Star Trek Intro

I know, gentle readers, that it has been too long since I've written.
Bad Bon Bon! Bad!
I'll be back soon, but in the meantime ponder this:
If you haven't seen Star Trek, shame on you!
It's like the best action movie all year (and second only to Slumdog Millionaire).
And Zachary Quinto! Born in my hometown of Pittsburgh and also alumni of Carnegie Mellon! He was sublime!
Get thee to a theater...pronto.
Talk to you soon.
Muah!

The Poetry of The Warriors

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but Walter Hill's The Warriors is one completely awesome flick - one of my favorites.  Run to Netflix (or Blockbuster or whatever) to rent this, if you haven't already seen it.

So, I'm watching it in HD (yes, I put my money on the table for HD vs Blu Ray and OBVIOUSLY LOST.  Don't rub it in.  Plus there's a fire sale on all HD videos now so my cheap side is happy about the choice.) and at about 1:13 comes a really poetic scene.  [Umm..SPOILER ALERT.  If you read my blog, it's mostly about movies so there's a chance you're gonna learn something you might not want to know.  I'm just sayin'.]

The Warriors are on the train, trying to get home.  They are all exhausted.  The train stops and some prom couples come on the train(I'm assuming prom cause who goes to a club with a ruffled tux on?  I mean, I know this was a while back but I have to assume.  Plus there's a corsage, so it's gotta be prom.).  They are laughing and happy and then notice the dirty, beaten, roughneck Warriors seated across from them, including the tough chick tagalong Mercy.  They look them up and down and you know they are thinking, what has New York come to?  Mercy feels a little embarrassed and tries to straighten up a little, when Swan stops her.  Swan stares right back at the prom'ers.  Mercy closes her eyes and the kids decide to get off at the next stop.  She opens her eyes and they are gone.

Why is this poetic?  I'm glad you asked.  It is so representative of the class divide.  The haves and have-nots.  The rough and tumble of gang life, in this case, do or die vs the privileged school crowd who doesn't understand anything else other than the silver spoon.  Very few words are spoken but the meaning is crystal clear.  This scene is a beautiful example of showing the story rather than telling it.  These actors convey so much with their eyes and movements.

Poetry in motion.

A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock N Roll

You know that feeling you get, after watching a good action flick, when you feel like you are kick ass and invincible? I thought you would. If you don't know it, you need to get out of the Romantic Comedy section at Blockbuster. It will only end in tragedy.

I feel that way now, freshly home from seeing Wanted.

You may ask then, why the title? Good question.

Wanted was totally righteous for action movies. Excellent special effects, lots of wanton violence and mind bending stunts. This was definitely the rock n roll part.

The country part is how I feel about the writing. There were some parts that were good and made sense but a lot of parts that were just...weird. As always, I don't spill deets so I won't get into exactly was wrong with the dialog but sometimes I was sitting there with a huge "huh?" thought bubble above my head. Right along with the "if everyone doesn't shut the hell up in this mofo, I'm gonna go ballistic" thought bubble. Don't act like you haven't had that one above your head too.

So, some of the dialog was good and if Morgan Freeman says "poop biscuit", I'm gonna sit up and pay attention. The dude kills everything he's in. Except for The Bucket List, apparently, but frankly I think if you paid to go see that then you got your comeuppence. An old man Thelma and Louise just didn't sound appealing to me, but I really can't judge anyone who took a chance on it. You're more adventurous than I. And Angelina Jolie really is best when she's moody and kicking ass. I would like to be like that. I am more like a sidekick puppy who is house trained. I'd like to be badness for a day or two.

Definitely a movie worth a rental.

The Incredible Hulk

It's been awhile.

I know I shouldn't have kept you waiting.

But I'm here now.

- Britney Spears, Break the Ice

And no, I'm obviously not ashamed to quote the Britster.

Back to the topic at hand.  The Incredible Hulk.  Aptly titled.

I don't know what all the bru-ha-ha is with Edward Norton, supposed diva behavior and supposed desire to not promote the movie.  And frankly I don't care.  This movie is the ISH.  When I heard an ad saying it was on par with Iron Man, I was all disbelievin' like.  Good as Iron Man?!?!  No way.  It's a big green thing smashing crap.  No way.

I have been proved wrong.  Whatever bitchslapin' Edward had to do to get this movie made his way was totally worth it.  This script totally humanized the Hulk and tugged the heartstrings.  No, seriously.  I felt for him the entire movie and that's quite a feat.  And Edward.

Oh Edward.

I went into the movie thinking that if I got some gratuitous Edward Norton partial nudity, then my $14 was well spent.  (Yes, $14.  I live in LA.)  And I was not disappointed (YESSSS!), but more importantly, he really is a good actor.  The passion, fear, solitude of having something inside you that you hate was all too apparent.  Everyone was good in this movie, William Hurt really made you want to smack him.  (Yeah, shout out to William Hurt who continues to prove, under the radar, why he still works.  Good actin'.)  

I will say that the beginning could have been trimmed a bit, was a little long in the tooth.  But it's more than worth the outcome.

On another note, I pledge to no longer get my butter layered in the popcorn.  It's nauseating yet I do it every single time.  I've started getting a drink so that when I get all queasy from the grease I can soothe it with a nice lemonade.  THAT'S NO WAY TO LIVE.  So I pronounce, no more butter.  And my thighs are giving me a standing ovation right now.

Anyway, The Incredible Hulk is well worth the money.  The coolest thing is that boys and girls will enjoy it.  There's plenty of action but there's real feeling to the script.  So good.  Get thee to the theater.

Sweet Flick 4/18/08 - Smart People

My roommate and I are from Pittsburgh and we heard about this new movie filmed at home.  So we entered the "Nostalgia Zone" and went to see it.

I totally underestimated how good this movie was going to be.  I've always been a fan of Dennis Quaid but this could be the first time I could see his range.  I was used to him as the pretty, but intelligent guy who gets into scrapes and charms his way out.  But this movie made him stretch, out of typecasting and into a character you can really feel.  It was brilliant.

Dennis plays a doddering professor at Carnegie Mellon (Go Tartans!) whose life is turned upside down by love.  And just talking with a friend today, I know more of what that means.  The "what the fuck just happened, I'm so smitten, I don't know my name but I like where this is going" feeling which frankly, I haven't ever allowed myself to have.  The reasons why are for another blog and you didn't come here just to talk about me anyway.

So Dennis really makes you cheer him on in this movie and not in a underdog sort of way.  You know what I mean, the "poor guy, let him win this one time" way.  You see the entire arc of how an odious sort of dude turns into a likeable guy through the armor of love that he lets down his guard long enough to put on.

Really, really great.  Thomas Hayden Church was great, despite my predisposition to grumble when he's in a movie, due to the over-hype that was Sideways.  That movie made me want my money back and you really have to fuck up to do that, as I'm a pretty amiable movie-goer.  By the way, other movies in that category are There Will Be Blood and Lord of the Rings.  I was only slightly miffed at No Country for Old Men cause I caught it second run and paid $3 for it.  At full price?  Fury, for sure.

But to sum up, go see Smart People.  It's up against Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which has a huge PR juggernaut behind it and is being heralded as the funniest movie ever.  I shall be the judge of that.  But Smart People earns your entrance fee plus some and that's enough for me.

Sweet Flick 2/18/08 - Bustin' Loose

Kids, I have been gone awhile but now I'm back. Be consoled.

Today's subject is Beauty and Comedy. Maybe you're thinking Ryan Reynolds, Legally Blonde, or even Foul Play with Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase. (shout out to a previous blog o'mine)

No, these are not for today's conversation. As I type, I am watching Bustin' Loose with Richard Pryor and Cicely Tyson. Have you ever spent a movie laughing over the lump in your throat?? You should. I am and I'm loving every minute of it. What a movie. Everyone knows that Pryor is a genius but the range in this movie is ridiculous.

The story is about a group of young troubled, orphans who are abandoned by the state and their caretaker decides to take them across the country to her home farm to live. I am by no means a sap and try to avoid tearjerkers. (Boys, I'm still feminine, sometimes, so you need not be frightened.) But this move has a wide variety of issues it covers and does it fantastically. There are so few movies from my childhood that stand the test of time. This one stands proudly, as Pryor, as an ex-con in the movie, redeems himself by helping these children and making us laugh uproariously along the way.

Why don't they make movies like this anymore? Do we need another Rambo? What about stories of regular people doing things that make them superhuman? Not superpowers, but helping others and showing that human emotions and goodness can solve problems. Don't get me wrong, I'm ready to see Iron Man as much as the next guy but this movie makes me feel all warm inside and I kinda like it.

I'm serious, see this movie. It's one of my top five now, and you know what kind of weight that carries. The Candi stamp of approval is your seal of quality. Go forth and get your cry on.