Under Pressure...

Movie Viewed August 2nd: The Visitor

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:12:39 -0700

Went and saw the Visitor at the Parkway Speakeasy. Awesome indie flick. I will give it an 87 (+/- 2). I love a film that raises new ideas and issues, yet never preaches tr forces a viewer into following the director/writer’s thoughts in the flick. It is similar to the cave in ESB… Luke asks Yoda what is in the cave, and Yoda responds “only what you bring with you” as Luke buckles his blaster and Lightsaber to his belt…

Movie Viewed July 31st: The Dark Knight

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:08:17 -0700

Awesome movie by Chris Nolan. It is Batman, so I cannot rate it. Best Batman flick yet. Saw it in the Historic Theatre in Alameda.

Movie Viewed July 11th: Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:34:00 -0700

Last weekend, Carrie and I went to see Hellboy II: The Golden Army. The movie was a visual feast, teeming with living creatures and emanating warmth. Guillermo del Toro is the man. I give it an 80.

Beautiful flick with a decent story; I would have given it a higher score if it had eliminated the romantic subplot with Abe Sapien. Not that the character isn’t interesting, it was just not given enough time to develop fully.

Movie Watched July 3rd, 2008: WANTED

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:10:36 -0700

I watched the frenetic thrill-ride that is the film WANTED yesterday at the lovely AMC Bay Street 16 in Emeryville.

It was action-packed and a visual feast, but fucking absurd at times. Not much to review for an action film. The comic that it is based upon sounds damned interesting, so maybe I will take a look at that…

Rating? I think it gets an “A” for “Action-rifique”… Or maybe a 75. I really have no idea how to rate a film like this; I enjoyed it quite a bit, but it is not setting a new bar for action or anything.

Movie Watched 6/28/2008: WALL-E

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:00:23 -0700

PIXAR is bad-ass.

I went and saw WALL-E this weekend at the newly opened Alameda Theatre. It was playing in the original auditorium, and it was magnificent. Three quarters of its 450+ seats were filled on a Saturday afternoon.

PIXAR delivers the goods again. A beautiful film that works for all audiences. Not a “kid’s movie”, but a piece of art that all should appreciate. 93/100 (+/- 1) for a score. No review necessary, just go and see it and bring a loved one to gaze in amazement together.

By the way, I am sure I missed a movie or two in the past month on video.

I also watched the delightful film Babe in awesome Comcast HD On Demand last evening (probably a 90/100 [+/- 2]). Good flick as well…

Movie Watched 5/23/2008: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Sat, 24 May 2008 14:35:04 -0700

This Friday evening, my wife and I ventured out to Jack London Square and the theater located there to see the latest Indiana Jones film.

We both went in expecting to be disappointed, but both of us agreed that we enjoyed the film more than we were expecting. This could be due to the fact that we both had read/heard a few reviews and expected it to rape our fond memories of Indiana Jones films of yore…

It wasn’t a perfect or great movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it was quite enjoyable. I would give it a 75 (+/-3).

Movie Watched 5/19/2008: Priceless

Mon, 19 May 2008 15:10:30 -0700

This Sunday, I watched Priceless at the Parkway Speakeasy.

The film was a French romantic comedy about a gold-digging female (played by the always delightful Audrey Tatou) and a hotel waiter that becomes enamoured with her. The waiter becomes a gigolo to follow her and gain her affection. Comedy (?) ensues…

Good acting, but the script and cinematography was below the quality of the actors in the film. I would give it a 70 (+/-3).

Movie Watched (DVD) 5/17/2008: Sweeney Todd

Mon, 19 May 2008 15:04:00 -0700

I watched Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street on DVD this weekend (rented for a buck on a whim at a RedBox; these things are going to kill video stores eventually).

Nice art direction and Sasha Baren Cohen kicked ass in it, but the actors in the lead (Depp and Bonham-Carter) were weaker singers than required for a musical.

The themes at the end of the film were damned interesting, but they were completely glossed over by the film. If the film had less exposition and more exploration of the events that occurred at the end of the film, it would have been a stronger film with great depth. Instead, it was a mediocre musical with dark comedy sprinkled throughout.

I was going to give this a 70, but it deserves a 62 (+/-3).

Movies Watched (video) 5/10/2008: Hudson Hawk and Tron

Sun, 11 May 2008 11:03:31 -0700

Since Carrie was out of town for Mother’s Day, I decided to rent some bad movies (Hudson Hawk and Freddie Got Fingered) and Tron.

I have always been fascinated by the hatred for Hudson Hawk, so I finally broke down and rented it. Not a good movie, but not bad. The Leonardo Da Vinci segment at the start was painful, and the direction was awful, but the story was interesting, and Bruce Willis is the man. I give it a 72 (+/- 3).

I saw a bitchin’ video a month or-so back in which the lightcycle sequence from Tron had been sweded to excellent effect, and it made me want to see the film again. I love this movie. Great special effects, story and music. I give it a 95. One of the few movies that I could watch more than once (and I have… although probably not in 15 years).

Movie Watched 5/8/2008: Paranoid Park

Sun, 11 May 2008 10:51:24 -0700

On Thursday, I went and saw Paranoid Park at the Parkway Speakeasy.

This movie was a splendid film that is best to go into without any real knowledge of the premise; therefore, I give no real review. Excellent narrative format, interspersing the past and present tounravel the story in layers.

The movie gets a solid 85.

Movie Watched 4/20/2008: The Counterfeiters

Sun, 04 May 2008 19:36:08 -0700

Somehow, I forgot to write about seeing this film…

On April 20th (I remember this date, because downstairs they were playing Super High Me), I watched the Counterfeiters at the Parkway Speakeasy in Oakland.

The film was a historical drama based upon the Nazi’s attempts to fund their war effort by creating counterfeit money in a concentration camp. The film focused on a brilliant forger, whose ambition was to create the perfect dollar.

It has been too long since seeing this film to write my gut-reaction review and have it be accurate, so I will just give it a rating of 84 (+/-2). Interesting film executed beautifully.

Movie Watched 5/4/2008: Iron Man

Sun, 04 May 2008 17:16:00 -0700

Today I ventured to the Megaplex (Century 14 or so) in San Leandro in order to see the Jon Favreau directed Iron Man.

The first 15 minutes was everything I hated about Iron Man… Tony Stark is a ridiculous character… his depth is created in the comics by his being an alcoholic, a narcissist and a playboy. That being said, as soon as they got to the Iron Man story, it was a damned fun movie with kick-ass special effects and a strong cast that was able to make this a tad better than most superhero flicks.

I am hard-pressed to rate this movie… probably a 75 (+/- 3). Get rid of Tony Stark’s character development at the start, and I would give it a higher score. Then again, that isn’t the movie’s fault that Tony Stark is one of the least likeable comic characters ever, but he is cool when robot-y and flying…

Movie Watched (Blu-Ray) 4/15/2008: The Curse of the Golden Flower

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:50:31 -0700

This evening I watched the lovely and spectactularly colorful The Curse of the Golden Flower on Blu-Ray DVD in lovely 1080P.

The film is a visual treat to behold and has an interesting story wrapped around the fantastic set and costume design. I enjoyed the film quite a bit for what it is and would give it a 85 (+/-2).

I feel bad rating Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and this film right next to each other, as it points out that my rating system is not absolute. Whatever… is obviously a better film and a more important contribution to film, but this film was enjoyable as a period Kung Fu drama, and the rating is as such.

C’est la vie…

Movie Watched (video) 4/13/2008: Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:43:04 -0700

I rented and watched Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? this past Sunday. An excellent performance by Bette Davis overcame weakness of the plausibility of the actual scenario and the Godawful acting of Joan Crawford.

The ending puts the whole film, events and actions by the characters into a different context; always my favorite film technique (if doen in an authentic manner and not as a gimick).

I should never look at the IMDB or any other rating if I want mine to remain untainted (damned anchoring). I will give this film an 83 (+/-6) with a note that I could revise it downward after additional thought.

Movie Watched 3/23/2008: Be Kind Rewind

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:45:40 -0700

I went to the Cerrito Speakeasy last Sunday to watch Be Kind Rewind, which I had been looking forward to for quite a while.

The film has a terrific idea that is presented in an earnest manner. I thought the film might be a bit too much about the Sweded versions of the films erased, but this was just snippets, which were damned fun.

The reconnaisance mission sideplot by Danny Glover’s character detracted from the film quite a bit, although I did not peg that as its flaw at the time. Jack Black’s characters magnetization was the high point, or perhaps the disguises that allowed Black and Mr. Def to blend in with a very specific place and circumstance.

I would give it a 76 (+/-2), but this maybe either too critical or high of a score; I am not sure which…

Movie Watched (video) 3/17/2008: Gone Baby Gone

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:37:12 -0700

I rented Gone Baby Gone on Blu-Ray sometime last week, and I forgot to write that I had seen it. The date may be incorrect, but it is close enough. The movie had an interesting idea, good characters and settings that seemed realistic and had some depth, but the whole of the story seemed a little disconnected.

I think I liked it better last week, but today it gets a 74 (+/-3).

Movie Watched (video) 3/12/08: The Fountain

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:04:00 -0700

Last evening I watched The Fountain using Comcast’s On-Demand service.

I enjoyed it, but my wife’s feeling sentiment was along the lines of: “it is interesting and cool looking, but I am not going to remember anything about this tomorrow.” I could agree with this statement as a review.

Beautiful and interesting film with a non-conventional narrative. Review of 78 (+/-2).

Movie Watched (video) 3/10/2008: Notes on a Scandal

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:15:00 -0700

I watched the film Notes on a Scandal via Comcast’s On-Demand service this evening.

The character-driven film was well-acted and held my attention throughout. The dueling motivations and weaknesses of the two leads leads to a fascinating interplay and power dynamic.

This film receives a rating of 84 (+/- 2).

TV Series Completed 3/9/08: The Wire

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:53:00 -0700

Tonight was the final episode of the Wire. The fifth season was too short and lacked the immediacy of the prior seasons due to its three year hiatus, but it still had a compelling storyline that transported the series to a satisfying and logical conclusion (unlike other HBO series, such as Deadwood).

The character of Omar Little, played by Michael K. Williams, might be the greatest television character ever created. The situational morality and code of ethics he lived by allowed a different perspective in which to evaluate and contrast the differing types of world views that dealers, thugs and police held and adapted to on the streets of Baltimore. His performance was always intense and truthful; you believed the character could exist and could create the type of mythology that made him larger-than-life and a legend in death.

This series never did the expected, but was far from gimmicky. It set the standard high for what makes a television show great and is a testament to the legitimacy of the medium’s ability to become a form of art.

Movie Viewed March 9th, 2008: Juno

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:30:38 -0700

This afternoon, I watched the movie Juno at the Cerrito Speakeasy, In El Cerrito, CA.

The movie was enjoyable, although perhaps a little too self-aware and intentionally clever. The first third of the movie was rife with jargonish slang, but it gave way to a more realistic speech pattern and moving narrative in the second half.

I will admit that I was more than likely primed for this thought-train as I had read reviews, seen satire videos and other assorted peripheral media musings regarding this overt witticism of the script. I will freely admit that I would have probably not noticed at all if I were not tainted by foreknowledge.

Overall, the film was well-acted with a witty script and excellent characterization. I would give it an 84 (+/-3).

Just an aside, the movie has music choices that seems premeditated to create a Garden Statesque indieish-mix soundtrack. I have a feeling at some point I will be burning a CD of these selections for my wife…