2. Gizmo (Cutness is genetic)
3. Slimer
4. ET
5. Critters (Yes I know it's a ripoff of Gremlins)
Oh yes I forgot...GIR
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
INCEPTION ((**SPOILERS**))
* * * Inception not the most original film. But for those not paying attention it might feel that way.
Inception reminds me of 5 films majorly. But still in the art of it's own world feels unique and original.
1. Dark City.
2. Total Recall.
3. What Dreams May Come.
4. The Matrix.
5. Eternal Sunshine for the Spotlessmind.
I have not seen the "13th Floor" & only elements of "Existanz" remind me of this. Maybe its the portable
of the unexplained-super-science-shared-dreaming-device. (Also the device in "Inception" isn't a sexual metaphor & and of course is a dream not a video game) The idea that you really never know if your in or out of a dream and the disorientation of that deception reminds me of how some of the 'Nightmare on Elmstreet' films are structured however those films give strong clues and 'Inception' does not. Also an element of the LONG-LOST-LOVE plot device from "Shutter Island" and of course the questions of *sanity* are in "Inception" but it deals with that slightly better in this film than in that film and I say slightly because it's mainly just a distracting muguffan from the plot at hand ; aka the 'corprate espionage' a far more interesting plot than the wispy (*run now spoiler*) romance plot.
This is the point where I remind you that not only am I fixing to spoil INCEPTION. I'm fixing to spoil the plots of the 5 films I just mentioned in the above. "Existanz" and "Nightmare on Elm St." will not spoil the film but if you've not seen the 5 above mentioned comparisons. Leave this review. Run, run, now!!!!
Okay now back to sanity.
Here we go.
First of all "Dark City" a film about an alien race who've kidnaped humans and change their memories in order to discover the secret of the human soul. Night after night on a timer they change the setting using a thing called 'tuning' (Changing the surroundings and landscapes around humans while simultaniously changing their memories to see how human beings react under different circumstances in search for the human soul), the film "Inception" employs the concept of an architect to do this within the dream strait that is. They've added extra rules but the conept of memories fading and creating realities from these memories and the search for peaceful memories is still an interesting thruline throughout. And the cliche of some lonely romanitic beach is indeed attached. (Shell Beach)
Total Recall leaves you with an ambiguous ending. And througout gives you awkward moments allowing you to doubt what's reality and what's Recall the same way this film emplores that mainly through it's horribly disjointed editing to create the feeling of doubt as to whats real and what's not. Also considering Mari Coliard's repeat this theme ad~nauseum. Also the wink that hey maybe the fact that you're a super agent is an absurd dream anyways,
In the film "What Dreams May Come" based on the highly praised novel by 'I am Legend' author Richart Matheson. Robin William's character creates his own heaven. (Based on what appear to be Thomas Kinkade paintings) to live out an eternity with his wife, a pefect world they can grow old together in eternity. But several times when he sees her she's a fantasy, a shade of his memories of her. The same exact thing happens ad-nausum in "Inception" when Leo's character is in the dream state. Also the idea of a strange disjointed hell like state is in "Inception". So if I ever meat Chris Nolan and he's not seen the movie or read the novel "What Dreams May Come", I probably won't believe him.
The corrolations to the Matrix are ovbious and been bled to death in other reviews and I don't give a shit. In the Matrix the characters are capable of strange feats of gravity and reality but other than that there aren't very many corrilations. The Matrix point was a strait forward allegory to whatever society I don't really remember or care. "Inception"'s plot is far far more involved. And it's also bloody ovbious when they're in the Matrix and when they are not. And there is no romantic themes in Matrix or comrodery with the group so the comparisons only have to do with style not the actual plot or themes of the films because plot & themes in these two are far drastically different.
The film only slightly reminds of "Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind" and there isn't any one specific thing I can point to. The plot of "Eternal Sunshine" was romantic. The romantic aspects in "Inception" seemed like an after thought and was far too rushed than they needed to be adding and interested backpoint to the corporate espionage plot that the film is claiming to have but really the film "Inception" is 100% about Leo's character Cobb. The corporate espionage is more of a muguffan. Because we're never fully explained why it's that important. Which is a very weak point of the film.
The film will twist your mind and is so ambigus at points that it seems to be more about mood and style & higher themes than actual plot. It does not deserve any merits of originality for the script however the visual effects & cinematography of the film are absurdly good. There are plot holes in the film which are probably devised purposely by Nolan to confuse and disorient the viewer.
7 1/2 out of 10 stars : Don't think too hard & don't lose yourself in the plotholes sit back & enjoy the exposition, the ride, & the film. Don't compare it to other films & enjoy the ride.
Also you might have noticed that I refer to both the 'romance' and 'corprate espionage' plots as muguffans because they both are. This film is far more about themes and style than plot. But that's not a bad thing for me. This film literally and figuratively allows you no leg room to stand on. Which is the mark of a well thought out and masterfully directed peice of cinema. (Even though it's derivative, devisive & full of plot holes I like to reffer to as questions or huh? moments.)
Hmm did anyone else notice the french music in the movie. It kinda reminded me of another movie with Marie Collard ? (She won an oscar for playing her silly people. ^.^)
And in a nutshell see this biatch in Imax and Mr. Gordon Levitt is great. And Mrs. Ellen Page adorable as always.
Peace out Bitches.
I also had the distintive pleasure of seeing this film at a private screening room last Monday at Warner Bros. I wasn't allowed to talk about it until it was released and just saw it for the second time in theatres at an I-Max so this was my review based on that secondary viewing experience.
I still love that the wall climbing scene utilized a technique developed in the 20's (A rotating room) and people still think that's an amazing feat of new special effect technology. That's hilarious.
Did you notice how bizzare it was that when Leo's wife kills herself she's in a hotel room um across from the room Leo's in, not the one Leo De Caprio's in? And supposedly that was after they wake up?
Leo's missing a totem? Clue much!?!
The film deserves at least 2 oscars Cinematography & Visual Effects.
You can 100% tell this was the directors passion project.
"We'll meet again, don't know where don't know when."
*.* Was my brother the only person to notice the kids at the end of the movie are wearing the exact same clothing as in his dreams ?
Okay I can't stand it, HE WAS IN A DREAM THE WHOLE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or at least the clues support it, it's too ambiguous given the fact that the director seperates the characters in some scenes which definately aren't a part of Leo's subconsious. So either or really.
Inception reminds me of 5 films majorly. But still in the art of it's own world feels unique and original.
1. Dark City.
2. Total Recall.
3. What Dreams May Come.
4. The Matrix.5. Eternal Sunshine for the Spotlessmind.
I have not seen the "13th Floor" & only elements of "Existanz" remind me of this. Maybe its the portable
of the unexplained-super-science-shared-dreaming-device. (Also the device in "Inception" isn't a sexual metaphor & and of course is a dream not a video game) The idea that you really never know if your in or out of a dream and the disorientation of that deception reminds me of how some of the 'Nightmare on Elmstreet' films are structured however those films give strong clues and 'Inception' does not. Also an element of the LONG-LOST-LOVE plot device from "Shutter Island" and of course the questions of *sanity* are in "Inception" but it deals with that slightly better in this film than in that film and I say slightly because it's mainly just a distracting muguffan from the plot at hand ; aka the 'corprate espionage' a far more interesting plot than the wispy (*run now spoiler*) romance plot.This is the point where I remind you that not only am I fixing to spoil INCEPTION. I'm fixing to spoil the plots of the 5 films I just mentioned in the above. "Existanz" and "Nightmare on Elm St." will not spoil the film but if you've not seen the 5 above mentioned comparisons. Leave this review. Run, run, now!!!!
Okay now back to sanity.
Here we go.
First of all "Dark City" a film about an alien race who've kidnaped humans and change their memories in order to discover the secret of the human soul. Night after night on a timer they change the setting using a thing called 'tuning' (Changing the surroundings and landscapes around humans while simultaniously changing their memories to see how human beings react under different circumstances in search for the human soul), the film "Inception" employs the concept of an architect to do this within the dream strait that is. They've added extra rules but the conept of memories fading and creating realities from these memories and the search for peaceful memories is still an interesting thruline throughout. And the cliche of some lonely romanitic beach is indeed attached. (Shell Beach)
Total Recall leaves you with an ambiguous ending. And througout gives you awkward moments allowing you to doubt what's reality and what's Recall the same way this film emplores that mainly through it's horribly disjointed editing to create the feeling of doubt as to whats real and what's not. Also considering Mari Coliard's repeat this theme ad~nauseum. Also the wink that hey maybe the fact that you're a super agent is an absurd dream anyways,
In the film "What Dreams May Come" based on the highly praised novel by 'I am Legend' author Richart Matheson. Robin William's character creates his own heaven. (Based on what appear to be Thomas Kinkade paintings) to live out an eternity with his wife, a pefect world they can grow old together in eternity. But several times when he sees her she's a fantasy, a shade of his memories of her. The same exact thing happens ad-nausum in "Inception" when Leo's character is in the dream state. Also the idea of a strange disjointed hell like state is in "Inception". So if I ever meat Chris Nolan and he's not seen the movie or read the novel "What Dreams May Come", I probably won't believe him.
The corrolations to the Matrix are ovbious and been bled to death in other reviews and I don't give a shit. In the Matrix the characters are capable of strange feats of gravity and reality but other than that there aren't very many corrilations. The Matrix point was a strait forward allegory to whatever society I don't really remember or care. "Inception"'s plot is far far more involved. And it's also bloody ovbious when they're in the Matrix and when they are not. And there is no romantic themes in Matrix or comrodery with the group so the comparisons only have to do with style not the actual plot or themes of the films because plot & themes in these two are far drastically different.
The film only slightly reminds of "Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind" and there isn't any one specific thing I can point to. The plot of "Eternal Sunshine" was romantic. The romantic aspects in "Inception" seemed like an after thought and was far too rushed than they needed to be adding and interested backpoint to the corporate espionage plot that the film is claiming to have but really the film "Inception" is 100% about Leo's character Cobb. The corporate espionage is more of a muguffan. Because we're never fully explained why it's that important. Which is a very weak point of the film.
The film will twist your mind and is so ambigus at points that it seems to be more about mood and style & higher themes than actual plot. It does not deserve any merits of originality for the script however the visual effects & cinematography of the film are absurdly good. There are plot holes in the film which are probably devised purposely by Nolan to confuse and disorient the viewer.
7 1/2 out of 10 stars : Don't think too hard & don't lose yourself in the plotholes sit back & enjoy the exposition, the ride, & the film. Don't compare it to other films & enjoy the ride.
Also you might have noticed that I refer to both the 'romance' and 'corprate espionage' plots as muguffans because they both are. This film is far more about themes and style than plot. But that's not a bad thing for me. This film literally and figuratively allows you no leg room to stand on. Which is the mark of a well thought out and masterfully directed peice of cinema. (Even though it's derivative, devisive & full of plot holes I like to reffer to as questions or huh? moments.)
Hmm did anyone else notice the french music in the movie. It kinda reminded me of another movie with Marie Collard ? (She won an oscar for playing her silly people. ^.^)
And in a nutshell see this biatch in Imax and Mr. Gordon Levitt is great. And Mrs. Ellen Page adorable as always.
Peace out Bitches.
I also had the distintive pleasure of seeing this film at a private screening room last Monday at Warner Bros. I wasn't allowed to talk about it until it was released and just saw it for the second time in theatres at an I-Max so this was my review based on that secondary viewing experience.
I still love that the wall climbing scene utilized a technique developed in the 20's (A rotating room) and people still think that's an amazing feat of new special effect technology. That's hilarious.
Did you notice how bizzare it was that when Leo's wife kills herself she's in a hotel room um across from the room Leo's in, not the one Leo De Caprio's in? And supposedly that was after they wake up?
Leo's missing a totem? Clue much!?!
The film deserves at least 2 oscars Cinematography & Visual Effects.
You can 100% tell this was the directors passion project.
"We'll meet again, don't know where don't know when."
*.* Was my brother the only person to notice the kids at the end of the movie are wearing the exact same clothing as in his dreams ?
Okay I can't stand it, HE WAS IN A DREAM THE WHOLE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or at least the clues support it, it's too ambiguous given the fact that the director seperates the characters in some scenes which definately aren't a part of Leo's subconsious. So either or really.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Top 10 Favorite Songs
Just to mess with this countdown AFI covers two of the songs in the list. Hahahahaha.
9 In Dreams : Roy Orbison
8 Stand by Me : Ben E. King (This performance is fantasic honestly it should probably be numero uno but hell I like some of this other stuff more. I just love this performance.)
7 Ziggy Stardust : David Bowie (Yes this is A.F.I.)
6 Angels of the Silences : Counting Crows (Yeah I know they have a reputation for sucking live, but in studio they work, still happy after hearing that that all my c.d.'s of them are pirated)
5 Waiting on an Angel : Ben Harper (I honestly can't pick a favorite Ben Harper song so I went with this one)
4 Just Like Heaven : The Cure
3 There is a Light that Never Goes out : The Smiths
2 These Times they Are a Changing : Bob Dylan
1 Disorder : Joy Division
Best Directed film
Irreversible
It stays with you no longer than it needs to and if you see it once you'll never forget it.
Top 64 favorite scenes, sequences, or moments in movies (Stream of mind)
I'm thinking of each of these as they first come to my mind. Not in any particular order!
64 500 Days of Summer (What is happening & what your expectations are)
63 Silence of the Lambs (Break out)
62 The Third Man (Ferris Wheel conversation)
61 Oldboy (Fight Scene)
60 Hook (Final fight scene)
59 Allegro Non Troppo (the army builders sequence)
58 Gremlins (Gremlins at the bar)
64 500 Days of Summer (What is happening & what your expectations are)
63 Silence of the Lambs (Break out)
62 The Third Man (Ferris Wheel conversation)
61 Oldboy (Fight Scene)
60 Hook (Final fight scene)
59 Allegro Non Troppo (the army builders sequence)
58 Gremlins (Gremlins at the bar)
57 Legends of the Fall (Brad Pitt fights a bear)
56 The Dark Knight (I'm gonna make this pencil disappear)
55 Jacob's Ladder (The hospital to hell sequence)
54 What Dreams May Come (Our D Day stands for divorce)
53 Good Will Hunting (Park Bench scene)
52 Godfather 2 (Michael choses to assasinate his own brother)
51 Godfather (Resturant assasination)
50 Marathon Man (No it's not safe : The ending scene)
49 All that Jazz (Sex dance)
47 Y Tu Mamma Tambian (Dance scene)
46 An Innocent Man (killing jingles)
45 Requiem for a Dream (A not so pleasant chat with mom)
44 Jaws (I'll catch him for 3 but I'll kill him for 10)
43 The Wrestler (Out here is the only place I belong)
42 Scream (I want to know who I'm looking at)
41 A Clockwork Orange (The ludvico technique)
40 Alice (The caterpillar is a sock)
39 Jurrasic Park (The raptors are hunting)
38 Logan's Run (The chase scenes runs them through an orgy)
37 The Searchers (Stand aside Ethan)
36 The Hurt Locker (There's still a sniper in that bunker)
35 Candyman (The boy in the bathroom legend)
34 The Usual Suspects (lineup)
33 12 Angry Men (There's another knife)
32 Deliverance (How do we bury him?)
31 Pulp Fiction (Is there a sign on my garage that says dead . . . storage?)
30 A Clockwork Orange (The droogs have a stern talking to Alex after his threesome)
29 One Hour Photo (the creepy dream)
28 2001 A Space Odyssey (We've discovered life on other planets)
27 Encounters at the end of the world (Penguin)
26 Fears of the Dark (Did that dog just rape that woman ?)
25 King Kong (Pit of giant insects)
24 The Sixth Sense (You had been keeping her sick)
23 Insomnia (Robin and Al Pacino's characters have a chat on a ferry)
22 The Wickerman (The naked sex dance) (And yes I mean the original)
21 Tremors (We'll name them something Oids)
20 All that Jazz (Everything old is new again)
19 Se7en (Lust)
18 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (When she breaks her leg)
17 The Shawshank Redemption (ovbiously the break out)
16 Platoon (It's an ambush)
15 Good Morning Vietnam (He finds out one of his best friends is VC)
14 The Deer Hunter (Russian roulette)
13 Deliverance (Dueling banjos)
12 The Wrestler (staple gun ?)
11 Some like it Hot (That man just bought you flowers)
10 The Dead Poets Society (I've just come to get my things)
9 The Lost Boys (how can a billion chinese people be wrong ?)
8 Alien (Ash's secret is revealed)
7 Blade Runner (The final android's death)
6 The Empire Strikes Back (I am your father)
5 Zombie (a zombie fights shark nuff said)
4 ET (I'll be right here)
3 Psycho (disposing of the body)
2 Close Encounters of the Third Kind (they finally arrive at the mountian)
1 My Neighbor Totoro (Totoro discovers rain)
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Favorite Animated Features (Uniquely styled)
10.) Fears of the Dark
9.) Allegro Non Troppo
8.) Up
7.) The Secret of Nihm
6.) Triplets of Belville
5.) Fritz the Cat
4.) Sleeping Beauty
3.) My Neighbor Totoro
2.) The Nightmare Before Christmas
1.) Alice in Wonderland
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Favorite Albums
(Trapped on and island and you can only have 5 albums . . . these are mine, okay honestly I'd probably have greatest hits Smiths & Dylan but for the sake of this that's just lame.)
2. Meloncoly and the Infinite Saddness ~ Smashing Pumpkins (You don't beat this album) 
3. Dizzy Up the Girl (Also I love the picture and title) ~ Goo Goo Dolls 
4. Sing the Sorrow ~ AFI 
5. Live From Mars ~ Ben Harper 
(Love Bob Dylan, The Cure, The Smiths, Queen, James Taylor & the Doors but like them and many other bands well . . . I've got the greatest hits. These albums I just love them as albums, and yeah I know Ben Harper's cheating but you know I don't care. Also don't get me started on what's the best Beatles album because the answer is clearly ALL OF THEM!!!)
Honorable Mention : 
Monday, July 5, 2010
Top Favorite Directors . . . . .
M. Night Shamalan's "The Last Airbender" is coming out. And it's got me thinking. M. Night is a director known by his name, his style, and his films. Good or Bad depending on your side of the fence. He get's people talking, love or hate him. And gets people genuinely interested in film by his very unique style. If at some points derivative. (Aka ; the Hitchcock complex. I've got to appear in all my films. Which is more distracting than cute in for example "The Village".) 'Airbender' in his career also marks the first film he's directed he's not written.
Yes and I also love David Fincher 
*Honorable Mention* 
Hayao Miyazaki
9 Orson Wells (I enjoy him more as a host, and actor than anything else, but his ability to draw you 100% into his characters and story is directing. Even if he's not the director.) (F is for Fake) 
8 Billy Wilder (The Apartment, Some Like it Hot, Sunset Blvd.) 
7 Park Chan-Wook (Oldboy and the Vengence Trilogy, Box, *not The Box* & Thirst *not the Austrailian film*) 
6 Daron Aronofsky (The Fountian, Requiem for a Dream, Pi, The Wrestler) 
5 Alfred Hitchcock (If you don't know who he is you probably shouldn't be reading this, there are too many good ones to name) 
4 Quention Tarantino 
(I don't know what the award is. But man is it gaudy.)
(I don't know what the award is. But man is it gaudy.) 3 Martin Scorsese 
(Also an imporant film preservationist.)
(Also an imporant film preservationist.)2 David Lean (Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai) 
1 Stanley Kubrick 
(Hell yeah it's an awesome set. He has the eye of a professional photographer and the mind of a chess player)(My favorite documentaries are mostly stand alone, I have no bearings for documentary film directing greatness. But from what I've seen Errol Morris is mostly my speed.) 
(The Thin Blue Line, Mr. Death) And also a fan of Jessica Yu (The Realms of the Unreal) 
(Not to mention that I love her movie and passion for documentary, but also she's smoking damn hot.)
(The Thin Blue Line, Mr. Death) And also a fan of Jessica Yu (The Realms of the Unreal) (Not to mention that I love her movie and passion for documentary, but also she's smoking damn hot.)
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