Aug
21
Netflix #38 - Kingdom of Heaven: Director’s Cut - Suggested by no one
People are idiots. At least that’s what movie studios believe. Although based on the success of some movies I may have to believe them. But more often than not though, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. Not so with movie studios. So when Ridley Scott (director of Alien and Gladiator) turned in his cut of the Crusades epic Kingdom of Heaven, which clocked in at 3 hours, the studious balked and made him cut his Historical Epic by 45 minutes to make it into an Action/Adventure movie at just over 2 hours. The reviews were tepid and it was considered a box office flop. I caught it on DVD when it first came out and I couldn’t blame critics for their poor reviews. The movie — though entertaining — was jumbled and hard to follow. Then came Ridley Scott’s Director’s Cut. He was able to release it in theaters for a few weeks, and it got great reviews, but I didn’t get to see it until now, and it is by far a superior movie to the previous cut. Added character development really brought a depth to the movie that was missing from the previous cut, and everything just flowed much more comprehensively. So if you only saw the original (or never saw it at all) I implore you to see the Director’s Cut. It’s incredible.
Netflix #39 - The Station Agent - Suggested by Michelle, Andrew, and Burner
What a great little movie this was. I had never heard of it before it was recommended to me, but I think Peter Dinklage is fantastic in everything I see him in (“Call me elf one more time.”) so I was really excited about him having the starring role. The movie is about a train enthusiast who inherits a small piece of land in New Jersey with an old train depot on it. It chronicles the eccentric people he meets and the friendships he forms with them. It’s really quite charming. Bobby Cannavale is in it too, and he plays a completely crazy fun-loving hot dog vendor he meets and becomes friends with who is just completely lovable. I definitely recommend this one for a quiet afternoon.
Keep your recommendations coming!
August 21st, 2008 at 6:13 am
Glad you liked it.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:35 am
I really wanted to see Kingdom of Heaven when it came out, but the reviews were so mediocre that I chose to ultimately skip it and catch it on DVD sometime. Well, that sometime *still* hasn’t happened, but your review really makes me want to rush out and rent it.
The Station Agent is one of those movies that simply came and went before I had a chance to catch it at the theater. It looked great, but my soon-to-be-ex was so not into indie films, so it never got rented either.
I gotta make time to see it.
Oh, and, hey, I saw “Tropic Thunder” last weekend. Freakin’ hilarious. Loved it.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:39 am
I saw Tropic Thunder too. Loved it!
August 21st, 2008 at 7:43 am
The first 10 minutes of that movie had me laughing so hard I had tears running down my face. And the last 5 minutes had me laughing like that all over again.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:49 am
OMG, a movie review for a movie I’ve actually seen!!
Yes, The Station Agent is a gem of a film. And Bobby Cannavale? Woof!
Glad to hear you liked Tropic Thunder. I’ve only seen one review and they hated it but I was hoping the movie does well.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:55 am
Dave S: I agree. Every movie should have fake trailers. Have you seen the one for “Teresa: The Making of a Saint” starring Megan Fox? It’s from the movie “How to Lose Friends & Alienate People” and its silly as all heck.
http://www.teresathemakingofasaint.co.uk/
David: Woof woof indeed.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:24 am
*sigh* You STILL haven’t watched Angels in America have you?
Would it help if I reminded you it stars Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Patrick Wilson (from Hard Candy - go do a Google image search), and one Mary-Louise Parker (from Weeds)?
No? Okay.. How about if I mentioned that the miniseries won both the Golden Globe and Emmy for Best Mini-series that year (2003)?
No? How about the fact that the actors play multiple roles?
Ah, just NetFlix it already!
August 21st, 2008 at 8:27 am
Sorry ScottieC! It’s been on my queue since day one, but I just haven’t gotten there yet. Maybe I’ll boost it up a few spots to speed things along.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:32 am
Well, haven’t seen any of the movies mentioned in this thread. I was thinking about Tropic of Thunder but it seemed to have such bad reviews. Now its got good ones it would seem.
Wasn’t the Station Agent nominated for an Academy Award or someone in it? Sounds familiar. Anyway, watched the “trailer”. Funny
August 21st, 2008 at 8:33 am
LOL sorry! Reading that post again makes me sound snarkier than Nicky. I just wantedto ensure you didn’t miss out on a fine piece of entertainment. Can’t wait for your review of it.
August 21st, 2008 at 9:13 am
I haven’t seen any of these movies, and honestly, they don’t pique my interest. Even Tropic Thunder I doubt I’ll see, cause Jack Black chews up more scenery than a runaway lawn mower in a flower garden. Don’t like him. At all.
But I’m glad you enjoyed them all, Craiggers!
HUGS….
August 21st, 2008 at 9:46 am
I haven’t seen either of these movies.
I assume you have my long list from the other times?!
Since then I’ve seen Pineapple Express (loved it!) and another great one, Lars and the Real Girl, with Ryan Gosling. It’s that movie where he’s really antisocial and he finally gets a girlfriend in the form of a blowup doll.
lol. Sounds weird, but it’s soooo endearing and I love endearing movies.
And btw, Angels in America should be watched, cause Patrick Wilson is naked in it (all the way) and I love him. And I am NOT snarky ScottieC
>: |
August 21st, 2008 at 9:51 am
Oh wait, not “blowup” doll, but anatomically correct sex doll. That’s a big difference…
(why am I up before 10 am?)
August 21st, 2008 at 10:08 am
Oh right Nicky, because no self-respecting guy would be caught dating a blow-up doll. Big difference. *eye roll*
August 21st, 2008 at 10:08 am
Nicky: Loved “Lars and the Real Girl” — saw it when it was in theaters. Great little flick.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:54 am
Looks like Tam (Meee) is the one being snarky!!!
And it does make a big difference… She looks like a real person and can get in many positions (usually sitting) and has a life story and the family is shocked to see that she is anatomically correct and Dave S., isn’t this true?
August 21st, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Totally, Nicky. And it’s great how the doll (I forget her name) becomes a character herself and various people end up building a relationship with her. It’s a clever little story.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Yeah, a clever and uplifting story that’s totally a ripoff of Puntabulous!
http://puntabulous.com/2006/06/11/puntabulous-celebrates-his-wifes-birthday/
I will never watch that movie!
August 21st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Being snarky is like breathing air for me Nicky.
I’ve seen those dolls (TV only, not real life - expensive too) and I guess if necrophilia is your thing or just general lack of responsiveness then hey, place an order. But its just too squicky for me. I’m sure the movie is “interesting”.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I recommend Personal Best (in honor woman track and field athletes [go Roqaya Al-Gassra!] and the Olympics). It was controversial when it came out (came out - tee hee) because of the lesbian relationship.
Fantastic Planet (La Planète sauvage). A weird little animated movie where humans are kept as pets by blue aliens. Haven’t seen it since it was on Night Flight tv series ().
Thank You For Smoking with Aaron Eckhart?
Just caught up on yesterday’s posts. Craig - yay on your book progress!
Polt - A Trail of Oklahoma Celery? I love it!!!
August 21st, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Haha. Not a rip-off!
This movie is about a REALLY antisocial guy who is awkward and weird! You are none of those things!
It’s seriously really good. I think that since Dave S. and I BOTH recommended it, you HAVE to watch it now.
Put it at the top of your queer.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I’ve had KOH: Director’s Cut sitting by my DVD player for over 3 months. Now with the two Dune miniseries, I’ve got over 12 hours to watch.
I still say to watch Camp and Better Off Dead, but as that call has gone unheeded, I will recommend one of my favorite comedies, and with a great cast: Noises Off
August 21st, 2008 at 7:58 pm
FDot: For you - 7th panel down.
http://jezebel.com/5039045/the-international-male-1986-holiday-catalog-the-recockulous-jackpot
Now that’s a real shame when folks be throwin’ away a perfectly good white boy like that.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Michelle M: Ha! Those are some classic clothes there. I was just a little too young in 1986 to wear any of them, but just a few years older and I would have totally rocked the test pilot suit. However, I may or may not have owned a Members Only jacket at one time.
Now I want my two dollars!
August 21st, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Death at a Funeral lol See it dammit. lol Are you one for dramas because i want to Brideshead Revisited, so check that one out. :p
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I really liked The Station Agent too.
Did you ever see the movie “Stay” with Ewan McGregor? It is a head trip, so not sure if you’ll like it or not. It’s still worth checking out.
Loved “Death at a Funeral” that the previous commenter suggested too.