I didn't mind this film. It was The Never Ending Story meets The Wizard of Oz; Dr Parnassus meets Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Going into the film I had heard more negative reviews than positive. I think this version of Wizard of Oz needs to be regarded as a separate entity from the cartoon. Just like Tim Burton's version of Charlie and the Chocolate factory is quite different than the Gene Wilder version.
It also took me 4/5 of the duration of the film to realize that this Alice in Wonderland is more of a Alice: Part Deux. The character is 13 years older than the cartoon version.
What I found strong about this film was the visuals. While heavy on the CGI, the overall effect was pretty cool. This is the latest 3D film to be released. For budgetary reasons, and preference I went for the 2D, but I can see how the film would offer a lot to the 3D audience.
I don't think I can recommend this film because it is very much a Disney movie, and the PG rating shines very bright. Unless you premeditate an open mind walking into this film, you will probably be disappointed.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Dr Strangelove or: How I learned to Stop Worrying, and Love the Bomb (1964)
This is definitely one of my favourite films of all time. Just everything about it is awesome. The soundtrack, the acting, the cinematography, and the script.
I've seen this film a number of times now (as I own it), and every time it rocks my socks.
My favourite scene is when Peter Sellers as the president has a conversation with the Russian president over the phone. You never hear or see the Russian president because the entire scene is from Peter Sellers point of view. So good I have to now quote the entire monologue:
[to Kissoff] Hello?... Uh... Hello D- uh hello Dmitri? Listen uh uh I can't hear too well. Do you suppose you could turn the music down just a little?... Oh-ho, that's much better... yeah... huh... yes... Fine, I can hear you now, Dmitri... Clear and plain and coming through fine... I'm coming through fine, too, eh?... Good, then... well, then, as you say, we're both coming through fine... Good... Well, it's good that you're fine and... and I'm fine... I agree with you, it's great to be fine... a-ha-ha-ha-ha... Now then, Dmitri, you know how we've always talked about the possibility of something going wrong with the Bomb... The *Bomb*, Dmitri... The *hydrogen* bomb!... Well now, what happened is... ahm... one of our base commanders, he had a sort of... well, he went a little funny in the head... you know... just a little... funny. And, ah... he went and did a silly thing... Well, I'll tell you what he did. He ordered his planes... to attack your country... Ah... Well, let me finish, Dmitri... Let me finish, Dmitri... Well listen, how do you think I feel about it?... Can you *imagine* how I feel about it, Dmitri?... Why do you think I'm calling you? Just to say hello?... *Of course* I like to speak to you!... *Of course* I like to say hello!... Not now, but anytime, Dmitri. I'm just calling up to tell you something terrible has happened... It's a *friendly* call. Of course it's a friendly call... Listen, if it wasn't friendly... you probably wouldn't have even got it... They will *not* reach their targets for at least another hour... I am... I am positive, Dmitri... Listen, I've been all over this with your ambassador. It is not a trick... Well, I'll tell you. We'd like to give your air staff a complete run-down on the targets, the flight plans, and the defensive systems of the planes... Yes! I mean i-i-i-if we're unable to recall the planes, then... I'd say that, ah... well, ah... we're just gonna have to help you destroy them, Dmitri... I know they're our boys... All right, well listen now. Who should we call?... *Who* should we call, Dmitri? The... wha-whe, the People... you, sorry, you faded away there... The People's Central Air Defense Headquarters... Where is that, Dmitri?... In Omsk... Right... Yes... Oh, you'll call them first, will you?... Uh-huh... Listen, do you happen to have the phone number on you, Dmitri?... Whe-ah, what? I see, just ask for Omsk information... Ah-ah-eh-uhm-hm... I'm sorry, too, Dmitri... I'm very sorry... *All right*, you're sorrier than I am, but I am as sorry as well... I am as sorry as you are, Dmitri! Don't say that you're more sorry than I am, because I'm capable of being just as sorry as you are... So we're both sorry, all right?... All right.
So many other things I could go into detail. I will save them for my next screening/criticism. See it.
I've seen this film a number of times now (as I own it), and every time it rocks my socks.
My favourite scene is when Peter Sellers as the president has a conversation with the Russian president over the phone. You never hear or see the Russian president because the entire scene is from Peter Sellers point of view. So good I have to now quote the entire monologue:
[to Kissoff] Hello?... Uh... Hello D- uh hello Dmitri? Listen uh uh I can't hear too well. Do you suppose you could turn the music down just a little?... Oh-ho, that's much better... yeah... huh... yes... Fine, I can hear you now, Dmitri... Clear and plain and coming through fine... I'm coming through fine, too, eh?... Good, then... well, then, as you say, we're both coming through fine... Good... Well, it's good that you're fine and... and I'm fine... I agree with you, it's great to be fine... a-ha-ha-ha-ha... Now then, Dmitri, you know how we've always talked about the possibility of something going wrong with the Bomb... The *Bomb*, Dmitri... The *hydrogen* bomb!... Well now, what happened is... ahm... one of our base commanders, he had a sort of... well, he went a little funny in the head... you know... just a little... funny. And, ah... he went and did a silly thing... Well, I'll tell you what he did. He ordered his planes... to attack your country... Ah... Well, let me finish, Dmitri... Let me finish, Dmitri... Well listen, how do you think I feel about it?... Can you *imagine* how I feel about it, Dmitri?... Why do you think I'm calling you? Just to say hello?... *Of course* I like to speak to you!... *Of course* I like to say hello!... Not now, but anytime, Dmitri. I'm just calling up to tell you something terrible has happened... It's a *friendly* call. Of course it's a friendly call... Listen, if it wasn't friendly... you probably wouldn't have even got it... They will *not* reach their targets for at least another hour... I am... I am positive, Dmitri... Listen, I've been all over this with your ambassador. It is not a trick... Well, I'll tell you. We'd like to give your air staff a complete run-down on the targets, the flight plans, and the defensive systems of the planes... Yes! I mean i-i-i-if we're unable to recall the planes, then... I'd say that, ah... well, ah... we're just gonna have to help you destroy them, Dmitri... I know they're our boys... All right, well listen now. Who should we call?... *Who* should we call, Dmitri? The... wha-whe, the People... you, sorry, you faded away there... The People's Central Air Defense Headquarters... Where is that, Dmitri?... In Omsk... Right... Yes... Oh, you'll call them first, will you?... Uh-huh... Listen, do you happen to have the phone number on you, Dmitri?... Whe-ah, what? I see, just ask for Omsk information... Ah-ah-eh-uhm-hm... I'm sorry, too, Dmitri... I'm very sorry... *All right*, you're sorrier than I am, but I am as sorry as well... I am as sorry as you are, Dmitri! Don't say that you're more sorry than I am, because I'm capable of being just as sorry as you are... So we're both sorry, all right?... All right.
So many other things I could go into detail. I will save them for my next screening/criticism. See it.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
I've seen bits and pieces of this film so many times, but I believe this was the first time I saw it in it's entirety. It is truly a great film. I found it hard to finish however, because of the tragedy of Jack Nicholson's character. Watching him up-close go through electro-shocks, was painful because it was so realistic.
The film really makes you question what is sanity. Jack Nicholson went into the institution clinically sane, but did not make it out alive because he tried to control his environment too much.
That aside, the film is very well acted. I love the supporting roles played by Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, and Vincent Schiavelli.
Definitely a movie to check out, as it is a quintessential classic.
The film really makes you question what is sanity. Jack Nicholson went into the institution clinically sane, but did not make it out alive because he tried to control his environment too much.
That aside, the film is very well acted. I love the supporting roles played by Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, and Vincent Schiavelli.
Definitely a movie to check out, as it is a quintessential classic.
Deliverance (1972)
My second time seeing Deliverance, I got a lot more out of it than the first time. The story is really strong, and the chemistry between Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight is second to none.
What I like about this film, is that it has the feel of a low-budget film, but has the quality of something of higher value. They're obviously out shooting the film in the wild, with minimal luxuries, but they come out with remarkable results.
I recommend this film, and even though some scenes are harsh to watch, it at least never becomes too graphic.
What I like about this film, is that it has the feel of a low-budget film, but has the quality of something of higher value. They're obviously out shooting the film in the wild, with minimal luxuries, but they come out with remarkable results.
I recommend this film, and even though some scenes are harsh to watch, it at least never becomes too graphic.
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