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Riddick footnote
Sep. 10th, 2013 04:47 pmUrsulav did a fantastic write up of the movie here: http://ursulav.livejournal.com/1553119.html
It is quite manly.
It is quite manly.
I loved Pitch Black, and I love Chronicles of Riddick, so when my best friend said she wanted to see Riddick as her birthday present I was all over it. I happened to see they were having an advance screening last night, so we went to it.
She chose the venue (Movie Tavern, one of those movie theater/restaurant hybrids). I'm not a fan of seeing movies there. The food isn't all that great frankly, and it really takes me out of the movie to have people constantly walking in front of me.
On to the no spoilers review:
It was your typical action flick. Some good action scenes interspersed with campy one liners held together with a thread of a plot. The first full 1/3 of the movie is taken up by this quiet, rather slow moving introspection on Riddick's part like they were going for something deeper and more artsy than action flick.
Overall it was entertaining. The CGI and sound were absolutely fantastic. The story wasn't as compelling as the first or second and the last bit was so reminiscent of the first movie that I kept wondering if it was going to turn out they were on the same planet.
There's nothing behind the credits.
( here there be spoilers )
She chose the venue (Movie Tavern, one of those movie theater/restaurant hybrids). I'm not a fan of seeing movies there. The food isn't all that great frankly, and it really takes me out of the movie to have people constantly walking in front of me.
On to the no spoilers review:
It was your typical action flick. Some good action scenes interspersed with campy one liners held together with a thread of a plot. The first full 1/3 of the movie is taken up by this quiet, rather slow moving introspection on Riddick's part like they were going for something deeper and more artsy than action flick.
Overall it was entertaining. The CGI and sound were absolutely fantastic. The story wasn't as compelling as the first or second and the last bit was so reminiscent of the first movie that I kept wondering if it was going to turn out they were on the same planet.
There's nothing behind the credits.
( here there be spoilers )
Dance fight Tuesday night!
Mar. 13th, 2012 12:57 pmWe had a good visit this weekend at Mom's.
She had bought Puss in Boots, so we watched that. Then Jake watched it another 10 times. Then she took pity on me and let me bring it home because she recognized the trend. He has since asked me at least a dozen times what a dance fight is. I keep trying to explain it, using various terminology, but honestly I think he just wants to hear it the same way over and over.
It's really cute, by the way. Nothing scary. Well, nothing that scared my incredibly sensitive 3 year old anyway.
She had bought Puss in Boots, so we watched that. Then Jake watched it another 10 times. Then she took pity on me and let me bring it home because she recognized the trend. He has since asked me at least a dozen times what a dance fight is. I keep trying to explain it, using various terminology, but honestly I think he just wants to hear it the same way over and over.
It's really cute, by the way. Nothing scary. Well, nothing that scared my incredibly sensitive 3 year old anyway.
Movies, let me tell you about them
Feb. 12th, 2012 07:58 pmWe've had an amazing run of being able to watch movies here lately. It's kind of rare, since both boys rarely go to bed at a reasonable hour, and I usually fall asleep or don't want to stay up so late watching a movie.
Anyway, mild, mild spoilers maybe for some of them.
Cowboys & Aliens: I liked it. I think they could have left off the very end follow up part. The twist with Olivia Wilde was fun and I didn't see it coming.
Real Steel: Somewhat entertaining. It's Rocky with robots. I kept trying to figure out if Atom was supposed to be sentient or not. Jake watched it with us but asked a lot of questions and didn't really follow the story. He just wanted to know where the robot was and when we'd see him again.
The Thing (new one): The original Thing is my favorite horror movie of all time. I had high hopes and high expectations for this one. I liked it. I thought it did an awesome job of staying in the feel of the original. The movies progress very similarly, but that's to be expected. They came up with new ways for them to do everything and the only time I was truly thinking it was an exact copy was when they locked up the Americans who then disappeared a la Wilford Brimley. I really liked how they brought it around at the end to where the original starts. The only thing I really didn't like was the space ship scene at the end. I didn't really think the space ship needed to be included at all, but I guess it was a handy way to explain stuff.
Tucker and Doug vs. Evil: I will own this movie. Every time I need to laugh until it hurts, I'll pull it out and watch it. I'm still chuckling. If you're okay with a bit of blood, watch this movie.
Anyway, mild, mild spoilers maybe for some of them.
Cowboys & Aliens: I liked it. I think they could have left off the very end follow up part. The twist with Olivia Wilde was fun and I didn't see it coming.
Real Steel: Somewhat entertaining. It's Rocky with robots. I kept trying to figure out if Atom was supposed to be sentient or not. Jake watched it with us but asked a lot of questions and didn't really follow the story. He just wanted to know where the robot was and when we'd see him again.
The Thing (new one): The original Thing is my favorite horror movie of all time. I had high hopes and high expectations for this one. I liked it. I thought it did an awesome job of staying in the feel of the original. The movies progress very similarly, but that's to be expected. They came up with new ways for them to do everything and the only time I was truly thinking it was an exact copy was when they locked up the Americans who then disappeared a la Wilford Brimley. I really liked how they brought it around at the end to where the original starts. The only thing I really didn't like was the space ship scene at the end. I didn't really think the space ship needed to be included at all, but I guess it was a handy way to explain stuff.
Tucker and Doug vs. Evil: I will own this movie. Every time I need to laugh until it hurts, I'll pull it out and watch it. I'm still chuckling. If you're okay with a bit of blood, watch this movie.
I finished The Hunger Games trilogy this morning. Something bothered me through the whole series, although I do think it was fairly well done and a hell of a lot better than Twilight (full disclosure: I haven't read Twilight).
Anyway, what is it with YA Lit and the protagonist having to "choose" between two men who are in love with her? I don't get it. I didn't think it was necessary. I thought Gale could have been her best friend without having the romantic element, and would have liked to see it go that way.
I did have to continually remind myself that Katniss is supposed to be 16/17. Because for how tough and survival-smart she is she's really dumb.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing the movies just because this is one of those stories that lends itself REALLY well to film. I looked at IMDB and the only cast choice I winced at was Haymitch. I mean, Woody Harrelson? He must have had one hell of an audition.
While I'm on the subject of movies, anybody else notice that Red Tails is just recut footage from Tuskeegee Airmen?
Anyway, what is it with YA Lit and the protagonist having to "choose" between two men who are in love with her? I don't get it. I didn't think it was necessary. I thought Gale could have been her best friend without having the romantic element, and would have liked to see it go that way.
I did have to continually remind myself that Katniss is supposed to be 16/17. Because for how tough and survival-smart she is she's really dumb.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing the movies just because this is one of those stories that lends itself REALLY well to film. I looked at IMDB and the only cast choice I winced at was Haymitch. I mean, Woody Harrelson? He must have had one hell of an audition.
While I'm on the subject of movies, anybody else notice that Red Tails is just recut footage from Tuskeegee Airmen?
That was bad bad.
Aug. 2nd, 2010 11:16 pmI just wasted part of my life watching Hardwired - a movie starring Val Kilmer and Cuba Gooding, Jr. I know what happened to Val (he got fat and everyone got over him) but what happened to Cuba? I like Cuba. It's the reason I put the movie on our Netflix. But oh god, was it bad. And not even bad in a good way.
It reminded me a lot of Johnny Mnemonic. At one point, as they were revealing the super hacker I looked at Jason and said that if it was a dolphin I was going to be very disappointed. (I'm not going to worry about spoilers here, because honestly? If you sit through this movie after being warned then you deserve to be spoiled.) It's not, but it's just as bad. We kept laughing about how you got the role of an invalid that doesn't speak and just lays there tapping your fingers. Did they have to pay him SAG wages when he doesn't utter a single line?
Anyway, beyond the inexplicable way they got three fairly good (or what used to pass for it, in Val's case) actors to play in this movie - Michael Ironside is also in it - the movie is super slow and never really delivers on any sort of action. The fight scenes weren't choreographed by John Woo or even the guy who cleans John Woo's toilets. The cinematography looks like the director was a huge Blade Runner fan and now that I think about it just about everything in the movie speaks directly to being ripped off from another movie. Even the voice over at the end sounded so much like Sarah Connor's we expected them to be in a jeep in the desert.
Dean Cain movies are better than this. You know it had to be really bad because I LIKE bad action flicks and willingly watch them (thus how I know Dean Cain movies are better) and this falls below even my standards.
It reminded me a lot of Johnny Mnemonic. At one point, as they were revealing the super hacker I looked at Jason and said that if it was a dolphin I was going to be very disappointed. (I'm not going to worry about spoilers here, because honestly? If you sit through this movie after being warned then you deserve to be spoiled.) It's not, but it's just as bad. We kept laughing about how you got the role of an invalid that doesn't speak and just lays there tapping your fingers. Did they have to pay him SAG wages when he doesn't utter a single line?
Anyway, beyond the inexplicable way they got three fairly good (or what used to pass for it, in Val's case) actors to play in this movie - Michael Ironside is also in it - the movie is super slow and never really delivers on any sort of action. The fight scenes weren't choreographed by John Woo or even the guy who cleans John Woo's toilets. The cinematography looks like the director was a huge Blade Runner fan and now that I think about it just about everything in the movie speaks directly to being ripped off from another movie. Even the voice over at the end sounded so much like Sarah Connor's we expected them to be in a jeep in the desert.
Dean Cain movies are better than this. You know it had to be really bad because I LIKE bad action flicks and willingly watch them (thus how I know Dean Cain movies are better) and this falls below even my standards.
What a let down
Apr. 22nd, 2010 01:49 pmI was all excited about getting Avatar on Bluray today since Mom hasn't seen it and she's coming to visit this weekend and we could all watch it together. Then I got to the store and realized that there are no special features. None. At all. The DVD version doesn't have any, and the only thing the Bluray has is a copy of the DVD version.
I feel scammed. I wondered how they were able to get it out so quickly, and I guess that's how. But I feel scammed because I know that in a few months, they're going to come out with another edition that has all sorts of cool bonus features.
I didn't buy it. Instead I vented my frustration on the hapless Target employee who was standing near the display.
I feel scammed. I wondered how they were able to get it out so quickly, and I guess that's how. But I feel scammed because I know that in a few months, they're going to come out with another edition that has all sorts of cool bonus features.
I didn't buy it. Instead I vented my frustration on the hapless Target employee who was standing near the display.
(no subject)
Feb. 17th, 2010 10:09 pmI love the Olympics. If you're like Mom and I and had visions of rocking a moose hat from the opening ceremonies we're out of luck. Mom wrote Ralph Lauren and they basically said they had no idea they'd be so popular and they aren't making any more. I bet some knockoffs turn up somewhere. If you see one, point it my way. Or maybe one of my knitter friends would like to take a stab at doing something similar? It'd make a great Mother's Day gift for Mom.
I watched Australia today. What a strange movie. I had to stop it a lot to take the dog out, change the child, get the child juice, take the dog out, etc. I had no idea it was almost 3 hours long. It was good. I guess. Nothing to get too excited about. I expected a love story, not a tale about the Aboriginal struggle. Heartbreaking, but with a fuzzy ending. Or was it a story about Australian cattle stations? Or maybe about the attack on Darwin by the Japanese? It didn't have a focus really, which made it seem so strange.
Next on the Netflix queue is the sci-fi Sunshine.
I watched Australia today. What a strange movie. I had to stop it a lot to take the dog out, change the child, get the child juice, take the dog out, etc. I had no idea it was almost 3 hours long. It was good. I guess. Nothing to get too excited about. I expected a love story, not a tale about the Aboriginal struggle. Heartbreaking, but with a fuzzy ending. Or was it a story about Australian cattle stations? Or maybe about the attack on Darwin by the Japanese? It didn't have a focus really, which made it seem so strange.
Next on the Netflix queue is the sci-fi Sunshine.
(no subject)
Feb. 17th, 2010 10:09 pmI love the Olympics. If you're like Mom and I and had visions of rocking a moose hat from the opening ceremonies we're out of luck. Mom wrote Ralph Lauren and they basically said they had no idea they'd be so popular and they aren't making any more. I bet some knockoffs turn up somewhere. If you see one, point it my way. Or maybe one of my knitter friends would like to take a stab at doing something similar? It'd make a great Mother's Day gift for Mom.
I watched Australia today. What a strange movie. I had to stop it a lot to take the dog out, change the child, get the child juice, take the dog out, etc. I had no idea it was almost 3 hours long. It was good. I guess. Nothing to get too excited about. I expected a love story, not a tale about the Aboriginal struggle. Heartbreaking, but with a fuzzy ending. Or was it a story about Australian cattle stations? Or maybe about the attack on Darwin by the Japanese? It didn't have a focus really, which made it seem so strange.
Next on the Netflix queue is the sci-fi Sunshine.
I watched Australia today. What a strange movie. I had to stop it a lot to take the dog out, change the child, get the child juice, take the dog out, etc. I had no idea it was almost 3 hours long. It was good. I guess. Nothing to get too excited about. I expected a love story, not a tale about the Aboriginal struggle. Heartbreaking, but with a fuzzy ending. Or was it a story about Australian cattle stations? Or maybe about the attack on Darwin by the Japanese? It didn't have a focus really, which made it seem so strange.
Next on the Netflix queue is the sci-fi Sunshine.
It's all about the clothes
Nov. 13th, 2009 09:38 amI need to get skinny so I can sew and wear all the fabulous things I want from old movies. I was watching Rear Window last night and drooling over Grace Kelly's clothes. Especially this black and white dress:
and this pleated skirt black dress:
And why aren't there any really good pictures of those online? And why can't 40's & 50's style come back in a big way?
and this pleated skirt black dress:
And why aren't there any really good pictures of those online? And why can't 40's & 50's style come back in a big way?
It's all about the clothes
Nov. 13th, 2009 09:38 amI need to get skinny so I can sew and wear all the fabulous things I want from old movies. I was watching Rear Window last night and drooling over Grace Kelly's clothes. Especially this black and white dress:
and this pleated skirt black dress:
And why aren't there any really good pictures of those online? And why can't 40's & 50's style come back in a big way?
and this pleated skirt black dress:
And why aren't there any really good pictures of those online? And why can't 40's & 50's style come back in a big way?
(no subject)
Aug. 25th, 2009 08:34 pmI am very interested in sending a box to the Iraqi Bundles of Love program. Probably won't be able to do it before the deadline though.
Watching the 2nd Star Wars on Spike. Just how much older is Amidala than Anakin? Talk about your cougars. Unless she's supposed to age slower or something.
Watching the 2nd Star Wars on Spike. Just how much older is Amidala than Anakin? Talk about your cougars. Unless she's supposed to age slower or something.
(no subject)
Aug. 25th, 2009 08:34 pmI am very interested in sending a box to the Iraqi Bundles of Love program. Probably won't be able to do it before the deadline though.
Watching the 2nd Star Wars on Spike. Just how much older is Amidala than Anakin? Talk about your cougars. Unless she's supposed to age slower or something.
Watching the 2nd Star Wars on Spike. Just how much older is Amidala than Anakin? Talk about your cougars. Unless she's supposed to age slower or something.
