mjm wired :: Movies

End of the World

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 18:02:46 -0400

Apparently today should be the end of the world or something like that. Seeing as the 666 is the mark of the beast or something like that and today is 06/06/06 based on some gregorian calendar or something like that. To that effect the remake of the 1976 classic horror movie The Omen was released today. I just thought it would be funny to note that I watched the original movie for the first time exactly 66 + 6 days ago. Imagine that. And if I am so lame, I could also wait a few minutes or so and post this at 6:06 Central Time! But I think I made my point.

King Kong Trailer

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 22:21:00 -0400

I can't beleive that I actually felt pleasantly surprised to watch the trailer for King Kong. Crazy man Jack Black looks good and all I can say is that Peter LOTR Jackson seems to be working on quite a stunning flick. Check out the big trailer here (broadband req).

Looks like I'll have to check out the original and the other remake (70's? 80's?).

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Sun, 29 May 2005 17:29:50 -0400

Just got back from Star Wars and I'm questioning why I had any expectations at all for it to be satisfying. I watched the trailers and tv ads a few days ago and I had a little anticipation, but in the end, I was disappointed. Basically if I ignore the bad acting and ridiculous dialogue I might find a bit more appreciation. However, all I feel is I'm watching the movie monster envisioned by a pompous director who suckered the world into giving him money to see it.

I'm glad the Star Wars nonsense is over. But there's a greater trouble lurking out there. It seems like recently all blockbusters aren't complete unless they degrade into some trilogy sequence. "Oh I've seen the first 2, and they sucked, but I really feel like I have see the third one!" ... Or something like that.

The Pianist

Mon, 25 Aug 2003 19:57:27 -0400

This weekend I watch The Pianist, a very well done movie in almost every respect. It clearly deserved all the Oscar attention it received. As much as I enjoyed the movie, at times it was very hard to watch its sad depictions and depressing scenes. The German occupation of Warsaw is shown in grim detail through the eyes of a Jewish pianist. As a survivor his very real story was eventually told. The thing that affected me about this movie was that it reminded me of the capabilities of man. Humanity and its meaning at times can be so easily overlooked. I'm not sure what my point is, I guess it bothers me that even to this day worse things happen. I question what mankind has learned from centuries of violence. People can live in their own happy self centered worlds, while easily filtering out the hardships endured by the rest of the people on this planet. Maybe they don't know any better. Maybe no one does. Of course believing that would only be an excuse. There are no excuses, we all should know better.

You Call That Funny?

Tue, 17 Jun 2003 22:59:59 -0400

The other day I finally finished watching Office Space for the first time (I know, I know). Watching any movie with my brothers always implies a fiery debate afterwards. The issue this time was about modern "comedy" and what is defined as "funny" with American audiences. We watched Mr. Deeds a few days earlier and the thing that bothered my older brother was that he thought some jokes were just too stupid to be funny (ie. "frost-bite foot gag"). I disagreed, it is stupid but not so much that someone would not get a good laugh out of it. Although the Sandler flick was much cleaner than the profanity laiden Office Space, he liked the latter better. Reason? Subject matter of course: a satire about software engineers and contentment with jobs. What more can you ask from a movie?

For me things can only be funny if you can relate to them. All the material around them is irrelevant. No one likes to be caught in some perpetual "inside joke". We ageed on that. We also agreed that Office Space in a lot of ways had a sense of realism which is required for good humor. Now the place where opinions part is another aspect of comedy: the shock or wacky punchline. In reality, anything goes. Should it? I cannot stand things like South Park (sorry guys) or Tom Green movies, but love watching re-runs of wild Chris Farley (rip) or Will Farrel skits. The ironic thing is that what passed a few years ago as inane, outlandish or obscene is mild by today's standards. What can you do? If you want to get a good laugh, then don't expect too much. Hey, if it's funny then laugh. If not you can always watch the Simpsons.