I'm not sure I'm qualified to write a review of Pulp Fiction. After all, I'm very biased. As I was watching I realized just how well I knew the movie. It's not from seeing it that many times. It's just that all the conversations have been rehearsed and repeated so many times in my group of friends and in the media that I pretty well knew them off by heart. I felt a little bored watching it this time, which is hardly the fault of the movie.
What's with Quentin Tarantino and his continuity problems? They seem to happen a lot in his movies. For instance, the bullet holes are already in the wall before Jules and Vincent are assaulted with the hand-cannon. Then, at the end of that scene, everybody leaves without the briefcase.
I was reminded as I watched how violent Hollywood became after Pulp Fiction was released. For awhile in the mid-90's, it seemed like all movies had callous murders and gouts of blood spilling from bullet holes. Maybe that's just me.
Shockingly good performances from everybody in the show. Oh wait. Except for Julie Sweeny.
It's worth noting that the most exciting story in the show, "The Gold Watch", was actually written by Roger Avery, not Quentin. Whatever happened to Roger Avery anyway?
So to sum up, the show is still good. Even if you've seen it before, it's good to watch it an marvel at the number of cultural sayings and phenomena this movie spawned.
4 gold watches out of 5
Friday, August 24, 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
Review of The Last Picture Show
Ho-hum.
The Last Picture Show is based on a novel and it shows. The movie meanders from one event to the next with little underlying plot. I tried very hard to discern the movie's message and couldn't find it. I also tried very hard to like it, but could not. It was boring. Mind you, its boringness never made me angry.
On the plus side, it has Jeff Bridges, some good acting, and some nice boobs to look at. Other than that, I really can't reccomend it.
1 1/2 unsatisfying deflowerings out of 5
The Last Picture Show is based on a novel and it shows. The movie meanders from one event to the next with little underlying plot. I tried very hard to discern the movie's message and couldn't find it. I also tried very hard to like it, but could not. It was boring. Mind you, its boringness never made me angry.
On the plus side, it has Jeff Bridges, some good acting, and some nice boobs to look at. Other than that, I really can't reccomend it.
1 1/2 unsatisfying deflowerings out of 5
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Review of Do the Right Thing
Hmmm...
A complicated movie for sure. A good movie? That's hard to say.
On one hand, the show has awful pacing issues. The opening credits are laughable. Only slightly less laughable is the way that Spike Lee preaches at his audience, with characters speaking directly to the camera to pound his message in. Irritating characters yell at each other and drift pointlessly in and out of the plot.
Yet, when the lights came up, those of us who attended the viewing had a lot to say about what we had just seen. We talked about why we liked it and hated it. We talked about this or that character's actions. We talked about our own personal views on racism. These are the tell-tale signs that a movie has struck a chord with its audience.
If you haven't seen this show, I think it's important for you to know that Spike Lee is trying to preach at you. Secondly, it's important to know that Spike is going to preach at you with symbolism. One of the first images we see in the movie is a photgraph of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X standing side by side. The movie also ends with quotes by both of these men. The show is essentially about the conflict between the ideas represented by these men. King says never to use violence, Malcolm X says it is permissible. Moderation vs. Extremism. These are the underlying themes of Do the Right Thing, and if you are expecting a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat plot, you will be disappointed.
So in the end, I'll admit the movie affected me. But I have to take points off for being boring and for being preachy. Sorry, Spike.
2 1/2 out of 5 Slices of Pizza
A complicated movie for sure. A good movie? That's hard to say.
On one hand, the show has awful pacing issues. The opening credits are laughable. Only slightly less laughable is the way that Spike Lee preaches at his audience, with characters speaking directly to the camera to pound his message in. Irritating characters yell at each other and drift pointlessly in and out of the plot.
Yet, when the lights came up, those of us who attended the viewing had a lot to say about what we had just seen. We talked about why we liked it and hated it. We talked about this or that character's actions. We talked about our own personal views on racism. These are the tell-tale signs that a movie has struck a chord with its audience.
If you haven't seen this show, I think it's important for you to know that Spike Lee is trying to preach at you. Secondly, it's important to know that Spike is going to preach at you with symbolism. One of the first images we see in the movie is a photgraph of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X standing side by side. The movie also ends with quotes by both of these men. The show is essentially about the conflict between the ideas represented by these men. King says never to use violence, Malcolm X says it is permissible. Moderation vs. Extremism. These are the underlying themes of Do the Right Thing, and if you are expecting a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat plot, you will be disappointed.
So in the end, I'll admit the movie affected me. But I have to take points off for being boring and for being preachy. Sorry, Spike.
2 1/2 out of 5 Slices of Pizza
Friday, August 3, 2007
Review of Blade Runner
Wow. What a movie. Was it enjoyable? Kinda. Was it original? God, yes.
There were things to see in Blade Runner that you will see nowhere else. Screwed-up things. Fantastic things. Frightening things. I don't want to give too much away, but the sight of two mechanical midgets in Prussian uniform saying, "Home again, home again, jiggity-jig" and then walking into a wall sums it up pretty well.
The movie's biggest problem, I believe comes from expectations. For the first half of the movie, we don't know what might happen to the Blade Runner Decker. We have no idea how tough the replicants he faces are and the horrible things they could do to him. We don't know what consequences face him if he gives up, fails or succeeds. As an audience we are given little for which to hope or fear. It is only later that we discover how terrifying and powerful the replicants are. The result is confusion at Decker's actions, and resulting boredom.
The climax is, in a word, profound. I will not ruin it. It has to be seen.
To sum up, expect some boredom, but also expect to be shocked. How weird does that sound?
2 1/2 out of 5 cryogenically frozen eyeballs
There were things to see in Blade Runner that you will see nowhere else. Screwed-up things. Fantastic things. Frightening things. I don't want to give too much away, but the sight of two mechanical midgets in Prussian uniform saying, "Home again, home again, jiggity-jig" and then walking into a wall sums it up pretty well.
The movie's biggest problem, I believe comes from expectations. For the first half of the movie, we don't know what might happen to the Blade Runner Decker. We have no idea how tough the replicants he faces are and the horrible things they could do to him. We don't know what consequences face him if he gives up, fails or succeeds. As an audience we are given little for which to hope or fear. It is only later that we discover how terrifying and powerful the replicants are. The result is confusion at Decker's actions, and resulting boredom.
The climax is, in a word, profound. I will not ruin it. It has to be seen.
To sum up, expect some boredom, but also expect to be shocked. How weird does that sound?
2 1/2 out of 5 cryogenically frozen eyeballs
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