Underrated movies: Southland Tales

I didn't like Donnie Darko but I loved this one (except the title font which is way too much Buffy like and annoying). Critics were infatuated with the former but hated latter. Did the movie hit the American nerve too pointedly? Or was it the pimp thing?

The style of the movie is Twin Peaks-esque without the ominous atmosphere of Lynch. I was impressed about the movie's floating-like story, good plot, main actors (I think we have finally proved for any last line doubters that Dwayne Johnson can act and that Justin Timberlake isn't bad either) and the unbelievably good supporting surprises. I never believed, for instance, that Christopher Lambert could make a role. It happened. Maybe it is the apocalypse coming after all. If it is, then, indeed

- Have a Nice Apocalypse!

Underrated movies: Zodiac

The same caliber with Se7en and Fight Club. Intense. Thriller. Pace is slower than normal and maybe that is partly why the movie went unnoticed. I hope that this movie will be discovered later.

Reality Check (part 1): trucks

This is a short one. I think everybody knows that a real truck does not slide that way when it emergency-brakes. You know, it would be a real hazard in traffic if it did.

Update: Of course, if slippery it might happen. But still, enough is enough...

I will Summon Joe the Ordinary Guy!

To fight off annoying people away that are standing in shopping malls in everybody's way or those who are hindering and cannot understand to give way!

And.. it's done.

A Quick review of Saw movies (so far)

All in all, I'm surprised how qualified the whole "series" is. Usually sequels in any movie are total crap but some of the Saw sequels are actually quite a match for the first installment. I also highly like the fact that when Jigsaw dies he stays dead. That's the way it ought to be and this has kept the level up partly.


Saw
The first one, got an earned cult status on its arrival.


Saw II
Total crap but the necessary evil to get to the third part..


Saw III
... Which is a really good cap for the series.
It started from the first one and finishes here.



Saw IV
What could have been total crap turned out to be an excellent sequel. Jigsaw's story keeps unfolding. The atmosphere is intense and should keep you hauled to your seat.


Saw V
But here we go again, as with the second, it's crap again. I detest most the final killing because it did not have any basis on the Saw-universe.
However, when they make yet another version, I do hope that
1) the plot is well thought of
2) they end the series there.
3) they don't make Jigsaw's former wife the new Jigsaw because that would be the ultimate lame thing to do (unless its extra-super-hyper-extremely-well scripted which I'd doubt)

It would be a good idea not to continue this series on and on and on.. It already has the status it might have sought to have. We don't need another Freddy vs. Jason vs. Predator vs Jigsaw vs Pinhead vs -insert a character here-.

Joe the Ordinary Guy

From now on, Every time I have an oridinary problem (to prove that I am a nerd who is extremely nerdish at everything I do) I shall summon Joe the Ordinary Guy and all my problems will vanish when I send him to fight them!

This week's problem:

I summon Joe: To fight off bottom-of-the-bottle flatness from the choice of this week's drink, Cola! Done!

If you want to loan Joe, be my guest. Know what to do, right-click and Save as Image.. then he will be at your disposal to fight stuff away!

Stop MAKING REMAKES of (cult/) CLASSICS!!

At least leave Carpenter ALONE! The Thing, They Live, Assault on Precinct 13 are timeless. We need not new ones. And then (apart from Carpenter), who wants a Karate Kid remake? The original (well, I never liked it, but..) has that something. They have the original feeling; you can't replicate that! The Hitcher? Why don't you watch the original one or republish it. Only thing positive about this crapmakes business is that after remakes the originals are usually more easily obtainable. STILL. Now, just wait and they'll be remaking Gremlins. I'm not saying all of the remakes are bad but there are some cult pieces you shouldn't touch and have respect.

Update, 2009: They are now thinking about making Gremlins, gesh..

Yes, Carpenter's The Thing was a re-make But: with a major difference -it never pretended to be anything like the original (the plot of the original script is not the same) and it was Carpenter's own interpretation of The Thing -> Hence, Carpenter's The Thing instead of just 'The Thing'.

Movies you ought to see #3

The Pledge (2001)

Deeply agonizing with intense atmosphere. Not to
mention the quality that Nicholson brings to the movie.

Found it from B3TA and...

.. absolutely _had_ to share this!

Hilarious!

Moderate CGI in fight scenes (part 1), my weekly rant

Why to put CGI where you don't need it? Why to go over-the-top when something less suffices? My heart cries for so many spoiled fighting scenes with pointless CGI addition. Who self-aware movie maker allows this to happen.. Yes, yes easy & cheap but once again, if you make a megabudget movie then why cut here?

I guess it started with Matrix Reloaded. Yes, this is an actual
footage from the movie and very realistic indeed. Perfect example.


Even Quantum of Solace did it while flying with ropes.
Why? Why? Why? Now the scene, that would've been okey, the movie can be remembered for its Tarzan-tricks (except, Tarzan did it better). Besides, if James Bond wants to be more down-to-earth and believable than, let's say Die Another Day (gee, wonder why it wasn't such a big hit), why to add something that isn't needed?


Same with Hellboy II. What is very disappointing is that the whole fighting scene could've been quite awesome had not excess CGI spoiled it.

Bottom line: Viewers are not stupid and are not fooled, yet there is still somebody making it hard for viewers such as me to enjoy a good fighting scene. And I don't think I'm the only one out there wanting more hard-core action.

Let me introduce you to Bond, James Bond

The classical Bond ... and the new sexy, charming and lethal James Bond.

Transition well done!