Another criterion sale at Barnes and nobles for those who love some of the more "obscure" but brilliant films. My recommendations for movies that are beyond "just good" fluff films. Seven samurai , Yojimbo and Sanjuro - Kurosawa's most accessible films. Cannot recommend them enough, and if you like westerns and/or Samurai films... They are must sees. Pass on other films like Kagemusha and Rashomon unless you are really ready to get tossed into Japanese culture and left with no explanation. 400 Blows - one of the best films ever made. One of the hallmark films of the French New Wave in cinema. Very accessible. 12 Angry men and Anatomy of a Murder - 12 angry men is especially brilliant and the best possible adaptation. I've never seen a black and white film look THAT good. Modern Times and The Great Dictator - Chaplin's films at their most brilliant. They could be your standard silent films, but in his hands they are freaking awesome. Modern times is so much fun, and Paulette Goddard is so damn beautiful. She is in both films and just damn. Night of the Hunter - just wow. Paths of Glory and The Killing - Another 2 films that are very accessible Kubrick. They seem so straightforward to look at standing outside, but are really full of so much depth if you want to look inside. Absolute must sees, even if you remotely appreciate anything he's done. The Seventh Seal - this was my first "criterion" style film and it still moves me to this day. It's a defining piece of cinema that has transcended into popular culture. Like Bill and Ted's 2nd movie? Love Death? We wouldn't have him if not for The Seventh Seal. That's all for now. If you don't buy any of those movies, find a way to watch them. If you do buy anything, criterion films really give you a ton of bang for your buck. They generally have overwhelming extras. Commentaries, tons of features and they all come with a thick booklet with even more info on the films. Most of the collection will run you about $20, which is crazy for what you get. Hell, 12 Angry men comes with 2 films basically. As does The Killing, which also has a load of extras including another film.
Went through the family DVD collection the other day to dig out a few movies I haven't seen yet to go through this week with the bro. Terminator Salvation, Invictus, Public Enemies, The Expendables, and Star Trek (2009). Saw TS just today. Pretty lame movie for the most part. The characters are all extremely weak compared to those in the trilogy. Oh well, it should be the worst of the bunch anyways. Edit: Invictus was a decently moving film, although too slow at times. It reminded me often of Moneyball.
The Godzilla Encounters viral marketing leading up to SDCC is interesting. I looked at all the pictures and took all the red letters and put em together. In order: S E RI ZAWA That becomes SERIZAWA. Serizawa was the heroic professor in the original GODZILLA movie in 1954. He Spoiler created the oxygen destroyer weapon that ultimately was used in a last ditch effort to kill the first godzilla. It worked, but cost the professor his life. And hit japan with absolutely ecological and economic destrustion, killing all the fish in a large part of japan's surrounding ocean.
Pacific Rim was terrific. I saw it in regular non-3D. The theater was playing it way too loud, though. My ears were ringing afterward. I could have done without that.
It's one thing to be loud, and another thing to be so loud that it makes your ears ring. I'm too old for that kind of thing now.
I think the theater had the volume at "packed house" level, but there were only perhaps 20 people at the showing. Not enough bodies to absorb sound waves.
I can't wait to see Turbo! That came out today. And James Wan's new film, The Conjuring, is coming out on Friday. Ahhhhh! Last night I went to Target in search of the 2009 animated Wonder Woman film. I ended up coming back with: Wonder Woman Superman: Doomsday Green Lantern: First Flight Double feature with Public Enemies Superman/Batman and Apocalypse, or something? Yuh!
It looks so adorable and sweet and nice I hope they stay away from rude humor, but seeing as it's post-How to Train Your Dragon Dreamworks, I don't think I'll worry too much. They are boss now! It looks like Ratatouille, note-for-note, but that's not a bad thing. It looks inoffensive, cute, and fun. And colorful. And funny. "The whole world is going in.... slooooow motion, baby." "Whoooooooaaaaaa." Hahaha.
Me as well. I was starting to get fatigued with Ryan Reynolds, but this might be the movie to make me love him all over again. But now it's all about Ryan Gosling. <3 Mmm... Speaking of Gosling, I can't wait for Only God Forgives. It sounds like it's very polarizing, but that's fine to me. I also heard that if you expect Drive, you'll despise it. But if you expect something from before Drive, mostly Valhalla Rising and the Pusher trilogy, you should be fine. I've only seen Bronson from Winding Refn's pre-Drive catalog, but I want to see all his other movies, haha.
Drive is so amazing <3 But Only God Forgives is more in line with the director's earlier stuff. I loved Bronson. Aw, stick to your guns, homie You can be excited for the movie!
