Jul
10
Sorry I didn’t go with any of your recommendations on Netflix this week! Don’t let that discourage you from making more of them! I promise I’ll use a recommendation or two in next week’s batch of reviews, probably from Nicky because he leaves me nasty comments in completely unrelated posts about me not using his recommendations even though I’ve already seen most of them. I think he’s just taking his anger out on me because Battlestar Galactica is on hiatus and he can’t talk smack about Starbuck.
Netflix #33 - Be Kind Rewind - Suggested by no one
I knew going in that this movie was basically just going to be a vehicle for Jack Black and Mos Def (Two people I love. Mos Def slightly more because he’s kinda lanky and awkward, like me!) to do homemade movie spoofs. But I was hoping for a more coherent story to keep the movie moving along between spoofs. The movie it self was just all over the place and couldn’t keep me interested, which is a shame because the mixture of humor (the spoofs themselves) and sweetness (the community rallying behind the amateur filmmakers and the joy of watching them watch the movies) was really great, especially the documentary film at the end of the movie. But again, the rest of the movie was all over the place. Overall it was entertaining, but not nearly as good as it could have been.
Netflix #34 - The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green - Suggested by no one
I got this movie for two reasons: 1) It’s based on a comic strip (like Super Viagra!) and 2) The title. Not knowing anything about the comic strip or the movie, I expected to immediately feel as though this Ethan Green character was my kindred spirit. We would be exactly alike, both having mostly (read: totally) unfabulous social (read: social and dating) lives. Well let me just start off by saying that Ethan Green did not turn out to be my kindred spirit. He was extremely good looking, perfectly manscaped, had more sex in the 88 minute running time than I’ve had, like, ever, didn’t have a muffin top, and while not confirmed in the movie, I’m pretty sure he never had a toenail fungus. Other than the completely Tara Reid in glasses makes her a genius anthropologist aspect of the movie, I have to admit that it was really cute. And I did manage to connect with Ethan by the end of the movie. It’s cute and fluffy and you should only watch it with low expectations and possibly alcohol.
Wanted
This is exactly what you expect it to be. Not much story, but loads of awesome dialogue, humor, and of course: action. James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie were both as gorgeous as ever. But the whole movie was worth it for this one tiny morsel I’m about to tell you. It can technically be considered a spoiler. Not really a story spoiler, but just a little unexpected thing that happens at the end of the movie that is just so unexpectedly awesome. So if you want to save the surprise for yourself, stop reading this review and go down on to the next review. Okay ready? So all these characters are cursing up a storm, all the while Morgan Freeman is doing his usual mentor role, which is awesome of course, but not saying a single curse word. And I thought to myself: “I wonder if he has a clause in his contract that says he’s not going to curse because he likes to maintain his on screen persona.” But then in this glorious moment of cinema history, towards the end of the movie he utters the phrase “Mother Fucker” and everything else becomes inconsequential. It was amazing.
Hancock
I was a little hesitant about seeing this one. Everytime I’m not watching a Will Smith movie, I pretend to not like Will Smith. I just think he’s always playing the same bad ass with a heart of gold character. And I hate how I’m supposed to love him. All of his movies make bazillions of dollars. Like, who doesn’t love Will Smith? Well that just gets on my nerves. But then I see his movies and he’s just so gosh darn charming on screen. Even when he’s being a prick (like he was in Hancock) he’s a very likeable person. Mix my pretending to not like Will Smith with the negative reviews, and I was worried. But it was good! Yes, there were some major tone issues (I didn’t know they could say the F-word in a PG-13 movie) and the second half was completey different from the first half, but they were both enjoyable halves. I bet a rewrite from a fresh mind before filming started would have really helped, just to smooth out all the rough patches, but overall it was good.
Keep your recommendations coming!
July 10th, 2008 at 7:17 am
I was all gung-ho about seeing Hancock until it got such a lukewarm reception. Now I’m hot to see it again. Maybe this weekend.
And Wanted is still playing at our little neighborhood theatre (yes, there are still a couple one-screen neighborhood theaters left in the world), so maybe I’ll catch that tonight if I can get someone to go with. Sounds like a fun ride. (and the theater has a full bar and tons of great beer on tap — even better!!)
I recently rewatched the 1999(?) U.S. remake of Godzilla. I forgot how much fun that movie is. Matthew Broderick was a great casting move. I found it interesting though how vastly different it is to the post-9/11 “Cloverfield.” A very similar plot — big thing tears through New York — but the tone of the two movies are world’s apart. I think it really reflects how we view mass destruction now. Godzilla, tongue-in-cheek light-heartedness; Cloverfield, street-level terror and confusion.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Wanted had the action and flair of Fight Club and the Matrix without any of the subtext or intelligence. An overall blah movie. Hancock, though, had a very unique story, and I’d like to see the director’s cut to see what Peter Berg had to edit out due to studio influence.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Fight Club was intelligent? I must have missed that part. Right along with Blade Runner…
July 10th, 2008 at 9:21 am
You’re joking, right? Fight Club was fiercely intelligent. Many people walked out and were like, “Now I want to go fight!”. They didn’t get the movie at all. It’s a brilliant look at rebellion, male bonding, and the general stupidity of the human race.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Fine. Maybe I’ll try it again. I hate when we disagree on things. How about we team up and make fun of Dave S for like the Godzilla remake instead?
July 10th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Heh. Sounds like a plan!
July 10th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I saw Godzilla in High School and thought it was the most awesomest movies in the whole wide world. Then I saw it again on TV last year and realized how crappy it was. Fun crap, but crap.
Sorry Dave S!
July 10th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Hey! I leave my desk for a couple hours and look where the conversation goes…
But, yeah, Fight Club is a phenomenal film that is brilliant not only on the level of social commentary, but also on the human psyche and the degeneration of American culture in light of our increasing individualism. And there was so much more subtext in the film, but too much to get into here.
One of the greatest underrated movies ever.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:53 am
…sigh…
unlike Godzilla, which admittedly had all the subtext of a Suite Life of Zack and Cody episode…
July 10th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Wanted was a FUN movie. You pretty much have to leave your brain in your car and just sit down and enjoy. I especially loved the final line in the movie.
As for the Fresh Prince, I had the pleasure of meeting him years ago in Puerto Rico during the filming of Bad Boys 2 (yes, I have pictures to prove it) and he was the NICEST guy I have ever met. It’s ok to love him, Craig. He is just a great guy.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Thanks for the reviews. I heard Wanted was good and would like to see it. Better get my butt in gear or I’ll be waiting for the DVD. I was torn on Hancock. I heard it wasn’t very good either but I do like Will Smith (even if he’s getting a bit too whack (Scientology anyone?) in real life). I love when my daughter wants to watch iRobot for the shower scene alone. *ahem* moving on. Maybe next Sunday. My daughter will be off with the ex-in-laws on our vacation and I’ll have a day to myself, maybe I’ll hit some grown-up movies.
Hancock is rated PG up here in the north, but we don’t have the PG-13 designation anymore. A movie is either PG or 14A which means you have to be with an adult if you are under 14. I see Kung Fu Panda is also PG. I don’t supposed any f-words in that. Wanted is 18A. Love Guru is 14A.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Okay, when my daughter was 3 Godzilla was her all-time fave movie. How many times did I have to watch that movie? Sigh. I kind of lost respect for it after about the 12th viewing.
And Antonio, I am now wildly jealous. So the gossip is that Will Smith is gay and hiding in a sham marriage with lesbian Jada. True or false? Don’t gay guys have better gaydar? Craig? Anyone?
July 10th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Ethan Green the comic strip is a million times more clever than that movie, which I found profoundly disappointing.
I thought the reviews for Hancock were mostly positive. Hmmm. Then again, what the hell do I know, as I see about three films year.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Can anyone tell me how to put in a cute icon for my comments? I’m tired of being a gray bubble with dots in it.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:36 am
David: Sign up at gravatar.com and mybloglog.com, and upload a picture. That should hopefully take care of it.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:36 am
David: I do it via Gravatar.com.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:43 am
D’oh! Wasn’t quick enough. Craig, you’re too on top of things. Sheesh, you’d think this was *your* blog…
July 10th, 2008 at 11:03 am
In terms of the F-Word, if it is used as an expletive in a non-sexual way, it can be said a number of times in a film and still rate a PG-13. If it is used even once in a film in relation to a sexual act, the film automatically recieves an R.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:05 am
New recommendations:
Control - bio pic about Joy Division front man, Ian Curtis. I was never a big JD fan because it was a little before my time and I had only heard soundbytes about the band and Ian. I thought this movie was beautifully done and have been listening to Joy Division on heavy rotation for two weeks now.
If you liked Control, you can watch Joy Division which is just a documentary about the band which, of course, focuses on Ian.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Eep. I forgot my recommendations. The top 3 of ‘Camp’, ‘9 to 5′ and ‘Better off Dead’ stay.
I just watched this really sweet Irish film the other day called ‘Borstal Boy’. Had me grinning through most of it.
Or, if you’re in more of an offbeat mood, there’s an English film called ‘Leon, the Pig Farmer’ that’s extremely funny.
July 10th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Craig: Watch Fight Club again. It = AWESOME. I didn’t want to see it at all and two of my friends made me watch it. I started out feigning interest and ended up totally in love with it. I can’t wait to see Choke.
I really enjoyed Be Kind Rewind and I can’t stand Jack Black. I admit, you might have to be in the mood for it, but I enjoyed it.
Dave S.: The Godzilla remake? Really? OK, we are all allowed one. Mine is the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen; which was *terrible* when compared to the awesomeness that was the comic; but I do own it and have been known to watch it while cleaning the house.
July 10th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Mine is Catwoman.
July 10th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Yes! The original Catwoman, Eartha Kitt. She wasn’t in the comics but in the old TV show she was the original, Love Her.
July 10th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Not the first, but the Original!
July 10th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Wanted was fun. I liked all the clever camera shots (the keyboard hit, bullet through the donut).
Are you going to see Hellboy II? Just saw Hellboy last night. Yay Guillermo.
Oh my gosh Tara Reid in Alone in the Dark. And she pronounced Newfoundland “new - found - land”. Eesh.
My new recommendation this week: Young Sherlock Holmes. Great little movie, and you can’t go wrong with animated pastries.
Speaking of animated food, Better Off Dead (I have to second FDot. Again.)
July 10th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought to myself, “Damn, I’m in the mood for an animated pastry.”
July 10th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
“Damn, I’m in the mood for an animated pastry.â€
Which brings to mind a totally crappy movie Craig should never watch “Young Sherlock Holmes”. Whatever you do don’t watch this movie!
July 10th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Uh oh! Michelle M and Mark are totally gonna get into a fight! Should I get the mudpit ready?
July 10th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I rented Be Kind Rewind from Netflix this week and totally agree that it could have been better. I was expecting a whole lot more from the director of The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep. I recommend those instead.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Mudpit? Nah. Pudding!
July 10th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Dave: Come on! Come on! Nothing personal but my Pudding Fight opponents are never named Michelle!
As for Young Sherlock Holmes, just watch any Harry Potter movie. They are ten times better.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Dear Mark,
You are a mean, evil bunny with no sense of whimsy and a heart of cold, hard stone. So there.
Love,
Michelle
Anyway, Harry Potter: The Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter: The Sorcerer’s Stone (which I’m guessing Craig has already seen) were both directed by Chris Columbus, who also wrote the Young Sherlock Holmes screenplay.
Mudpit - No. Pudding - No. Jello - Maybe.
But not with Mark.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
“Let Mortal Combat begin!”
Ertha Kitt’s Catwoman the best……I have to respectfully disagree. Don’t get me wrong, I like Ertha for other reasons, but Catwoman will always be Julie Newmar first, then Michelle Pfeiffer.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Firstly, my blocker at work had this blocked due to “porn”. I supposed HanCOCK is what threw the blocker.
Anyway, Ethan Green I found and enjoyable piece of fluff, just like cotton candy. Sweet, and cute, there’s really nothing there, but you liked it anyway. And your hands end up sticky. Okay, well not the last one.
And Wanted was HORRID. Dumb, stupid, with a predictable plot twist, so many holes in the plot you could drive a Mack truck through them.
And please, taking your orders from an ancient loom of fate…..I laughed out loud in the theater at that point.
Dumb, dumb, dumb.
HUGS…
July 10th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
lol. Do you understand how I thrilled I am now that I got a shout-out in a Puntabulous post? That makes me semi-famous.
I was looking forward to seeing Be Kind Rewind since you can’t usually go wrong with Michel Gondry (I’ve recommended two of his movies!) but I heard the story was pretty much all over the place too. I’ll probably see it eventually anyway.
And I can’t believe you saw Hancock. My sister offered to take me for free and I declined. lol.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Ethan Green is bookmarked on Firefox because I’m just waiting to buy it. I don’t care if it’s good or bad, that guy from Camp is in it and he and I are boyfriends.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
I guess I need to see Camp. FDot has been recommending it forever.
Did you know the guy who played Ethan Green is really straight? I was shocked! I mean, that’s what he says anyway.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
I went to see Hancock tonight purely on Craig’s recommendation. Oh the power you weild. And I enjoyed it. It was different from the first half to the second but that’s okay, variety is the spice of life. So its not going to win any oscars but I’m glad I went and saw it on the big screen. Thanks.
I think I’ll see Wanted on Sunday.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:58 am
“Young Sherlock Holmes” is great/cheesy.
I wasn’t that impressed with “Camp,” though the Stephen Sondheim cameo was sweet.
Your next Netflix DVD should be “In Bruges.” It is an extremely good, well-written and acted movie (even Colin Ferrel is good in it! And not greasy! It seems impossible, I know, but I’m telling you!).
July 11th, 2008 at 6:19 am
I understand Craig, the reason you don’t want to watch my Camp recommendation is because you dislike me for some reason. No, no…it’s…fine. I’ll go cry softly in a corner somewhere. I’ll get through the tears somehow.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Michelle,
Ouch!
Love back at you,
Mark
July 11th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
BeRightBack - Yay, I can tell you are a person of discerning taste and high intelligence.
Mark - how could I not love a fellow Puntabulous reader?
As Mark Twain said: It is difference of opinion that makes horse races.
(Try to get out of the gate, though…)