2003 Film List - Page 12

Edwin Pereyra · 10-27-2003, 07:28 AM

Updated with Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen.

~Edwin

Edwin Pereyra · 10-27-2003, 12:24 PM

Just noticed that Jason Whyte no longer has the "Moderator" designation. Hopefully, he sticks around to keep this thread up.

~Edwin

John Thomas · 10-27-2003, 04:56 PM

So that's the reason for the edit in the first post. "No rules..just post whenever". Ah, the way it should've been anyhow.

Lowell_B · 10-27-2003, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Ah, the way it should've been anyhow.

Amen. I've never understood all the stringent rules for posting the film lists, hopefully we'll get some more contributions now. And hopefully I can get some time to start seeing more movies.

Seth Paxton · 10-29-2003, 12:44 AM

The wedding had me so out of the loop that I am just trying to catch up. Ignore any repeated postings on some of these, though I think these are all first time mentions for me. The actual posted list is out of date and I plan to fix it in the next few weeks as things settle down.

My best-man gave me the advice to always see 1 film on vacation so that you will always have that association. Me, I just like to see films in as many different cities and theaters as I can, just for the joy of it. I was denied the chance to try out the cute looking 1 screen theater in Morro Bay, CA, but I did get the wife to go with me to see a film while we were in Maui. That film was...

School of Rock
8.5 of 10
At this point it is a top 10 film, but when all is said and done I would estimate it to fall more around 20-25 which is still very good for the type of project it is. I found it to be appealing much in the same way that Happy Gilmore is. Goofy, silly, but with real laughs and kindly charm from the lead character. And you can tell that Jack Black loves music as much as the character he is playing does. It doesn't seem like a coincidence that his 2 best roles so far are in this film and High Fidelity (IMO).

Alex and Emma
and
View from the Top

3 of 10

Both of these films have awful scripts behind them, wasted ideas and rely on terrible plot devices to drive the story along. The acting in either is adequate, though its better in A&E than in View. View is more confused, unable to decide how to handle the little sub-threads it wants to introduce while A&E misses the chance for more interesting developments given the basic premise.

Both films should have been much better given the story ideas and actors involved. But then a good premise doesn't automatically become a good script.

Some will love each of these films simply for the story at hand or the characters involved, but the actual telling of the stories is about as bad as it gets and relies on cliches for any moments of moderate entertainment.

A Mighty Wind
7.5 of 10
Cute, some more fun characters, but not nearly as engaging as the last 2 films (Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman). Personally I have found the "series" to degrade a tad with each film, feeling less fresh with each new incarnation.

Nothing is really wrong with the film, it just doesn't have as much sharp humor as the other 2. It does feature some pretty good songs though.

Shanghai Knights
3.5 of 10
Not all that funny. The film just feels like a manufactured sequel in all the worst ways. Like The Core, another 3.5 film for me, this film could perhaps give you a matinee price worth of entertainment under the right circumstances, but you wouldn't (shouldn't) go out of your way to see it. I thought Rush Hour 2 was a much better Chan sequel.

And I might have already mentioned
The Recruit
6.5 of 10
So I won't add anything here other than it has some fun spots, it does work as a thriller at times, and it is an interesting concept, but it hits too many cliches to be considered a really good piece of entertainment.

I'm at 32 2003 films viewed. Based on the last 3-4 years that means that from now till the end of FEB I will be seeing another 70-80 2003 films. We'll see.

Brook K · 10-29-2003, 04:50 PM

You're slacking Seth, I'm over 50

We usually see movies on vacation too. We saw Congo and Batman III on our Honeymoon. Waikiki still had this great old single screen theater with an organist who played before the film. I've even seen movies in Vegas. There's a multiplex right on the strip. About to leave and go search for the theater in Johnstown. I've heard rumours of one but haven't found it yet.

Arman · 10-29-2003, 08:20 PM

Mark Pfeiffer · 10-30-2003, 04:28 PM

Lots of updates this month, more than are worth pointing out individually. Enjoyed Master and Commander well enough, and Assayas' latest Demonlover is worth a look. Interviewed Pieces of April director Peter Hedges this week, although the interview got cut short by a publicist due to running behind time.

Look for the transcript in a few days. Now back to being quiet...

Edwin Pereyra · 10-30-2003, 06:06 PM

Hey, Seth, congratulations. I guess you'll be joining Tino in the DINK club. Just make sure that you don't fade away from posting and movie watching like he did.

~Edwin