Movie/TV recommendations

[elmuerte]

Or Saturn 3. Not as good as the first 2, but still a blast.

[Wrestlevania]

Or Saturn 3. Not as good as the first 2, but still a blast.

Yes! A brilliantly bad film and a personal favourite for years.

[Garple]

I think Phantasm came out on top, mainly for it's supreme quotability.

"That's not gonna get on my ice cream, right?"

[Horticulture Tycoon]

Just got back from Inglorious Basterds. I expect this movie to really divide people into love-it or hate-it camps, but I think it might be my favorite Tarantino movie ever.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Missed a little bit here, but just wanted to say that Plan 9 from Outer Space is no way the worst movie ever... it's even close to enjoyable (in a bad way). There's MUCH MUCH worse out there. Hell, I'd consider Grease 2 to be unwatchable.

[MrHoatzin]

It is a sort of spiritual heir to Ursula K. LeGuin and her Earthsea books (which have been butchered horribly by both Ghibli and the SciFi Channel). If you liked those, you'll likely like this.

I had already heard good things about it and read some interesting interviews with the creators, but now I really must start watching this.

I was looking for an old thread and stumbled upon this. I hadn't realized you'd made me read the Earthsea books back in the day. Kindof amusing.

So speaking of Earthsea, the Ghibli movie about it (made by Gorō Miyazaki, old man Miyazaki's son) is the worst thing yet to come out of the studio.

While it was in production and I kept hearing how the old man was pissed that his son was making movies and I ascribed it to some sort of patriarchal old man bullshit. But upon seeing the film, I agreed. Gorō sucks and should have been kept away from film. It is like he took random "cool" elements from all the Earthsea books and mashed them all into one, making a horrible, banal mess of things.

One thing he added of his own volition is a story of teenage angst wherein Arran (the little prince featured in The Farthest Shore) runs away from home after stabbing and killing his own father. It was so ham-fisted, transparent and dumb. I could almost hear old man Miyazaki sighing exasperatedly and hanging his head in shame over how dumb it all was. The animation was weak to boot, the pacing was sloppy, the setting changes were random, it was just an awful movie.

Ponyo, on the other hand, is an awesome movie and everyone should check it out. The drawing quality is the most Hergéish Miyazaki has yet gotten, with fat outlines and color pencil, picture book backgrounds. The theater screen was a bad format for the film, I kept wanting to see it on a much smaller and more personal scale (and also in original Japanese). It contains the most unapologetic nature-conservationist porn of all Miyazaki films. The little kids make some oddly mature choices, but it never feels forced. It is probably the most epic non-epic movie I've yet seen.

[ThunderPeel2001]

So speaking of Earthsea, the Ghibli movie about it (made by Gorō Miyazaki, old man Miyazaki's son) is the worst thing yet to come out of the studio.

I remember Ghibli getting some shit for essentially using Gorō's name to sell a movie (apparently, in Japan Miyazaki is a brand like Pixar). A very cheap move, especially considering Gorō's total lack of experience! Still, apparently the (real life) story had a good ending: Hayao Miyazaki send his son a nice note after attending the premiere.

http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/earthsea/blog/blog112.html

I think it's fair to say that while Hayao Miyazaki is an awesome filmmaker, he might just suck a bit at being a dad

[Ginger]

Just got back from Inglorious Basterds. I expect this movie to really divide people into love-it or hate-it camps, but I think it might be my favorite Tarantino movie ever.

I thought it was absolutely hilarious, can't remember the last time I laughed so much in a cinema, I agree with the love/hate thing but I suspect most of the thumbs lot will love it.

[DanJW]

Nice BBC deconstruction of Film Noir the other night. Not like most of these "introduction to" shows which are just clip shows in disguise. This one has plenty of good clips and talking heads, but they are actually informative.

[zomboid]

I loved District 9. Going to See Basterds tomorrow!

[syntheticgerbil]

I mentioned it earlier in the thread, but I finally got my hands on the English region 4 version of Genius Party on DVD this weekend. Very recommended anthology coming from some of the most innovative directors/animators from Japan. There's a second Genius Party coming in English soon that I will also probably be importing from Australia as well.

There's a lot of great innovative technique going on all throughout the shorts with a lot of the signature 2.5D seamless merging of 3D with traditional art styles that Studio 4C is well known for.

Masaaki Yuasa's short was amazing as usual, but I'm extremely partial to the guy. Maybe convering a much more barren and emotive feeling than the spastic stuff he's usually known for (although that's still intact). Shinichiro Watanabe's (the other director I bought it for) end short was very pleasing in a relaxed and melancholy way, even though the character designs were somewhat uninteresting. Made me feel nostalgic to watch even though I did not go to high school in Japan and have never the benefit of enjoying extensive public transportation. I also liked the two other shorts I put up screens for above, maybe even more than the directors I'm familiar with because of the interesting art and animation style with their distinct textures and colors. Very gorgeous stuff.

I didn't really like 3 of the 7 shorts that much, with one being exhaustingly long and overly pretentious, but everyone else's mileage may very.

If only there was more animation along these terms I could get my hands on... maybe I just can't find it.

[Horticulture Tycoon]

Nice BBC deconstruction of Film Noir the other night. Not like most of these "introduction to" shows which are just clip shows in disguise. This one has plenty of good clips and talking heads, but they are actually informative.

Currently BBC iPlayer TV programmes are available to play in the UK only.

Damn, and I love Film Noir too.

[Wrestlevania]

Nice BBC deconstruction of Film Noir the other night. Not like most of these "introduction to" shows which are just clip shows in disguise. This one has plenty of good clips and talking heads, but they are actually informative.

Never gotten into film noir, though I do like the style of it. Downloading that now on me phone--cheers, Dan.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Double Indemnity, Mildred Pierce, The Maltese Falcon... love em!

I'm not sure where you draw the line, but even Laura or Sunset Boulevard seem to have the same feeling... but are they "film noir"?

Guess I should watch that doc and find out!

[Patters]

Inglourious Basterds is fantastic.

[Garple]

Inglourious Basterds is fantastic.

ign.com

[zomboid]

Inglourious Basterds is fantastic.

I agree - I loved the shit out of it! Best QT dialog to date, and the acting was superb. Brad Pitt killed it, but Christoph Waltz blew my fucking mind wide open. That guy is incredible!

There are a few flaws, but they are tiny in comparison to other QT films. If you hated the dialog in Death Proof like I did, this will totally redeem QT as a writer for you.

[Patters]

I agree - I loved the shit out of it! Best QT dialog to date, and the acting was superb. Brad Pitt killed it, but Christoph Waltz blew my fucking mind wide open. That guy is incredible!

There are a few flaws, but they are tiny in comparison to other QT films. If you hated the dialog in Death Proof like I did, this will totally redeem QT as a writer for you.

I found it closer to his earlier films in storytelling opposed to that in Kill Bill and Deathproof.

[DoctorKevs]

Went into District 9 pretty much blind, except friend reccomendations, and [totally deserved hyperbole, something like "best Sci-Fi movie since The Matrix"]. I suggest, if for some reason you haven't seen it, to do the same. Real shame you need to be friendly with a high-power producer to get real original stuff pushed through by young talent, but if that's what has to happen, so be it. I'm just happy this isn't the Halo movie.

I found Inglourious Basterds to be a lot better on the second viewing, if only because you know exactly what to expect going in. The advertising is sort of deceptive- there's tons more talking in the flick than what they'll show in the trailers (even for a QT film, I felt, but then again I should watch them all through before I say this)- but it's still a totally enjoyable, fantastic film. Also, Mike Myers plays a British guy and it's fucking hilarious. Not my favorite QT movie, but it's definitely worth seeing at least once.

That said, the bar scene's the best part and Dear America please give Christoph Waltz Oscars and Oscars for forever.

oh also the Avatar trailer, which I didn't want to see (lol attempted media blackout) was pretty strange to see on a screen being projected into my eyes, considering it's been rumored longer than I can remember. But it looks fantastic, visually and as a flick. Bring on December.

[Ginger]

Brad Pitt killed it

I thought he was bloody hilarious in it, hammy as fuck, one dimensional but funny and I imagine that was what was asked of him, the multi-dimensional character of the basterds came from each one-dimensional member (like in classic WWII films).

[zomboid]

I found it closer to his earlier films in storytelling opposed to that in Kill Bill and Deathproof.

I completely agree. This was much more Reservoir Dogs/Pulp Fiction - dialog driven. I'd daresay I even liked it better because it wasn't so mired in pop culture references (not entirely anyways). The script really is fantastic.

I thought he was bloody hilarious in it, hammy as fuck, one dimensional but funny and I imagine that was what was asked of him, the multi-dimensional character of the basterds came from each one-dimensional member (like in classic WWII films).

Yeah - he definitely went broad with the character - but I loved it. I like Pitt best when he plays wacky characters like in 12 Monkeys or Snatch. He's just got a knack for the kind of thing and I love watching him do it.

I do think that Eli Roth should have played it more stoic, and QT should have given him a LOT less dialog (like maybe just the line before the waiter scene in the theater). The guy's a douche from the get-go, but man - what a terrible actor! His performance was the only distracting one in the whole movie. Even more than Mike Meyers - I thought his scene was great in that it was a break from all the heavy intrigue stuff - and glad it was that short.

I can't wait to see this movie again! That and District 9!

[zomboid]

OK - we need to have a chat about this James Cameron Avatar business:

WTF??????? I mean – I love all the ALIENS scifi military stuff, but those fucking alien designs are shudder inducing. Ugh! Gabe from Videogum said they look like “Jar Jar Binks fucked a character from World of Warcraft” and I think he’s dead on. Guh! SOOOOOOO TERRIBLE!!! The dragon monsters are really cool and the world looks neat – but!!!! On top of it – that fruity fucking font they’re using fits those blue rastafarian Joe Camel sad, wet-eyed things like a glove. Ack! This is for furries and/or 4 year olds and I do not feel welcome there at all.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Ha, it's very true...! I'm trying not to learn anything more about it before I inevitably go see it on IMAX in 3D. The Avatar teaser poster looks like it has concept art on it.... Time will tell.

[elmuerte]

What's wrong with colorful scifi?

[zomboid]

What's wrong with colorful scifi?

It's not the colors that are problematic - it's the Furry/Westernized Anime vibe. If that floats your boat - then knock yourself out. Have fun with your sensual warriors.

The episode of the Simpsons where they introduce Poochie to the Itchy and Scratchy show best illustrates my point. There's a scene where the artist is concepting Poochie with a gaggle of marketing execs looking over his shoulder and one of the execs says "Can you rastafarize him by 10%?".

I saw this on flickr when I was looking for the above image:

And also:THERE'S THIS.

Edited August 27, 2009 by zomboid