It didn't take long for Fraser to kill that advantage, though, eh? Damn it, that guy should retire. Even MacLean wasn't happy with him (if I heard him right). At least they seemed to wise up after the first period, and let the guys play.
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Saturday, May 29, 2004
Hockey Night in Canada: The Tampa Bay Lightning at the Calgary Flames - Game 3: Flames: 3; Lightning: 0! I have never seen a stadium like the Saddledome tonight: a sea of red, with black 'C's... Unbelievable! With a 20000-person capacity, that's more than we could ever match.
It didn't take long for Fraser to kill that advantage, though, eh? Damn it, that guy should retire. Even MacLean wasn't happy with him (if I heard him right). At least they seemed to wise up after the first period, and let the guys play.
It didn't take long for Fraser to kill that advantage, though, eh? Damn it, that guy should retire. Even MacLean wasn't happy with him (if I heard him right). At least they seemed to wise up after the first period, and let the guys play.
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Battle for the Planet of the Apes: Oh, man... That was terrible! That may have been the worst battle for anything that I've ever seen! I felt like I was suffering from some poison of the mind just watching that ambling advance.
Oh, that story was so weak. How in the world did Caesar (Roddy McDowall) not visit the archives before then? MacDonald (Austin Stoker) just brings it up 12 years later? "Oh, by the way Caesar, you've been talkin' 'bout those parents of yours? Yeah, we can go have a look at them... If ya want. Figured ya wouldn't care, but, eh, thought I'd mention it." And mature apes developing speech - perfect enunciation, no less - in just over a decade? I suppose it fits with their crazy timeline.
Wasn't I just talking about the wealth of material the other day? Why would they settle for this crappy script? Pumping these movies out year after year, I suspect they rushed it. The only redeeming feature, in my opinion, was Mandemus (Lew Ayres), the keeper of the armory. I liked the concept of Caesar's conscience.
Oh, that story was so weak. How in the world did Caesar (Roddy McDowall) not visit the archives before then? MacDonald (Austin Stoker) just brings it up 12 years later? "Oh, by the way Caesar, you've been talkin' 'bout those parents of yours? Yeah, we can go have a look at them... If ya want. Figured ya wouldn't care, but, eh, thought I'd mention it." And mature apes developing speech - perfect enunciation, no less - in just over a decade? I suppose it fits with their crazy timeline.
Wasn't I just talking about the wealth of material the other day? Why would they settle for this crappy script? Pumping these movies out year after year, I suspect they rushed it. The only redeeming feature, in my opinion, was Mandemus (Lew Ayres), the keeper of the armory. I liked the concept of Caesar's conscience.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
The Great Escape (1963): Wow. They just don't make movies like this anymore. The perfect mix of sincerity, humour, solemnness, suspense... It culminated with a horrific, but tempered, event: 50 shot, but many not, and some free.
I don't know what more I can say about it, other than I can't believe I hadn't seen it before now. Oh, and man! Those guys are young! I hardly recognized James Garner and James Coburn, and I didn't recognize Charles Bronson. I can't really speak to the acting - it just didn't seem to matter - except to say that Steve McQueen was the same ole Steve, that great guy I now know and love. :-)
I don't know what more I can say about it, other than I can't believe I hadn't seen it before now. Oh, and man! Those guys are young! I hardly recognized James Garner and James Coburn, and I didn't recognize Charles Bronson. I can't really speak to the acting - it just didn't seem to matter - except to say that Steve McQueen was the same ole Steve, that great guy I now know and love. :-)
Monday, May 24, 2004
Cambridge Spies - Part 2: Ah, man, what a f***-up! I had no idea that the first part was supposed to continue on for another hour and 45 minutes after a 15-minute Sunday Report. I watched Canada Votes for a bit, and just assumed that the "stay tuned for more Cambridge Spies" meant this evening's part. (I mean, I didn't think they'd expect me to "stay tuned" for an hour.) I guess Mr. Martin's calling the election forced them to preempt the movie for a bit... Maybe it started again at 11 p.m. Oh well, I'll never know.
So, what did I managed to get out of it, having missed the heart of the whole thing? Not a whole hell of a lot, unfortunately. And, to be honest, I don't think seeing the whole thing would completely reverse that sentiment. Some of it just left me wanting. For example, Donald's final scene, before Guy comes to escort him to Moscow, struck me as rushed and chintzy. I can see the director now:
They really needed to spend some time on that scene. It was important. But, on the other hand, some scenes were superbly done. For example, the scene where the Russian suggests that Kim should resolve the Homer inquiry: that final shot, when the Russian says, "Homer's lost," is just brilliant. I'll definitely watch the whole thing some day. *sigh*
So, what did I managed to get out of it, having missed the heart of the whole thing? Not a whole hell of a lot, unfortunately. And, to be honest, I don't think seeing the whole thing would completely reverse that sentiment. Some of it just left me wanting. For example, Donald's final scene, before Guy comes to escort him to Moscow, struck me as rushed and chintzy. I can see the director now:
O.K. Donald's been given up. Let's show that he's an upstanding gentlemen (a bottle of the drink goes in the trash), that he's decided to give up the life for good (a file goes in the desk drawer instead of the briefcase), and that he wants his family to be safe (swing goes up in the yard, wife says, "Is it safe?" Donald replies, "Yes"); but he's really talking about them, his family... Jolly good, on to the next scene... Blah, blah, blah...
They really needed to spend some time on that scene. It was important. But, on the other hand, some scenes were superbly done. For example, the scene where the Russian suggests that Kim should resolve the Homer inquiry: that final shot, when the Russian says, "Homer's lost," is just brilliant. I'll definitely watch the whole thing some day. *sigh*
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Cambridge Spies - Part 1: Well, I'm glad I taped it; I could stand to watch the first half hour again. Guess I don't watch enough British television... I struggled to catch all the dialogue. That pace is good, though. Keeps up the interest. Throw in a character like Guy Burgess (Tom Hollander) - what a hoot! - and you've got a winner (so far, anyway).
I can't really speak to the subject matter; this is the first I've heard of these men. Mum mentioned that the writer (Peter Moffat) has been criticized by the British public for romanticizing these traitors. To me, they seem very human. Inconvenient, isn't it? When the baby-eating, evil-doers turn out to be people too? In general, I mean; setting aside whether this particular account is authentic.
I can't really speak to the subject matter; this is the first I've heard of these men. Mum mentioned that the writer (Peter Moffat) has been criticized by the British public for romanticizing these traitors. To me, they seem very human. Inconvenient, isn't it? When the baby-eating, evil-doers turn out to be people too? In general, I mean; setting aside whether this particular account is authentic.
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes: This one started out fairly well; I continue to be surprised by the decent stories in these sequels of sequels, despite knowing that there's a wealth of material in all the years they supposedly cover. I guess I just expect the beaten horse to give up the ghost by the third or fourth beating (e.g., Rocky, Jason, Rambo).
Now, I say started out well, but I did have to get past its being set in 1991: if I'm not mistaken, that's 20 years for the cats and dogs to be wiped out, the simians to become the salve for that wound, and the simians to grow significantly in both size and their capacity to understand human speech; this last point is especially noticeable near the end, when all of Caesar's (Roddy McDowall) forces clearly understand his complicated monologue. In all fairness, setting the date aside was not a chore: the richness of the world captivated me early, with its stark future - did anyone else think of the Empire? - and ape conditioning.
However, I found that it slowly descended into melodrama as the story played out. First, there was the casting of a black man as the sympathetic human (the descent is completely when they openly reference the slavery of the black man at the movie's conclusion). Then, there was the bungled execution of Caesar (why were the machine's lights illuminated the whole time?). Finally, there was the "bloodless" revolution, which did not capture the brutality of the act at all; initially, I thought that may have been because of the state of special effects in the early 70's, but the graphic Tragedy of Macbeth contradicts that argument.
In the end, I had no patience for any of the many soliloquies... It's unfortunate, because I really enjoyed a good portion of this movie. Oh well, one more to go.
Now, I say started out well, but I did have to get past its being set in 1991: if I'm not mistaken, that's 20 years for the cats and dogs to be wiped out, the simians to become the salve for that wound, and the simians to grow significantly in both size and their capacity to understand human speech; this last point is especially noticeable near the end, when all of Caesar's (Roddy McDowall) forces clearly understand his complicated monologue. In all fairness, setting the date aside was not a chore: the richness of the world captivated me early, with its stark future - did anyone else think of the Empire? - and ape conditioning.
However, I found that it slowly descended into melodrama as the story played out. First, there was the casting of a black man as the sympathetic human (the descent is completely when they openly reference the slavery of the black man at the movie's conclusion). Then, there was the bungled execution of Caesar (why were the machine's lights illuminated the whole time?). Finally, there was the "bloodless" revolution, which did not capture the brutality of the act at all; initially, I thought that may have been because of the state of special effects in the early 70's, but the graphic Tragedy of Macbeth contradicts that argument.
In the end, I had no patience for any of the many soliloquies... It's unfortunate, because I really enjoyed a good portion of this movie. Oh well, one more to go.
Saturday, May 22, 2004
In America: *sigh* That was intense: such raw emotion. Johnny (Paddy Considine) said he was a ghost - that God had twisted his wish and taken both him and his son - but for me, watching, this family, these people, were more alive and living out at the edge than anyone I know. All the yelling, the rage, the sadness, the happy moments... They were all so raw. It was exhausting.
These people can't even kick back at the movies, or the carnival. E.T.'s in heaven, but that's not good enough, so we're gonna throw down our rent money to win his fuzzy butt. Man!
I was awesome, though. Truly. That script... I'll have to watch the making-of, because that script must've been a book. Every scene, so packed with emotion... There's no way you write that with no breaks, no down time. That was, "O.K., is this light scene absolutely necessary? No? It's gone." Over and over again (I bet).
One last comment: that sex scene was amazing, for two reasons: 1) it was sexy, more so because it was a pair-bonded love, and 2) there was no nudity. None! Now, don't get me wrong: nudity is fine with me. I'm just sayin' hats off to the director for creating such a great moment without even the slightest of incidental nudity.
These people can't even kick back at the movies, or the carnival. E.T.'s in heaven, but that's not good enough, so we're gonna throw down our rent money to win his fuzzy butt. Man!
I was awesome, though. Truly. That script... I'll have to watch the making-of, because that script must've been a book. Every scene, so packed with emotion... There's no way you write that with no breaks, no down time. That was, "O.K., is this light scene absolutely necessary? No? It's gone." Over and over again (I bet).
One last comment: that sex scene was amazing, for two reasons: 1) it was sexy, more so because it was a pair-bonded love, and 2) there was no nudity. None! Now, don't get me wrong: nudity is fine with me. I'm just sayin' hats off to the director for creating such a great moment without even the slightest of incidental nudity.
Friday, May 21, 2004
Girl with a Pearl Earring: Well, we decided to rent this one, despite a negative secondhand review from the helpful Rogers Video employee: apparently, his female friend, a huge Colin Firth and Lost in Translation fan, was not impressed. Love Actually, however, was highly recommended once I mentioned that my mum - the third member of this evening's audience - was also a big Firth fan. (We'd already seen it, but something in my wife's "Oh, you should've picked that one up too" tells me that I'll be seeing it again shortly.)
I'm guessing the female reviewer above did not appreciate the pace of this movie. It was slow - no question - but it was also deliberate; each scene built on the last. What also grabbed me was the use of colour: the banquet was so fiery, with oranges and reds; the walk by the water the next day... so yellow. The lighting too... I remember a market scene: it was getting dark and Griet's (Scarlett Johanssen) face was grainy; it looked like she'd been shot with a camcorder.
Both colour and lighting were used to great effect. Mum summed it up best: it's like a series of paintings. Too true. It was a beautiful film.
I'm guessing the female reviewer above did not appreciate the pace of this movie. It was slow - no question - but it was also deliberate; each scene built on the last. What also grabbed me was the use of colour: the banquet was so fiery, with oranges and reds; the walk by the water the next day... so yellow. The lighting too... I remember a market scene: it was getting dark and Griet's (Scarlett Johanssen) face was grainy; it looked like she'd been shot with a camcorder.
Both colour and lighting were used to great effect. Mum summed it up best: it's like a series of paintings. Too true. It was a beautiful film.
Saturday, May 15, 2004
The Siege: Glad I bought this one; I'm still tryin' to figure out how all those agencies and officials fit together down south, and it wasn't like this story was gonna stop to explain it (as it shouldn't).
I wonder how this movie was received back in '98... No one will see it the same way again, that's for sure.
Hub (Denzel Washington) was excellent; I loved the way he was completely off his rocker at times (like when he barged into that classroom. That was stupid, he got lucky, and I believed he'd been pushed to that point). The nose bleed earlier on was fantastic too!
Elise/Sharon (Annette Bening) was also great. In fact, I put it right up there with her role in American Beauty (which I guess was still a year away at this point).
The down side? The General (Bruce Willis) was wooden; terribly so, I'd have to say. Willis killed every scene he was in. Whereas Washington is his character (I mean, I've seen three of his movies in as many weeks, and not once have I thought,
I wonder how this movie was received back in '98... No one will see it the same way again, that's for sure.
Hub (Denzel Washington) was excellent; I loved the way he was completely off his rocker at times (like when he barged into that classroom. That was stupid, he got lucky, and I believed he'd been pushed to that point). The nose bleed earlier on was fantastic too!
Elise/Sharon (Annette Bening) was also great. In fact, I put it right up there with her role in American Beauty (which I guess was still a year away at this point).
The down side? The General (Bruce Willis) was wooden; terribly so, I'd have to say. Willis killed every scene he was in. Whereas Washington is his character (I mean, I've seen three of his movies in as many weeks, and not once have I thought,
That's something his other character would've said), Willis gets this look in a close-up... I don't know if it's John McClane, David Addison Jr., or some morph of them, but it is definitely consistent - annoyingly so - and it snapped me out of every one of his scenes.
What Not to Wear: Man, didn't that guy - the boxer... can't remember his name - look like Clancy Brown? Damn. I kept lookin' for the staples in his neck. :-)
I have something to say: it's better burn out, than to fade away.- The Kurgan
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Without a Trace: Boy, this episode sure brought the passive nature of watching TV home. Those flashbacks really annoyed me.
Hmm, this dialogue is going to be tricky; hard to deliver. Let's just write a scene instead; give the woman pigtails, make everything a bit fuzzy.*sigh* Oh well, time for bed.
Phew! A night without homework! I've almost finished this two-week course I'm taking; brutal reading assignments almost every night. Too many years out of uni (as they say down under), I guess.
Clutch: Live at Barrymore's Music Hall: Saw Clutch last night. (The astute of you may have deduced that I didn't have homework last night either... Good for you.)
What a show! Unbelievable! Gonna have to get my bro f***ed-up drunk next time I see him... I would've missed these guys if it weren't for his recommendation. He told me about them months ago, but it wasn't until I saw them on Pollstar that I finally downloaded a few tracks to see if they'd be worth the ticket price. That, my friends, is the understatement on music for 2004.
I walked in on what I'm assuming was their first set – it so tight, but the lead singer wasn't even on stage – and 10-15 minutes later, the guitarist pounds out this incredible Sabbath-like riff... BAM! It hits me like a linebacker, and I know I'm in for a good show.
These guys didn't let up all night. You could feel the drums in your gut. The sound was so intense. If you have a chance to see them, don't pass it up. They're no bulls**t rock! (Here's hopin' my copy of Blast Tyrant captures it.)
Clutch: Live at Barrymore's Music Hall: Saw Clutch last night. (The astute of you may have deduced that I didn't have homework last night either... Good for you.)
What a show! Unbelievable! Gonna have to get my bro f***ed-up drunk next time I see him... I would've missed these guys if it weren't for his recommendation. He told me about them months ago, but it wasn't until I saw them on Pollstar that I finally downloaded a few tracks to see if they'd be worth the ticket price. That, my friends, is the understatement on music for 2004.
I walked in on what I'm assuming was their first set – it so tight, but the lead singer wasn't even on stage – and 10-15 minutes later, the guitarist pounds out this incredible Sabbath-like riff... BAM! It hits me like a linebacker, and I know I'm in for a good show.
These guys didn't let up all night. You could feel the drums in your gut. The sound was so intense. If you have a chance to see them, don't pass it up. They're no bulls**t rock! (Here's hopin' my copy of Blast Tyrant captures it.)
Friday, May 07, 2004
Out of Time (2003): I decided I wanted to see more Denzel stuff after Man on Fire (2004), so we rented this one. I called Man on Fire (2004) a ride, but, end-to-end, it's this one that really fits that description. This was edge-of-your-seat stuff.
The cast was what really makes this movie. I just found out where I recognized Chae (John Billingsley) from! He played (plays? I stopped watching after the first season) Dr. Phlox on Enterprise! I knew I recognized that voice! Anyway, he was great! Seriously great; the character and the performance.
But it didn't stop there: Ann (Sanaa Lathan) gave an excellent performance... I see some of the user comments on IMDB label this movie predictable, but her twists completely caught me by surprise. And that DEA agent, Stark (Terry Loughlin)? What a ball buster! Awesome! Supporting roles don't get more memorable than that. :-)
And, last but not least, Chief Whitlock (Denzel Washington). Denzel says so much with a look; you know how panicked the man is, without a word being spoken. And when he's freakin' out near the end of the flick... I was so impressed. Here's a man who's trained to fire a gun, has probably had more than a few guns pointed at him in his career, and now he's defenseless and convinced he's going to die. Truly. I believed it, looking in Denzel's eyes, listening to the hysterical tone of his voice. This is the same man who played a CIA assassin in Man on Fire (2004). His range is just awesome.
The cast was what really makes this movie. I just found out where I recognized Chae (John Billingsley) from! He played (plays? I stopped watching after the first season) Dr. Phlox on Enterprise! I knew I recognized that voice! Anyway, he was great! Seriously great; the character and the performance.
But it didn't stop there: Ann (Sanaa Lathan) gave an excellent performance... I see some of the user comments on IMDB label this movie predictable, but her twists completely caught me by surprise. And that DEA agent, Stark (Terry Loughlin)? What a ball buster! Awesome! Supporting roles don't get more memorable than that. :-)
And, last but not least, Chief Whitlock (Denzel Washington). Denzel says so much with a look; you know how panicked the man is, without a word being spoken. And when he's freakin' out near the end of the flick... I was so impressed. Here's a man who's trained to fire a gun, has probably had more than a few guns pointed at him in his career, and now he's defenseless and convinced he's going to die. Truly. I believed it, looking in Denzel's eyes, listening to the hysterical tone of his voice. This is the same man who played a CIA assassin in Man on Fire (2004). His range is just awesome.
Laws of Attraction: Eh. This one was O.K. Brosnan's character was interesting for all of 20 minutes, but, then again, I guess the point was for us to focus on Moore's character. Audrey was actually a real woman - unlike the slob-turned-charmer Daniel; the scene where her mom was comforting her on the bed was great.
One of my favourite scenes was on the plane: Daniel tells the stewardess they're married, and Audrey snaps,
The bar scenes were great too. I noticed that they hired some consultants for the... salsa bar, I guess? Anyway, that scene was excellent - it really set the tone for the movie - and the Irish pub was even better. My wife couldn't stop laughing at the little wooden Irishman that Daniel won. :-)
One of my favourite scenes was on the plane: Daniel tells the stewardess they're married, and Audrey snaps,
Don't tell anyone!The stewardess' expression was priceless.
The bar scenes were great too. I noticed that they hired some consultants for the... salsa bar, I guess? Anyway, that scene was excellent - it really set the tone for the movie - and the Irish pub was even better. My wife couldn't stop laughing at the little wooden Irishman that Daniel won. :-)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999): I believe this is about where we watched it again...
I don't have anything to add to what I wrote last time... Other than, I discovered that someone commented on the entry months after I'd posted it. As a rule, if you comment on an entry that's older than, say, a month, can you let me know? That way you won't feel ignored, and I'll feel special. :-)
Now I'll have to go back and listen to the commentary around the Martinique stuff...
No more procrastinating, John! Write about 'em right after you watch 'em!
I don't have anything to add to what I wrote last time... Other than, I discovered that someone commented on the entry months after I'd posted it. As a rule, if you comment on an entry that's older than, say, a month, can you let me know? That way you won't feel ignored, and I'll feel special. :-)
Now I'll have to go back and listen to the commentary around the Martinique stuff...
Man on Fire (2004): Oh, man! What a ride! The title says it all! Creasy (Denzel Washington) is... Well, he's f***ed up in the beginning, but then he's in the zone. The pacing was just incredible. The amount of time they invested in the relationship between Creasy and Pita (Dakota Fanning) - like the bread - was excellent. It made that kidnapping scene; the scene of the movie in my mind.
Trent Reznor was a music consultant on this one, and, just like in The Fan, his Spiral stuff worked beautifully. The scenes where Creasy tries to catch that bullet, again and again... Man, it doesn't get any better than that. Blue Bayou was awesome too.
I'd just attended a briefing on travel safety before I saw this too, eh? When he's under surveillance, I'm thinking,
Trent Reznor was a music consultant on this one, and, just like in The Fan, his Spiral stuff worked beautifully. The scenes where Creasy tries to catch that bullet, again and again... Man, it doesn't get any better than that. Blue Bayou was awesome too.
I'd just attended a briefing on travel safety before I saw this too, eh? When he's under surveillance, I'm thinking,
Switch up your route, man!When he's scoping out the intersection for his ambush, I'm thinking,
That's one of the cop's choke points.It just added so much, cause there was no way I'd be able to stop him. I spent the movie thinkin',
Glad he ain't mad at me!
First,
13 Going On 30: Ah, Thriller. I remember this sock hop we had back in Grade 4: it started with everyone huddled around this small TV on the gym floor, all spooky with the lights out (the 4 p.m. sunshine safely locked outside). I was really freaked out! Those eyes! Those fangs! That was some scary s**t back then. I recognized Jenna's (Jennifer Garner) moves, but I never would've been able to come up them on my own; throw the spotlight into the mix and I'm a deer. Her hesitancy, biting half her lower lip... That was my favourite scene.
My wife is convinced that Rick Springfield is coming back, thanks to this movie and soundtrack. :-) Now, while I enjoyed Jessie's Girl as much as the next 80's child, I'm not convinced. My cousin Valerie just loved this guy - her room was wallpapered in Rick Springfield posters - way back when, but I just don't think that hair would fly today. :-) Man, that guy's still making music...
Hmm, final thoughts on the movie... The ending was strange. Maybe I've watched too much time altering, but it seemed like a huge leap that by changing her past so drastically, Jenna only altered who was getting married that day. Of course, I'm not advocating the Jenna-and-Matt (Mark Ruffalo) die-in-a-horrible-car-accident-at-18 ending either. I just didn't think they needed any of it. And if it had to be sappy, end it with that kiss at 13.
John hasn't watched anything for a week?No, no. In fact, I watched quite a few movies last weekend. I'm just a procrastinator of renowned skill. Oh well, on with the shows...
13 Going On 30: Ah, Thriller. I remember this sock hop we had back in Grade 4: it started with everyone huddled around this small TV on the gym floor, all spooky with the lights out (the 4 p.m. sunshine safely locked outside). I was really freaked out! Those eyes! Those fangs! That was some scary s**t back then. I recognized Jenna's (Jennifer Garner) moves, but I never would've been able to come up them on my own; throw the spotlight into the mix and I'm a deer. Her hesitancy, biting half her lower lip... That was my favourite scene.
My wife is convinced that Rick Springfield is coming back, thanks to this movie and soundtrack. :-) Now, while I enjoyed Jessie's Girl as much as the next 80's child, I'm not convinced. My cousin Valerie just loved this guy - her room was wallpapered in Rick Springfield posters - way back when, but I just don't think that hair would fly today. :-) Man, that guy's still making music...
Hmm, final thoughts on the movie... The ending was strange. Maybe I've watched too much time altering, but it seemed like a huge leap that by changing her past so drastically, Jenna only altered who was getting married that day. Of course, I'm not advocating the Jenna-and-Matt (Mark Ruffalo) die-in-a-horrible-car-accident-at-18 ending either. I just didn't think they needed any of it. And if it had to be sappy, end it with that kiss at 13.
