior to the start. Preview highlight: King Kong. Preview lowlight: Cheaper by the Dozen 2.
Rating: four of a kind.
This is when the books went from medium to large. So from now on, it is going be quite tricky for the team creating the movie to cover the territory completely enough to satisfy an audience that in some cases tends toward the obsessive. What I will say is that they have made a good start of it. Yes, things get left out, but the core of the book is there, and enough of the periphery is covered to not require too much backtracking through the rest of the series. What gets left out is detailed explanation of some things, such as the workings of the pensieve; there is an extent to which the film relies on the audience being able to fill in the blanks for themselves.
Some of the criticism I have seen talks about the pacing of the movie, and it is true that some parts feel rushed. But it doesn't really detract from the story. We also get a darker tone, but considering the direction of the series from this point forward, it has to be dark. The effects are fluid and generally integrate well into the live action shots. And the casting is spot-on all the way through.
It's pretty much a given that any fan of the books will see this movie, so this review is less about making a recommendation than simply acknowledging that this is a worthy addition to the series, in fact the best so far.
Side note: the kids at this showing were very well behaved, and there was about a half hour's worth of commercials and previews prior to the start. Preview highlight: King Kong. Preview lowlight: Cheaper by the Dozen 2.
Rating: four of a kind.
kma fandango
Note to Firefox users: the Fandango ticket site does not seem to work on Firefox. Shame on them.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
White Apples - Question 1
What three meals from your past would you like to eat again? Describe the three most memorable meals you've ever had -- one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner. (from White Apples, by Jonathan Carroll).
Difficult question. Some of my most memorable meals I would not choose to have again, for the reasons that made them memorable. The Tony-Paul brawl dinner, for example.
Picnic lunch, road trip with R, 1998; somewhere in Colorado. Relatively warm, but snow all around, drifts hanging over a clear stream.
I'll edit this when I think of other meals.
12.20.05 added:
There was a breakfast, actually a brunch, a few years back with the J & K group, a lot of people from college, over at the Twisted Spoke. I don't remember what I ate, or much of the concrete details, it just sticks out as a moment with a group of people that would soon after be scattered to some extent.
Dinner. What was it we ate? Yummy salad, and perhaps some fish and pasta concoction? It was a couple years ago at Tony and Ron's place near L.A. Memorable for the massive amounts of wine and details of old family stories/skeletons.
Difficult question. Some of my most memorable meals I would not choose to have again, for the reasons that made them memorable. The Tony-Paul brawl dinner, for example.
Picnic lunch, road trip with R, 1998; somewhere in Colorado. Relatively warm, but snow all around, drifts hanging over a clear stream.
I'll edit this when I think of other meals.
12.20.05 added:
There was a breakfast, actually a brunch, a few years back with the J & K group, a lot of people from college, over at the Twisted Spoke. I don't remember what I ate, or much of the concrete details, it just sticks out as a moment with a group of people that would soon after be scattered to some extent.
Dinner. What was it we ate? Yummy salad, and perhaps some fish and pasta concoction? It was a couple years ago at Tony and Ron's place near L.A. Memorable for the massive amounts of wine and details of old family stories/skeletons.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Reviews: Down by Chow
Finally caught up on my rental reviews with these last two...
Down by Law (1996) - From the poetic, whimsical mind of Jim Jarmusch comes a tale of three cons thrown together in a jail cell too small for their ambitions. Tom Waits, Roberto Benigni, and John Lurie each play their character with such ease down to the smallest detail that it is as though they aren't even acting. And perhaps they are not; maybe they really all couldn't stand each other at first and bonded over the course of filming. In the end, maybe it doesn't matter which road you take, so long as you are ready to start walking. Rating: full house.
Kung Fu Hustle (2004) - This movie is just silly. But what does one expect from the guy who unleashed cult classic Shaolin Soccer upon the world? The martial arts are like a live-action cartoon, which I suppose is the blessing or curse of the movie; purists who long for Bruce Lee authenticity and cringed at Crouching Tiger will absolutely abhor this entry into the martial arts canon. But if you're okay with a thin plot and deviously fun fight scenes, this is not to be missed. Rating: flush.
Down by Law (1996) - From the poetic, whimsical mind of Jim Jarmusch comes a tale of three cons thrown together in a jail cell too small for their ambitions. Tom Waits, Roberto Benigni, and John Lurie each play their character with such ease down to the smallest detail that it is as though they aren't even acting. And perhaps they are not; maybe they really all couldn't stand each other at first and bonded over the course of filming. In the end, maybe it doesn't matter which road you take, so long as you are ready to start walking. Rating: full house.
Kung Fu Hustle (2004) - This movie is just silly. But what does one expect from the guy who unleashed cult classic Shaolin Soccer upon the world? The martial arts are like a live-action cartoon, which I suppose is the blessing or curse of the movie; purists who long for Bruce Lee authenticity and cringed at Crouching Tiger will absolutely abhor this entry into the martial arts canon. But if you're okay with a thin plot and deviously fun fight scenes, this is not to be missed. Rating: flush.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
flipping channels
It's a Sunday night. Flipping channels, bouncing between movies, a mid 80's nostalgia festival being played out on multiple stations. Pretty in Pink, Goonies, Sixteen Candles. I check the listings, fully expecting Say Anything or the Breakfast Club to be on as well, but no. But I'm struck by the naive sweetness of these films, for some reason more today than any other time I have seen them. Maybe it's just an overload of soundtrack driven sentiment and longing for moments I never really had. And I'm wondering if I still could have such moments, or if I am too cynical, too old and wizened to the cruelties of the world to have them.
I take life for granted too much, perhaps. I look for joy, but I don't think I seek out nearly enough. I don't take risks the way I did when I was young, I mean really young, to the point where even if I knew better I just didn't care. Silly things like sneaking off on my bike to Ford City to see the aforementioned Goonies. Twice. At the age of 12, and that was the last time I ever sat in a theater by myself, and probably the last summer when I wasn't self-conscious and worried about other people's opinions.
I hate how shallow and defiant this world is. I hate how callous people are. I hate these traits in me.
I take life for granted too much, perhaps. I look for joy, but I don't think I seek out nearly enough. I don't take risks the way I did when I was young, I mean really young, to the point where even if I knew better I just didn't care. Silly things like sneaking off on my bike to Ford City to see the aforementioned Goonies. Twice. At the age of 12, and that was the last time I ever sat in a theater by myself, and probably the last summer when I wasn't self-conscious and worried about other people's opinions.
I hate how shallow and defiant this world is. I hate how callous people are. I hate these traits in me.
Reviews: the legless hitchhiker
More reviews.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) - When one is adapting a beloved work of fiction, there are really a few central questions to be answered: Can the spirit of the work be captured? What is essential and what gets cut? Does the interpretation cheapen the source material? Will the fanboys rip you a new asshole when you don't get it just right? The answer to all of those questions, obviously, is 42. Seriously, all that I hoped for with this movie was to come away from it not thinking about Douglas Adams spinning in his grave. And it succeeded on that level, streamlining the story a bit and casting the characters fairly well. While it isn't on a scale of adaptation as Lord of the Rings, it doesn't disappoint. It does help immensely to be familiar with the book, though, so novice hitchhikers may want to grab their favorite towel and read the source material prior to seeing it. Rating: full house.
Saw (2004) - Thrillers are not my usual fare. I find them boring and predictable, generally latching on to some signature style and then playing it out over numerous sequels that devolve into farce. That said, I was very pleased with how this movie played out, the twists it took, the dilemmas the characters faced, and the prospect of Cary Elwes hacking his leg off. A good, fun movie for your next family get-together, with the holidays upon us it would also make a great stocking stuffer. Rating: straight.
Dodgeball (2004) - Another uncharacteristic choice for me (I'm pretty damn picky, I know). Pirate Steve! Dodge! Duck! Dip! Dive! Dodge! The main characters pull it off nicely, and their are some choice cameos sprinkled throughout. Pretty much exactly what you want from a brain-dead "let's all get together for some beers and a movie" kind of evening. See it, and remember to dress in leather for the occasion. Rating: straight flush.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) - When one is adapting a beloved work of fiction, there are really a few central questions to be answered: Can the spirit of the work be captured? What is essential and what gets cut? Does the interpretation cheapen the source material? Will the fanboys rip you a new asshole when you don't get it just right? The answer to all of those questions, obviously, is 42. Seriously, all that I hoped for with this movie was to come away from it not thinking about Douglas Adams spinning in his grave. And it succeeded on that level, streamlining the story a bit and casting the characters fairly well. While it isn't on a scale of adaptation as Lord of the Rings, it doesn't disappoint. It does help immensely to be familiar with the book, though, so novice hitchhikers may want to grab their favorite towel and read the source material prior to seeing it. Rating: full house.
Saw (2004) - Thrillers are not my usual fare. I find them boring and predictable, generally latching on to some signature style and then playing it out over numerous sequels that devolve into farce. That said, I was very pleased with how this movie played out, the twists it took, the dilemmas the characters faced, and the prospect of Cary Elwes hacking his leg off. A good, fun movie for your next family get-together, with the holidays upon us it would also make a great stocking stuffer. Rating: straight.
Dodgeball (2004) - Another uncharacteristic choice for me (I'm pretty damn picky, I know). Pirate Steve! Dodge! Duck! Dip! Dive! Dodge! The main characters pull it off nicely, and their are some choice cameos sprinkled throughout. Pretty much exactly what you want from a brain-dead "let's all get together for some beers and a movie" kind of evening. See it, and remember to dress in leather for the occasion. Rating: straight flush.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
!vOrTeX! 11.05
"That's a very satisfying carpet." But I don't have a shirt to go with it. How can I take a hiatus if I cannot even dress for it? And yet, here we are, a month of absence in the land of mix CDs, and despite having consumed in that time a quarter of a bottle of krupnikas, half a bottle of vanilla-flavored vodka, numerous varieties of beer, perhaps a glass of scotch, Bailey's, white rum, numerous red and white wines, and even some madeira, these are all things that didn't kill me. Still, anyone can appreciate such a satisfying carpet.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Reviews: colors and casino
Catching up on recent Netflix items that I never got around to reviewing.
Le Cercle Rouge (1970): French flick about two cons on a job and the savvy officer trying to track them down. Scenes that revolve around cigarettes, trunks, lessons in metallurgy, and why it is important to run fast. An interesting predecessor to some other heist/robbery movies. Rating: three of a kind.
Blue/White/Red (1993-94): The Three Colors trilogy. Various takes on love and loss and the lengths we will go to trying to hold on to a dream. Alternately tragic, soothing, and passionate; each film stands on its' own quite well but it does seem best to watch them all in succession. Oddly, it is rarely the main characters that hold our attention as much as the supporting cast, who infuse each movie with just the right amount of mania, level-headedness, or balance that is needed. All together, I rate this series a straight flush.
Casino Royale (1967): A satire of the Bond films, a showcase for experiments from directors who should know better, Peter Sellers, Orson Welles and Woody Allen, editing that tries to rescue the movie but only brings to the fore what a mess it was to begin with. There are a few brilliant moments that make it worth seeing, if you can manage to sit through the filler. Rating: two pair.
More catch-up reviews soon.
Le Cercle Rouge (1970): French flick about two cons on a job and the savvy officer trying to track them down. Scenes that revolve around cigarettes, trunks, lessons in metallurgy, and why it is important to run fast. An interesting predecessor to some other heist/robbery movies. Rating: three of a kind.
Blue/White/Red (1993-94): The Three Colors trilogy. Various takes on love and loss and the lengths we will go to trying to hold on to a dream. Alternately tragic, soothing, and passionate; each film stands on its' own quite well but it does seem best to watch them all in succession. Oddly, it is rarely the main characters that hold our attention as much as the supporting cast, who infuse each movie with just the right amount of mania, level-headedness, or balance that is needed. All together, I rate this series a straight flush.
Casino Royale (1967): A satire of the Bond films, a showcase for experiments from directors who should know better, Peter Sellers, Orson Welles and Woody Allen, editing that tries to rescue the movie but only brings to the fore what a mess it was to begin with. There are a few brilliant moments that make it worth seeing, if you can manage to sit through the filler. Rating: two pair.
More catch-up reviews soon.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Pool
It has been so long since I played pool. How long has it been? I don't even know, that's how long. Met up with Richard, Brant and George at a location that shall remain undisclosed, since it is apparently the "super-secret pool room that nobody knows about where you can always get a table." And this is true. Some things never change, though; I still have a knack for making a difficult shot and then following it up by missing an easy one. One thing I did realize is how much I miss playing, so if anyone's up for a game, let me know. And then I can let you in on the secret.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
random 11.5
I know I haven't posted much lately. I've been busy writing a treatise on climate change, entitled: "Global Warming - An Intelligent Design Perspective, or Tell St. Peter to stop playing with the thermostat."
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