Review: Leonardo Di Caprios Inception bends brains, breaks hearts - HitFix.com
The first part of a three-part series on Inception that makes sense of it better than I ever could. Enjoy!
MTMG
Friday, August 20, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Worthington Update
Apparently Sam Worthington's agents and I had the same thought. According to the IMDb, he will be appearing in the following:
1) The Fields, playing a cop
2) The Debt, a period piece set in 1965
3) Last Night, a marital drama set for release November 5
G'day and good luck, mate!
MTMG
1) The Fields, playing a cop
2) The Debt, a period piece set in 1965
3) Last Night, a marital drama set for release November 5
G'day and good luck, mate!
MTMG
FX Reels For Sale!!! Hurry, Hurry, Hurry!!!
Is it just me, or are special effects taking over recent blockbusters? I tried to watch the new Clash of The Titans a few nights ago, and was so inundated with overwhelming shots of Krakens and other assorted whatsits that I just couldint make it the whole way through.
I'm sure that the thirtysomething bean counters and executives who grew up on the 1981 film thought that this reboot would mint truckloads of cash automatically. And the truth is, it didn't do too bad grossing $163 million against a budget of $125 million. But that's hardly a blockbuster.
And the reason was that, unlike its 1981 predeesscor, this new Clash did not embrace the adventuresome campiness of a clash between Zeus, Perseus, and Hades, playing it absolutely straight, and boring. Playing Zeus and Hades respectively, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes, veterans of Star Wars and Harry Potter greenscreens, look check-cashing bored. And as for Sam Worthington, I don't begrudge the man his success, but he needs to do a period piece or cop drama fast, to flex his acting muscles and prove that he dosen't need to be carried by special effects.
Which reminds me, Ray Harryhausen's 1981 effects were a retro-cool homage to his 60s work like Jason And the Argonauts and the Sinbad films. In that spirit, it would have been nice for director Louis Leterrier and his team to age the effects back a couple of generations, to the early Star Wars/Dragonslayer era. But I know that's wishful thinking, because in 2010, we're all 3-D's bitch. Never mind that it was added later and reportedly looked like a pop-up book.
MTMG
I'm sure that the thirtysomething bean counters and executives who grew up on the 1981 film thought that this reboot would mint truckloads of cash automatically. And the truth is, it didn't do too bad grossing $163 million against a budget of $125 million. But that's hardly a blockbuster.
And the reason was that, unlike its 1981 predeesscor, this new Clash did not embrace the adventuresome campiness of a clash between Zeus, Perseus, and Hades, playing it absolutely straight, and boring. Playing Zeus and Hades respectively, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes, veterans of Star Wars and Harry Potter greenscreens, look check-cashing bored. And as for Sam Worthington, I don't begrudge the man his success, but he needs to do a period piece or cop drama fast, to flex his acting muscles and prove that he dosen't need to be carried by special effects.
Which reminds me, Ray Harryhausen's 1981 effects were a retro-cool homage to his 60s work like Jason And the Argonauts and the Sinbad films. In that spirit, it would have been nice for director Louis Leterrier and his team to age the effects back a couple of generations, to the early Star Wars/Dragonslayer era. But I know that's wishful thinking, because in 2010, we're all 3-D's bitch. Never mind that it was added later and reportedly looked like a pop-up book.
MTMG
Friday, August 13, 2010
Random Movie Memories
1981: My sister and I begged my dad to take us to see The Great Muppet Caper at the Capilano Cinema. Dad was rototilling the garden, but said he would take us if it started raining. Well, God must have been as big a Muppet fan as we were, because He came through on cue.
1980: I remember being very excited because I was going to Mickey Mouse Disco at the Westmount Theater. That was my favorite Disney album of all time, although I strayed and eventually listened to Sesame Street Fever just as much. In any case, the prospect of a whole movie built around Mickey and Minnie getting down made my little heart leap with joy. But my joy lasted seven minutes, for I had been reading the newspaper upside down, and the main feature was actually Herbie Goes Bananas, featuring our favorite VW`s adventures in South America. So, it was not a bad deal after all.
1984: My dad and I went to see the Goldie Hawn comedy Protocol at the Garneau. It was a bone-chilling winter night...and the manager had Hawaiian music wafting through the speakers.
1984: My dad, myself and my sister went to see 2010 at the Westmount. Because I was a bit of a goof, when I had to sneeze, unfortunately the lady in front of me got a shower in her hair. I hope she is all right. As for the movie, it always amazes me that we thought we`d be on the moon by now. But I have to admit, the cell phone, Internet, and mp3 player are pretty cool inventions.
More of these stories later on this week.
MTMG
1980: I remember being very excited because I was going to Mickey Mouse Disco at the Westmount Theater. That was my favorite Disney album of all time, although I strayed and eventually listened to Sesame Street Fever just as much. In any case, the prospect of a whole movie built around Mickey and Minnie getting down made my little heart leap with joy. But my joy lasted seven minutes, for I had been reading the newspaper upside down, and the main feature was actually Herbie Goes Bananas, featuring our favorite VW`s adventures in South America. So, it was not a bad deal after all.
1984: My dad and I went to see the Goldie Hawn comedy Protocol at the Garneau. It was a bone-chilling winter night...and the manager had Hawaiian music wafting through the speakers.
1984: My dad, myself and my sister went to see 2010 at the Westmount. Because I was a bit of a goof, when I had to sneeze, unfortunately the lady in front of me got a shower in her hair. I hope she is all right. As for the movie, it always amazes me that we thought we`d be on the moon by now. But I have to admit, the cell phone, Internet, and mp3 player are pretty cool inventions.
More of these stories later on this week.
MTMG
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
11 Technologies in Danger of Going Extinct - Yahoo! Canada News
11 Technologies in Danger of Going Extinct - Yahoo! Canada News
I think the DVD's gonna be around for a bit yet. At least I hope so, because I can't afford to upgrade!
MTMG
I think the DVD's gonna be around for a bit yet. At least I hope so, because I can't afford to upgrade!
MTMG
Monday, August 9, 2010
TCA: HBO Unveils New Material from Scorsese, Lee, Mann, Haynes and Milch - Thompson on Hollywood
TCA: HBO Unveils New Material from Scorsese, Lee, Mann, Haynes and Milch - Thompson on Hollywood
HBO is definitely the hip, happening, Hollywood studio right now. They just happen to release their product to high-class television.
MTMG
HBO is definitely the hip, happening, Hollywood studio right now. They just happen to release their product to high-class television.
MTMG
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Mary Hart: Entertainment Tonight's Queen Stepping Down - E! Online
Mary Hart: Entertainment Tonight's Queen Stepping Down - E! Online
First Oprah and Larry, now Mary. And the sad thing is, there's no one really coming up to replace them in terms of longevity.
MTMG
First Oprah and Larry, now Mary. And the sad thing is, there's no one really coming up to replace them in terms of longevity.
MTMG
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Kids Are More Than All Right
When watching the Edmonton premiere of The Kids Are All Right, I was struck by how far Hollywood has come in its depiction of gay lifestyles.
There was the very under-the-wire goblet drinking scene in Ben-Hur in the 50s. There was the shots of naughty feet in Personal Best in the 70s.
And there was the portrayal of Tobias Wolf in This Boy's Life in the 90s.
And now in 2010, director Lisa Cholodenko has managed to almost push the issue to the background in The Kids Are All Right, in which Annette Bening and Julianne Moore play a long term couple with kids fathered with Mark Ruffalo's sperm. No weepy flamenco guitars and arty shots with candles for these two. They snuggle and call each other babe, pony, and chicken, and brush their teeth together before bed. Could be anybody, right?
They support their son's desire to contact the donor. Again, we've seen this before.
They like to watch porn with sweaty men to get in the mood. In the Internet age, also no biggie.
And they have been together so long that things are starting to go stale, and it`s on this convention that the plot turns, as Moore`s free-spirited landscaper begins an affair with Ruffalo`s equally free-spirited drifter. Staleness can happen to us all, people. Bening does some of the best work of her career as her character slowly finds out.
Am I gay? No, and I don`t plan to be. But the truth is, you meet all kinds of people in this life, and I can`t imagine missing out on a great conversation with someone based on their orientation. They know I`m not, I know they are. With that out of the way, let mutual respect reign!
There was the very under-the-wire goblet drinking scene in Ben-Hur in the 50s. There was the shots of naughty feet in Personal Best in the 70s.
And there was the portrayal of Tobias Wolf in This Boy's Life in the 90s.
And now in 2010, director Lisa Cholodenko has managed to almost push the issue to the background in The Kids Are All Right, in which Annette Bening and Julianne Moore play a long term couple with kids fathered with Mark Ruffalo's sperm. No weepy flamenco guitars and arty shots with candles for these two. They snuggle and call each other babe, pony, and chicken, and brush their teeth together before bed. Could be anybody, right?
They support their son's desire to contact the donor. Again, we've seen this before.
They like to watch porn with sweaty men to get in the mood. In the Internet age, also no biggie.
And they have been together so long that things are starting to go stale, and it`s on this convention that the plot turns, as Moore`s free-spirited landscaper begins an affair with Ruffalo`s equally free-spirited drifter. Staleness can happen to us all, people. Bening does some of the best work of her career as her character slowly finds out.
Am I gay? No, and I don`t plan to be. But the truth is, you meet all kinds of people in this life, and I can`t imagine missing out on a great conversation with someone based on their orientation. They know I`m not, I know they are. With that out of the way, let mutual respect reign!
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