I've been trying for a while to write this blog post, this is about my fifth attempt, I just don't want to seem like I'm slagging off my friend Ashabuse, but that's probably what it seems like I'm doing. Basically, I want to come back to a comment that Ashabuse has made about me being and elitist and his repeated assertions that he goes to see movies because they're fun and I don't.
It's completely true, I agree with him. But at the same time he's completely wrong and I'm confused as to why he thinks the way he does. But we're just different people at the end of the day. What he finds fun I might find stupid, what I find fun he might find dull. It all stems to the Clash of the Titans review I did, which was a mighty two words long (I did write more, but it wasn't positive). Ashabuse thinks I was wrong to simply write it off.
But that's the thing, I genuinely didn't like it. It ticked none of my boxes, it had nothing to offer me. It was a truly terrible movie, in my extremely elitist opinion. I must also disagree with him further, for I thought it was worse than Drag Me To Hell, because Drag Me To Hell wasn't ruining and 80's classic while it sucked!
It comes down to the Transformers 2 arguement. A lot of people enjoyed it because there were large stompy robots and rather immature humour, I hated it because it has none of the things I look for in a movie, and was offended by how it represented something that I loved as a child.
It all comes down to what you think is fun, which is where we differ. I want something slower, something gritty, something that's all in the build-up with characters you love to hate. Ashabuse wants something different, I won't insult him by trying to understand what this is, but I'm guessing it's something like Saw!
Also, here is his blog. I think that because this site isn't as good as his, you have to copy and paste, but go for it. Copy and paste. Now. (I think there's a lot more swearing in his blog, so just be warned. Also, I can't think of what else to write to pad this paragraph out anymore.)
http://popcultureflowerpressings.wordpress.com/
My this is a long entry, and I haven't even gotten onto the movie review yet, which will be quite long as well. (Longer than two words, at any rate!) Also, I see that my cunning idea of avoiding talking about nothing and instead talking about movies has been yoinked (to use the correct term) by this man:
http://adcaudle.wordpress.com/
Again, copy and paste.
Everyon's on Wordpress...
So, while shaking my fist in the air and shouting 'Confound You Caudle!!', I shall continue to read his reviews, since he's promised he's not going to do the same films as I'm doing. Or at least I hope he's not. Anyway.
IRON MAN 2
(OH HELLS YEAH!)
I think I can safely say that most of the adult population of the world has been waiting for this film with baited breath for the last two years. Iron Man 1 was a triumph of excellent writing, awesome character and unbelievably cool robot-suits. It had pretty much everything without going overboard and it seems like the team have managed to pull it off again.
When you look back at it, the story was pretty simple, the fights could have been bigger and flashier and the bad-guys were under developed... but that's pretty much what the first film had. Favreau and his producers decided that any flaws with the first movie's format were acceptable for the second.
They were 100% correct.
The truth is, I don't really want to talk about this movie, because I want people to see it. Not in the same sense that I want peole to watch intelligent films to better themselves, I think it should be a constitutional right of all citizens of planet Earth to watch Iron Man and Iron Man 2. Or possibly a new law passed by the U.N., they should be mandatory watching if you want to be considered a human being. Basically, I can't talk highly enough of it, it was just so much damned FUN.
Yes, that FUN word.
Mickie Rourke steals the show for a few minutes, the racetrack scene in Monaco is probably one of the most beautiful entrances I've ever seen put to film, but again doesn't overdo it. RDJ and Cheadle play off each other better than Howard ever did and I am severely loving Sam Rockwell's Justin Hammer, he was just brilliant to watch. It's a great movie through and through, it never goes over the top, it gives you just what you wanted.
Oh, and because Marvel are now on the serious warpath to making the Avengers movie, this film is packed with referances, from Captain America's shield, a few hints that Howard Stark may well be appearing in the Captain America movie, some more SHIELD stuff, an after-the-credits-scene that will make your jaw drop with childish excitement and some damned sexy Black Widow. I just hope there's a Hawkeye not far behind.
On the whole, I cannot recomment this movie highly enough. Go see it, wait for the DVD if you want, but quite frankly, you MUST SEE this film.
Next time: Nightmare on Elm Street.
Saturday, 22 May 2010
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Sundays
Sundays are the most pointless day in the world. I am not a Christian, I am not religiously inclined in any real way (although that's another blog post right there). So why do I have to have one of my days more rubbish than the other six in a week? We live in a 24/7 world. Apart from sundays. So the supermarket has to close early on a saturday night.
Why bother? I mean, seriously? Those who have religious obligations (lets face it, a dying breed) should be able to fully work around the rest of us, the ones who have things to be getting on with. Sunday is especially dull for me because I have odd sleeping patterns (or indeed, no pattern at all), so I often miss the miniscule window of opportunity for the shops to be open.
Bah.
I don't have any actual reasonable arguements, other than I think it's pointless. Why should I have to put up with it when there's no actual point?
Idge made a point about giving customer service staff a day a week where they're not called on as much... but I don't think that rings fully true.
People can only work a certain amount per week before they're worn out, no matter how much they need the money. Anyone who does more takes it on themselves, any employer who forces their staff to work more is... well... evil, but then all employers are evil. Apart from Kren, she's brilliant. And mad.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON.
Don't let the title fool you, this isn't actually an interesting film. The title is kind of misleading, you sort of picture some kind of mockumentary training video which will instruct you on... well, training a dragon.
No, this film is in fact a straight forward film, a story about a young boy named Hiccup living in an animated world of Vikings and Dragons. Not that the Vikings sound like Vikings. They sound Scottish. Or American.
It sounds like I'm being a bit harsh to this movie, actually, looking back at my last few words. I actually really enjoyed it, it's quite predictable, but it's pretty, it's fast, it's never dull and it's actually funny. It is a kids movie, but I don't think that any adult who took their kids to go see it wouldn't enjoy it as well.
The story is one that you know you've seen before, it's one that we're all really quite familiar with, but it works, so we're happy to see it again, just with Dragons. Whooo. The animation is really quite good and the waste-of-time-D wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, although I still say that watching it in non-gimmick-D would be just as good.
That's about all I can say about it really, it's a pretty solid little movie, it doesn't break any records or stand out particularly, it's just fun, which is pretty much what it set out to be, so... mission accomplished.
Next time: IRON MAN 2
(Oh HELLS yeah baby!!)
Why bother? I mean, seriously? Those who have religious obligations (lets face it, a dying breed) should be able to fully work around the rest of us, the ones who have things to be getting on with. Sunday is especially dull for me because I have odd sleeping patterns (or indeed, no pattern at all), so I often miss the miniscule window of opportunity for the shops to be open.
Bah.
I don't have any actual reasonable arguements, other than I think it's pointless. Why should I have to put up with it when there's no actual point?
Idge made a point about giving customer service staff a day a week where they're not called on as much... but I don't think that rings fully true.
People can only work a certain amount per week before they're worn out, no matter how much they need the money. Anyone who does more takes it on themselves, any employer who forces their staff to work more is... well... evil, but then all employers are evil. Apart from Kren, she's brilliant. And mad.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON.
Don't let the title fool you, this isn't actually an interesting film. The title is kind of misleading, you sort of picture some kind of mockumentary training video which will instruct you on... well, training a dragon.
No, this film is in fact a straight forward film, a story about a young boy named Hiccup living in an animated world of Vikings and Dragons. Not that the Vikings sound like Vikings. They sound Scottish. Or American.
It sounds like I'm being a bit harsh to this movie, actually, looking back at my last few words. I actually really enjoyed it, it's quite predictable, but it's pretty, it's fast, it's never dull and it's actually funny. It is a kids movie, but I don't think that any adult who took their kids to go see it wouldn't enjoy it as well.
The story is one that you know you've seen before, it's one that we're all really quite familiar with, but it works, so we're happy to see it again, just with Dragons. Whooo. The animation is really quite good and the waste-of-time-D wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, although I still say that watching it in non-gimmick-D would be just as good.
That's about all I can say about it really, it's a pretty solid little movie, it doesn't break any records or stand out particularly, it's just fun, which is pretty much what it set out to be, so... mission accomplished.
Next time: IRON MAN 2
(Oh HELLS yeah baby!!)
Friday, 14 May 2010
The Summer Expanse
The great rearing expanse of summer stretches out before us, five months where there are no classes, no screenings, no seminars and no assignments. It's a little disheartening, but I'll get over it. I'm still looking forward to going back, but that'll be a while, got to settle myself into the long haul of probably not being able to find a job and do some serious slacking. I also have my kitchen to do and find a new housemate.
Saw my belov'd Justine the other day, who still shows enough common sense to not want to sleep with me, clever girl. I'm now back in newbury for about a week, working and slacking in equal measure. That's about it, really, nothing to report apart from you're now about to experiance the shortest ever movie review that I've ever put to keyboard. I hope you enjoy it, I know that Matt will disagree with my thoughts.
CLASH OF THE TITANS.
UTTER.
SHIT.
Next week: How To Train Your Dragon.
Okay, I'm not that unprofessional (not that I am a professional), I'll talk about the actual movie. It is utter shit, there are no redeeming features and it made me want to gouge my own eyes out, but I'll talk about it, a little.
We follow the adventures of Perseus played by the supremely unlikeable Sam Worthington (a man who can stand next to Keanu Reeves and look wooden) as he sets out on his quest to Damn The Gods and then utterly go back on it later.
The plot is about as interesting as my last sneeze and over just as quickly. The film is mercifully short, the effects look impressive if you don't see it in waste-of-time-D but are nothing compared to the claymation of the 80's.
Am I suffering from nostalgia-vision there? I frickin' loved Clash of 81' and I still like it to this day, mainly because it didn't take itself seriously, whereas this movie tries to. Ralph Fiennes Gollum-like portrayal of Hades is embarrasingly cringe-worthy, Liam Neeson phoned it in, Pete Postlethwaite would have been better suited staying at home and finding a real movie to be in and Gemma Arteton was so utterly forgettable that I had to check on iMDb on how to spell her name wrong.
So no, nostalgia aside, this is a BAD, BAD film. Do not see it, you will not regret it if you don't. Trust me on that. It's about as rewarding as having part of your childhood trampled on someone that isn't Michael Bay (for a change).
Saw my belov'd Justine the other day, who still shows enough common sense to not want to sleep with me, clever girl. I'm now back in newbury for about a week, working and slacking in equal measure. That's about it, really, nothing to report apart from you're now about to experiance the shortest ever movie review that I've ever put to keyboard. I hope you enjoy it, I know that Matt will disagree with my thoughts.
CLASH OF THE TITANS.
UTTER.
SHIT.
Next week: How To Train Your Dragon.
Okay, I'm not that unprofessional (not that I am a professional), I'll talk about the actual movie. It is utter shit, there are no redeeming features and it made me want to gouge my own eyes out, but I'll talk about it, a little.
We follow the adventures of Perseus played by the supremely unlikeable Sam Worthington (a man who can stand next to Keanu Reeves and look wooden) as he sets out on his quest to Damn The Gods and then utterly go back on it later.
The plot is about as interesting as my last sneeze and over just as quickly. The film is mercifully short, the effects look impressive if you don't see it in waste-of-time-D but are nothing compared to the claymation of the 80's.
Am I suffering from nostalgia-vision there? I frickin' loved Clash of 81' and I still like it to this day, mainly because it didn't take itself seriously, whereas this movie tries to. Ralph Fiennes Gollum-like portrayal of Hades is embarrasingly cringe-worthy, Liam Neeson phoned it in, Pete Postlethwaite would have been better suited staying at home and finding a real movie to be in and Gemma Arteton was so utterly forgettable that I had to check on iMDb on how to spell her name wrong.
So no, nostalgia aside, this is a BAD, BAD film. Do not see it, you will not regret it if you don't. Trust me on that. It's about as rewarding as having part of your childhood trampled on someone that isn't Michael Bay (for a change).
Friday, 7 May 2010
Third Year
Well I'm technically not a third year until September 27th, but today was the last day of classes for our second year so... close enough, I'd say. It's been a pretty mute final term, but it's only those three weeks so that's to be expected. It's not a good system, the 11/12/3 format, it should be 9/8/8, but I think I'm repeating myself by saying that.
Anyway, with the second year done, I look back and think of all the things I've achieved. It isn't actually all that much in terms of actual output, other than a whole bunch of Word files. But the sheer fun I've had doing it is worth that. It's just such a great experiance being here, with the people I'm with and the work I get to do for it all.
It's going to be a dark, dark day when I have to leave university and enter the real world and find a real job. That's going to be one of the worst days of my life.
In other new, politics sucks. Hung Parliment is... well, we all saw it coming because nobody can agree on anything anymore. The Lib Dem revolution failed to occur.
So... SHUTTER ISLAND.
This was the only film I went to see in the cinema during the month of March, to which I feel I let myself down a little. Have made up for it by seeing at least 3 a month since then. Now, I'd seen the trailers for this film in the cinema for about 18 months to 2 years before this film came out, it had a long gestation period where I don't know what they were doing, but it's Scorsese, so it's worth the wait.
All in all, I didn't enjoy this film overmuch. It's screwed up, certainly, it's tense, it's actually creepy, there's excellent use of pretty much everything, including the actors, the sets, the lights the sound... everything. Except the script. There was a scene at the end, the one in the Lighthouse (you'll know it when you see it), that kinda takes it all away and flushes it down the toilet. Kinda. Ish.
I can't say anymore without going into serious spoiler territory, which is something I don't really like to do. But let's just say that the classy Scorsese style directing and excellent performances from Ruffalo, Kingsley and DiCaprio could well have been served better by a slightly hammier script for that scene. It was all quite blase and laid back.
It shouldn't have been.
I'm only complaining about the one scene, of course. That scene does the movie no service, almost as if to say "well... you'd probably already figured it out, so we won't keep the pretence up any longer, here it is".
But other than that, this movie is picture perfect. It's cold, it's chilling, it's moody, it's got great actors and great crew, it's everything you'll ever really want apart from that one, tiny little niggling scene.
See it for the technical brilliance, but don't be surprised if you feel a little cheated when you leave or turn it off, because it did short-change you a little. We all saw it coming, but at least try and make us believe you didn't know it?
Next time: Clash of the Titans.
Anyway, with the second year done, I look back and think of all the things I've achieved. It isn't actually all that much in terms of actual output, other than a whole bunch of Word files. But the sheer fun I've had doing it is worth that. It's just such a great experiance being here, with the people I'm with and the work I get to do for it all.
It's going to be a dark, dark day when I have to leave university and enter the real world and find a real job. That's going to be one of the worst days of my life.
In other new, politics sucks. Hung Parliment is... well, we all saw it coming because nobody can agree on anything anymore. The Lib Dem revolution failed to occur.
So... SHUTTER ISLAND.
This was the only film I went to see in the cinema during the month of March, to which I feel I let myself down a little. Have made up for it by seeing at least 3 a month since then. Now, I'd seen the trailers for this film in the cinema for about 18 months to 2 years before this film came out, it had a long gestation period where I don't know what they were doing, but it's Scorsese, so it's worth the wait.
All in all, I didn't enjoy this film overmuch. It's screwed up, certainly, it's tense, it's actually creepy, there's excellent use of pretty much everything, including the actors, the sets, the lights the sound... everything. Except the script. There was a scene at the end, the one in the Lighthouse (you'll know it when you see it), that kinda takes it all away and flushes it down the toilet. Kinda. Ish.
I can't say anymore without going into serious spoiler territory, which is something I don't really like to do. But let's just say that the classy Scorsese style directing and excellent performances from Ruffalo, Kingsley and DiCaprio could well have been served better by a slightly hammier script for that scene. It was all quite blase and laid back.
It shouldn't have been.
I'm only complaining about the one scene, of course. That scene does the movie no service, almost as if to say "well... you'd probably already figured it out, so we won't keep the pretence up any longer, here it is".
But other than that, this movie is picture perfect. It's cold, it's chilling, it's moody, it's got great actors and great crew, it's everything you'll ever really want apart from that one, tiny little niggling scene.
See it for the technical brilliance, but don't be surprised if you feel a little cheated when you leave or turn it off, because it did short-change you a little. We all saw it coming, but at least try and make us believe you didn't know it?
Next time: Clash of the Titans.
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