Saturday, May 24, 2003
You've got to read this Ethan Coen bit I found.
TRAILER OF THE WEEK
Whale Rider limited release June 6
This was last year's winner at the Toronto festival. Past winners? Amelie, Crouching Tiger, American Beauty. Keep your eyes peeled.
In my Matrix note below, there's something I neglected. Another thing I felt lacking in comparison to the original was visual style. There's all the night scenes in the rain in the first one. Every single shot is carefully framed. The one shot from Reloaded that wowed me was Smith's entrance with the crows, an obvious reinterpretation of John Woo's signature dove symbolim with the hero just before the face-off. If you haven't seen The Killer, Jason, buy it the first chance you find.
The Muppet Movie (1979)
In the league of kid's movies, this one has to be near the top. It's got one-liners you'll find yourself quoting for weeks: "They don't look like Presbyterians to me."
Statler: I like this film fine so far!
Waldorf: It hasn't started yet!
Statler: That's what I like about it!
and on their critique of the movie at the end, "I've seen detergent that leaves a better film!"
Nobody writes sophisticated humor like this anymore. What a shame.
Thursday, May 22, 2003
... but what sequel is?
How about The Empire Strikes Back, my brother?
My top five sequels (as in film #2)
1. Empire Strikes Back
2. Godfather, pt. II
3. Two Towers
4. Terminator 2
5. Toy Story 2
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
As Neo says when he faces the Agents, "Hmm.. upgrades." That's basically my reaction. Because of my screwy work schedule, I didn't see it until Sunday evening. I was surprised how underwhelming the reviews were. But I have to agree. And with you, Jason, I agree that the first one just blew our socks off, like nothing we've never seen before. Reloaded is bigger and more of the same. Some good, some not so good. The Burly Brawl scene was fantastic, a little drawn out and a little bit video-gamish at times. Likewise, the freeway chase was outstanding, though there were a couple parts, especially in Morpheus' fight on the semi, that screamed out to me "Blue screen!" I loved the Twins and though they got precious little screen time. I see they'll be back for Revolutions. The four philosophical conversations, I thought, stopped the pace dead in its tracks. They went right over my head. I kept thinking, "Yeah, get on with it, let's have another fight scene." Particularly, the conversation with the Architect. He was using really big words for an action movie. That scene alone warrants about 10 viewings. I thought the first half hour, the scenes in Zion, and especially the character scenes for Link (recognize him from Romeo + Juliet?) could have been cut altogether. Yes, we need to see and have some emotional investment in Zion, but, like Jason said, that just didn't do it for me.
I was emotionally ready for the film to end after the freeway scene, or to end at straight up midnight where the film started with the vision of Trinity. That whole last 10 minutes set up like a heist film (you know, break into the building, go through this surveilance, blow up the power reactor, you have five minutes) and then they skipped over it with choppy nonlinear editing. That could have been a film in and of itself. I thought that could have been expanded. I get this nagging feeling that they're trying to tell too big of a story for even 2 movies. But no critique is fair or just until all three can be seen together. 167 more days.
One parting thought... I haven't taking much time in mulling this over, it's just another nagging critique. The action in the first seemed to tell the story and advance the story. It's the #1 cardinal rule that doesn't exist in pretty much any other action movie. I left the theater feeling like the action and FX were all for FX's sake. After seeing it three times what do you think?