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Current Music: Orbital - Halcyon (the Hackers opening theme)
Pretty appropriate music after seeing A.I. Which reminds me, I should run down opinions on the (too many) movies I've seen lately. Ah, summer.
Scary Movie 2 - On the little Metreon survey card that was handed out after, I commented on the best/worst parts about the movie:
+ Lots of throwaway jokes
- Lots of throwaway jokes
That's still how I feel about this movie now. I like spoof movies like this with plenty of hit-or-miss jokes (I thought Wrongfully Accused was hilarious), and while some jokes in this were pretty good (it kicked ass the way they re-created the Nike "Freestyle" ad, although it's been done before, and references to the Florida ballots and Firestone tires came unexpected, and funny), others were just lame, and aimed at the kinds of people who make up that "75%" population of Terra Linda High School. I had a great time watching it, but I didn't laugh out loud much (then again, I never do).
Bottom Line: Better projectile vomiting than "Mafia!", but I'm kicking myself for not seeing the first SM, which every critic ever is saying was much better than this.
Best Line: Priest after seeing Exorcist head-spinning girl - "Oh, fxck this!"
Smell the over-use of HTML, people.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within - Jeff summed up basically everything I thought about this movie, although I didn't think the script was lame enough to start yelling it across the lobby. The last thing I wanted to hear after such a visual achievement was criticism, but it was bound to happen with Jeff around. :P
But he's right, while the special effects and music were expectedly great, the plot was predictable in too many places, . As I read in a review, if the computer models were replaced by live actors, would anyone still want to sit through it?
But the fact is, they were computer models, which was enough for me to enjoy it.
Bottom Line: Worth my while. Loved Cloud's cameo appearence, as well as the moogles. And I almost wet my pants when they summoned Ultima.
Best Line: Dr. Sid, with cool glowy stuff around him - "It's warm!"
American Graffiti - Arguably George Lucas's best film. Reminded me of American Pie in some ways, except in this one, there are no MILFs, and nobody has close encounters with a pastry. I liked it better than AP, since the characters were likeable, the jokes were funny, but not the centerpiece of the movie, and it really captured the feel of a late night in the 50s (not that I should be comparing that part of it). Funny how Jeff 'n I ate at "Mels Diner" just days before I saw this. And it had one of the best 231 sightings ever!
Bottom Line - Recommended for people with an attention span, and an appreciation for the 50s.
Best Line - Insult from young girl in car - "That car's uglier than I am!"
A.I. - Wow, did ILM put work into the visuals. Seeing New York city half-underwater was amazing, as were the mechas, and the cool cars (although I don't think I'll ever look at special effects the same way after FF:TSW). The story was interesting and Kubrick-esque (gee, I wonder why), the acting from Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law was top-notch, especially Osment, but unfortunately, the ending passed off as a pretty lame close to what was, before, a great movie. I think the movie suffered from Corner Syndrome, where the main character is backed up into such a tough situation that only a ridiculous turn of events can save him and send the crowd home happy. Kubrick liked to make his audiences uncomfortable, and it shows here (which is why his movies have gotten mixed/bad reviews). Meanwhile, Spielberg brought fuzzyness to the end, which made for some eye-rolling...altogether, it was still a (NEAR) masterpiece.
Bottom Line: I liked Pinocchio.
Best Line: Teddy Bear after falling hundreds of feet - "Ow."
Haven't gotten around to seeing any bad movies, I guess.
Um, I just bumped Jeff's recent blog way down, so read that, too. :)
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