Mon, 04 Sep 2006
Quick DVD Roundup 9/1
I'll preface this by saying that since I'm so far behind in my Netflix queue that by the time movies get to my house, most have really been hyped quite a lot. As you know that's an on-going problem for me. Hype kills movies for me. It used to build up my excitement for flicks (Kill Bill, Sin City), but for the past
few years it's been lowering my opinions. Maybe it's because the movies are so unlike what people are focusing on? (like Sideways- I didn't think it was a wine movie- I thought it was a relationship movie about a schlub who steals cash from his mom and his shithead buddy) I dunno . . . Lemme know what you think. The Aristocrats - ***
Really clever and well done. You can tell they cut a lot out by the sheer volume of dvd extras. But what they did leave for the main movie was really funny and insightful. The Motorcycle Diaries - ****
I should save this for last, and I'm tempted to rant about this BUT . . .
As a movie on it's own, it's great. I could've done without some of the overdone montages at the end, but it was a great road trip and buddy movie.
That said, what annoys me about this movie is how they wander off the source material to give some gravitas to the subject. I've read a lot about this trip (I'm mildly obsessed with travel and wanted to do a similar trip) and I know that the director/writer kept certain scenes out of the movie to paint the protaganists in a more flattering light. Example? Sure!
The scene at Machu Pichu happened (kinda sorta), but wasn't that prophetic . . . But there was no mention of how Che ruined some family's food in Chile when he had diarrhea and decided to shit out of the window onto their food (p 44 The Motorcycle Diaries, Verso ed.).
But like I said- it's a good movie if you detach yourself mentally from the subject matter.
[side note - I'd really recommend Patrick Symmes' Chasing Che: A Motorcycle Journey in Search of the Guevara Legend ] Alexander - 0
Uh what? As Bryan would say, "What the F?". The only two good things about this movie are Rosario Dawson's two good things. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - ***
I really found this movie enjoyable. I don't have too much to say about it though. Everyone in it is pretty good. And Michelle Monaghan? Who knew? Constantine - *
Yeah yeah, I know. But hey, I like comic books and am willing to give the movie versions a chance (especially if Rachel Weisz is in them). Still, I liked it enough. Syriana - **
Another overrated movie that makes me realize I prefer the source material more. But I found the movie engaging and interesting. Side note- is it just me, or were the sound levels in this flick all f'd up? A Very Long Engagement - ****
A bit long, but I got into it after a while. Some of you will hate the ending, but it's really well done and filmed well. Interesting story, but the visual style will keep those not interested in the plot line watching. . .
04 Sep 11:19 | /movies | 3 comment(s)
