Track the Films You Watch (2006) - Page 57

Brook K · 11-10-2006, 06:02 PM

Driving by quickly...I had some time and almost caught up with this thread the other day. Still have about half this page to go.

Glad to see my guess born out that George wouldn't go for Eternal Sunshine. That's my idea of a pretentious movie. I do think they exist George, just a far rarer occurence than most feel. But Fishing with John not funny?! Not even the Willem Dafoe arctic ice fishing bits?! Oh, well.

Adam, I think you've seen about 10 "Best Movie of the Year"'s in the last 2 weeks.

My October Update.

I saw a grand total of 3 movies this month, and one of those was pure chance during a weekend I was back in Atlanta and happened to catch something just starting on TCM while I was futilely hunting for a horror movie.

The Departed - B+ (starting to sour a bit on this. I thought it was very good comedy, but never grabbed me on a suspense/tension/really caring about the characters level. Not quite ready to downgrade though)

The Gunfighter - A- (Glad I caught this, outstanding)

Marie Antoinette - B+ (Ms. Coppola impressed me for the first time. I've since seen it a second time so I'm not quite as enthusiastic as I was after my first viewing when I was considering an "A" level grade, but still, fine work)

I've seen 2 flicks so far this month (Marie again and a rewatching of my previously abbreviated viewing of Black Gestapo now that I finally have a functional DVD player). Would like to see Borat ASAP. I have 3 tix for next weekend for films screening at the St. Louis International Film Festival, and may end up going to see 1 or 2 more screenings.

Adam_S · 11-10-2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Adam, I think you've seen about 10 "Best Movie of the Year"'s in the last 2 weeks.

I think the only movies I've called best of the year are The Queen and Borat, I've only got about five four star movies so far this year, and when I saw films like Monster House, I think I called them the best so far. But I can see either of those two (Borat and Queen) holding up for the rest of the year.

My current top five of the year which will change a lot, I'm sure, a ten point scale might clarify things a bit, I'll probably switch to a ten point scale next year for 2007
1. Borat - 10
2. The Queen - 9
3. Monster House - 9
4. Brick - 8
5. Clerks II - 8

For comparison, my final top fifteen of 2005, which changed a lot as I rewatched almsot all of these:

1. History of Violence - 10
2. Munich - 9
3. Brokeback Mountain - 9
4. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - 9
5. Batman Begins - 9
6. Chronicles of Narnia - 9
7. In Her Shoes - 8
8. Family Stone - 8
9. Good Night and Good Luck - 8
10. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - 8
11. Serenity - 8
12. Mrs. Henderson Presents - 8
13. Sin City - 8
14. Grizzly Man - 8
15. The New World - 8

Tentative 10 pt scale for 2007:
10 - Classic
9 - Exceptional
8 - Great
7 - Highly recommended
6 - Recommended
5 - Solid film
4 - Standard film
3 - Disappointing
2 - Major Problems
1 - Redeeming Feature
0 - Waste of Time

Holadem · 11-10-2006, 08:22 PM

Quote:

The Departed - B+ (starting to sour a bit on this. I thought it was very good comedy, but never grabbed me on a suspense/tension/really caring about the characters level. Not quite ready to downgrade though)

Brook, since you are one of the most preeminent champions of the exclusively intellectual cinema around here, I never thought such visceral attributes meant much to you

.

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Joe Karlosi · 11-11-2006, 06:53 AM

Borat (2006)

I still go to the theater, but rarely on a Friday or Saturday night. My wife, who's always into "what's new", spontaneously suggested seeing this last evening and since it sounded humorous enough I took the chance. I'm glad I did, since I ended up having a great time and got to see a funny film with an appreciative audience who was in hysterics from start to finish! I'll say right from the beginning that my experience was enhanced by seeing this as movies were intended to be seen - with a fun audience having a great time together in the theater. I don't think it would nearly have been as much of a good time at home alone.

Borat Sagdiyev (Sacha Baron Cohen) is a modest TV personality living in the country of Kazakhstan, located in Central Asia. He sets out on a mission to America to make a documentary, first arriving awkwardly in New York City and then making his way slowly to California to search for Pamela Anderson after seeing her on an episode of Baywatch on his hotel television and falling in love with her. His wild and crude journey through the USA. is continuously funny, and the rapid pace at which the gags are fired away is constant and never lets up. This is already a film that's being called disgusting, offensive, insensitive, you name it -- and I admired that it crosses many lines and may certainly get some panties twisted here and there, for people who take things too seriously. It's hard to dislike the naive character of Borat and I can't remember the last time I had this much fun with a comedy at the movies.

Michael Elliott · 11-11-2006, 08:52 AM

Quote:

with a fun audience having a great time together in the theater. I don't think it would nearly have been as much of a good time at home alone.

As often as you say this it would seem like you'd just throw out your DVD collection and start going to the theater more. I went through that Film Forum link you sent me and it seems they show "classics" all year round so you could probably see everything on the big screen with a crowd.

As for BORAT, I'm a tad bit worried about going to see it. I've got a date tonight and thought about taking her to see this but I'm a bit worried she'd take offense to some of the stuff that might be in there. I've seen this guy on Letterman, Leno, Larry King and countless other talk shows the past few weeks and I'm curious to see how the film works because the TV shows were really hit and miss. The "you can bang my sister" gag was funny the first time but after the fifth interview it lost its touch. The same with his 11 year old son who is married with a three year old kid. Funny the first time but not the fifth. I hope the movie doesn't run these same jokes over and over (if these jokes are even in the movie).

Joe Karlosi · 11-11-2006, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Elliott

As often as you say this it would seem like you'd just throw out your DVD collection and start going to the theater more. I went through that Film Forum link you sent me and it seems they show "classics" all year round so you could probably see everything on the big screen with a crowd.

Yeah. Sure. No problem.

Holadem · 11-11-2006, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Karlosi

Borat Sagdiyev (Sacha Baron Cohen) is a modest TV personality living in the tiny country of Kazakhstan, located in Central Asia.

[nitpick]

Kazakhstan is nearly 4 times the size of Texas. Far from tiny by any standard.

[/nitpick]

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H

Jason_V · 11-11-2006, 08:03 PM

Robocop 3:

Worlds better than the crapfest that was Robocop 2 but nowhere near the action goreness that was the first. It lies somewhere in the vincinity of Batman Forever as a marketing tool for new toys. Interesting concepts abound, but ultimately it doesn't mean a whole lot.

Another Gay Movie:
Take American Pie, substitute gay for straight and you've got what has to be the raunchiest, diritest, most disgusting "comedy" ever created. Certain parts are nearly embarassing as an audience member; I can't imagine how the cast felt filming it.

Babel:
A good and interesting movie that is bogged down in its own creativity and smartness. The four intersecting storylines work well; however, the Asian one should have focused on the father as opposed to the hyper-sexual daughter.

george kaplan · 11-12-2006, 01:28 AM

The Little Mermaid

Enjoyable revisit of this Disney classic.

Joe Karlosi · 11-12-2006, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holadem

[nitpick]

Kazakhstan is nearly 4 times the size of Texas. Far from tiny by any standard.

[/nitpick]

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H

Okay, I'll go and change it. Geography is NOT my strong point at all -- never has been, and never will be. I was going to use a word like "backwards" or "primitive" to describe the country (at least as presented in the film), but figured that would be even more objectionable.