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| billyweeds |
 Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 11:05 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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First of all, I think the movie is considerably better than "okay." It's a rootin'-tootin' piece of pop entertainment with, as I noted above, breathtaking pacing and clean, coherent, entertaining storytelling. Greatness is nice, but greatness is also in the eye of the beholder. For instance, I think Blade Runner is boring and dull and far, far from great. I much prefer Star Trek. I also prefer Star Trek to the "classic" Star Wars. It almost goes without saying that it's much superior to any of the previous Star Trek movies.
The fact is that Star Trek is going to delight hordes of people. (The audience tonight adored it.) For Trekkies it's going to be the Holy Grail, and for non-Trekkies like me it's a blast. |
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| Marc |
| Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 11:17 pm |
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Joined: 19 May 2004
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| billy, I actually agree with you about BLADE RUNNER. Its greatness lies in its influencing a style or look for science fiction films that was groundbreaking. I hated STAR WARS. Much prefer the new STAR TREK. But, I still found it merely okay. The new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA tv series is better than STAR TREK and I think it influenced the new STAR TREK. |
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| Marc |
| Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 11:20 pm |
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Joined: 19 May 2004
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"rootin' tootin'.
I bet that's how you used to describe Hopalong Cassidy. |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 11:47 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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Marc wrote: "rootin' tootin'.
I bet that's how you used to describe Hopalong Cassidy.
Heh-heh. But no. I described Hopalong Cassidy as mediocre. (I was a picky child.)
I define "rootin'-tootin'" as superficial but adrenaline-producing. |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 6:35 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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Marc wrote: I'm here to report that I observed OBSERVE AND REPORT today and enjoyed it's demented humor. Tasteless and at times hilarious, this movie re-imagines Travis Bickle as an overweight security guy working in a shopping mall. The movie has a few genuinely shocking moments. I admire it's go for broke attitude. For connoisseurs of politically incorrect cinema.
Hope you noticed that I saw and absolutely loved Observe and Report. For me it's far and away the best movie of 2009 so far, so much better than the only competitors for that title that it leaves them in the dust. Jody Hill is a supremely talented director and Seth Rogen has gifts way beyond what I had seen in his previous outings. This is a, yes, great movie. |
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| Marc |
| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 7:52 pm |
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Joined: 19 May 2004
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billy,
I missed your take on OBSERVE AND REPORT. Wow, you liked it much more than me....and I liked it alot. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 8:06 pm |
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| I'm going to have to catch it. |
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| Marc |
| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 8:08 pm |
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Joined: 19 May 2004
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Gary,
I think you'll like it. Now when are going to join the SISTERS discussion? |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 8:29 pm |
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| I guess I anticipated your question; I answered that on the Sisters forum before looking in on here. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 8:33 pm |
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| I liked it, by the way. I found it quaint, in a good way, but quaint. My wife is finishing dressing so we'll be off to dinner shortly. |
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| lshap |
| Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 9:35 am |
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Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 4248
Location: Montreal
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Star Trek
Let's start with a Trek-worthy metaphor: Star Trek the movie exists in two parallel universes. Universe one is for the non-fans who'll be entertained by this action-fueled thrill ride taking place about two centuries in our future. On that level, as a simple Summer-flic, it's entertaining as hell, a joyride of cool toys and iconic characters battling in space over the fate of two planets. Plus - admit it - you know who Kirk, Spock and Scotty are, and you'll probably smile when you hear the familiar names and vocal quirks coming out of the mouths of a fresh, wrinkle-free cast.
Then, of course, occupying the same place in time and space is universe two, the other movie, the one for the fans. That's the story written between the seams visible only to us long-time Star Trek watchers. Actually, it's more backstory than story, as almost every name mentioned is a reference to someone from Treks' past. For starters there's Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood), just a supporting character for non-fans, a recognizable name with his own backstory for fans. And then there are the other sly, offhanded references to Nurse Chapel, Admiral Komack, Admiral Archer, Sulu's fencing expertise, etc, a database of names doing the nudge-nudge-wink-wink to 40 years of Trek mythology. And that's not even counting the near-religious presence of Leonard Nimoy. I mean, wow!
As an homage it's great. As a film it's only very good. What it's missing is the Big Lesson, the Moral Metaphor, whatever you call it that got us hooked on the TV show in the first place. Sure, watching the main characters meet and evolve is a great story in itself, but once they find themselves on the Enterprise the story shifts to the mission. And that's where the film is a bit weak. There's a mean Romulan blowing things up; your mission: stop him. Okay, I'm simplifying, and I've seen a lot worse. But I've also seen a lot better. Star Trek at its best tackled themes like war morality, racism, leadership, duty. It took cool roundtable discussions and set them in space along with phasers, Klingons and Borg. Laugh if you want, but few TV shows were as message-heavy as the original series in the 60's with Kirk & Spock, and few shows as cerebral as the Jean-Luc Picard successor in the late 80's and early 90's. Great characters in opposition to great obstacles was the formula that spawned decades of fan loyalty.
This year's Star Trek is about glands more than brains. It's got the male-bonding part down, which is a great start, and thanks to the great chemistry between Chris Pine (Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock) and Karl Urban (McCoy), I could've watched them cooking an omelet and still be entertained. Star Trek 2009 is a terrific reunion of old friends for a franchise founded on friendship. On that score making the film was a great idea. However that's what it lacked - a great idea.
Are they coming back for sequel seconds? I hope so, but once the novelty of the reunion is done they better come armed with more than loaded phaser banks. |
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| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 1:52 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 14498
Location: Houston
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| Kick ass review that this on-again off-again Star Trek fan appreciates. |
_________________
You've got a great brain. You should keep it in your head.
-Topher |
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| lshap |
| Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 5:05 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 4248
Location: Montreal
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| Thanks. Gotta get those reviews moving again. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 6:38 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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| Lorne--the only reviews I've written lately are for the disability magazine I narrate. But some may be of interest. I'll send along those that have already been published. That is, after I finish the job I'm currently working on. |
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| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 6:44 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 14498
Location: Houston
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| I didn't know your wrote reviews for them. Why haven't you been reprinting the movie reviews here? |
_________________
You've got a great brain. You should keep it in your head.
-Topher |
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