Archive for July, 2005

Lawrence of Arabia

Published
by
Chalupa
on July 30, 2005
in Adventure, Based on a book, Biography, British, Classic, Drama, Middle East, WWI and War
. 0 Comments

Here’s a classic I probably never would have rented, but thanks to Netflix I’ve now seen it. For starters, this movie is 3 hours and 47 minutes long so either be ready to camp out on your couch for a while or take a break at the intermission.

For those that didn’t know, this movie stars Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Anthony Quinn. I’m always surprised in older movies when they get actors to play characters whose nationality and/or ethnicity is completely different from their own. In other words, there were white British guys pretending to be Arabs here.

This was a wonderful movie - even though it was long. I know some people will be turned off by it just because of the length. This is an epic story about an officer in the British army that is stationed in the Middle East. Lawrence is really looking out for the Arabs and is pretty much disgusted with the way his fellow countrymen treat these people. The timeframe for this film is back when England was still trying to colonize the world. Some of the Arabs didn’t accept him because his skin was white and some of the Brits didn’t accept him because he dressed like an Arab. There were even several times where he was treated quite poorly by men of lesser rank in the British army because he wasn’t wearing his uniform and they assumed he was a ‘bloody wog’.

This film reminded me of other movies and books I’ve read in the fact that someone tries to be a human and reach out to another people group. They do amazing things that most couldn’t ever dream of doing because of their unwillingness to see other people as fellow human beings. Why is it that people are always striving to be better than somebody else? Dances with Wolves is one movie that came to mind as being similar. I’m sure you can come up with others.

If you’re into movies you should definitely see this one. It’s said to be one of the classics and I’d have to agree. This is one of those movies on the same plane as Spartacus.

Orange County

Published
by
Chalupa
on July 30, 2005
in College, Comedy, Drama, Dysfunctional, Family and High School
. 0 Comments

I would deem this one another Jack Black classic. I loved it. Starring in this movie is Colin Hanks, son of Tom Hanks. We also had a ton of other familiar faces including Catherine O’Hara, Mike White, John Lithgow, Lily Tomlin, Chevy Chase, Olivia Rosewood (Almost Famous), Natasha Melnick (Freaks and Geeks-Cindy Sanders), Shawn Soong (Freaks and Geeks-Stroker), Sarah Hagan (Freaks and Geeks-Millie), Leslie Mann, Jane Adams, Harold Ramis (Ghost Busters), Monica Keena (Undeclared), Lizzy Caplan (Mean Girls) and Kevin Kline.

The basic story line is Shaun wants to go to Stanford but the high school guidance counselor sends in somebody else’s transcript and he gets rejected. A girl at their school has a grandfather on the board so he comes over to meet Shaun but his stoner-loser brother (Jack Black) and his alcoholic mother (Catherine O’Hara) along with his old, crazy step father convince him otherwise. So they then go to crazier and crazier means trying to find somebody to assess this grievous error and get Shaun into the school of his dreams.

If you’re a Jack Black fan, I’d tout this one as a must see. If you’re also just looking for something funny that doesn’t cross the line that much (compared to many other movies of this genre) I’d still say it’s something good to watch.

The Island

Published
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Chalupa
on July 29, 2005
in Action, Future, Sci-fi and Thriller
. 0 Comments

I would have to say this has been one of the highlights of the summer, second to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory of course. For starters we have a jam packed cast of good people: Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Djimon Hounsou, Sean Bean and Steve Buscemi to name a few. Every movie I’ve seen Djimon Hounsou in, I like him more and more. This guy rocks.

I’d have to say that I’d classify this one as part sci-fi and part action. There were also several little things in this movie that reminded me of other movies. This also wasn’t bad or annoying - I just thought it was cool. At one point the clones are being ‘programmed’ with thoughts, memories and their 15 year old intelligence equivalent. This reminded me a lot of A Clockwork Orange when they try to reprogram Alex. This movie was also reminiscent of Logan’s Run where you have people trying to escape. There’s also a bit of THX 1138 where you have this underground society and certain things are outlawed.

Some of my favorite parts are when Ewan McGregor and Ewan McGregor are on screen together. That had to have been so fun to do. It was also cool to see how even though these people had adult bodies, and were essentially 1,2,3 or 5 years old, they still learned and advanced past what their creators intended. The ol human mind/intellect prevailed once again.
This is probably one I’ll end up picking up some day. I’d give it a B+ or A-.

Constantine

Published
by
Chalupa
on July 27, 2005
in Action, Based on a comic, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Religion and Thriller
. 0 Comments

This is probably the best movie depicting Satan, that I’ve seen, since The Devil’s Advocate. I was talking to Tara today and she mentioned that Keanu Reeves seem to be stuck in movies where good and bad battle it out. Very insightful if you ask me.

I wouldn’t say this movie was awesome, but it was definitely cool to see and entertaining. There was a lot of theology in here that I didn’t necessarily agree with and at times, didn’t understand. I think you could have tons and tons of conversations just about these aspects of the movie. One actor I was most definitely pleased to see was Djimon Hounsou. I was telling Liz that every movie I see him in I think he’s that much cooler.

I wouldn’t give this film a ‘must see’ endorsement. I would give this something more along the lines of a B range. I would have to say it’s worth seeing though.

Amores perros

Published
by
Chalupa
on July 19, 2005
in Dogs, Drama, Foreign, Independent, Kidnapping, Mexico, Multiple story line and Thriller
. 0 Comments

Another decent movie with Gael Garcia Bernal. This is one of those movies where you have several stories and they’re all tied together somehow. It’s similar to Crash, Pulp Fiction or Sin City in that respect.

I really enjoyed the diversity portrayed in this film. It’s basically about love and it definitely showed many different aspects. You had the model going nuts over her dog trapped under the floor, a father and his daughter who didn’t know him, friends, a man and his dog, etc. In all cases one or more facets of this thing we call love was shown. Some were healthy and others not so. It’s really interesting how we use the word, ‘love’. Some are afraid to say it and others throw it around like last week’s lotto numbers. We may use it to describe that special someone, those cheese fries we get at our favorite restaurant, a close friend or a pet. Why are people so careless with words and feelings? Maybe this movie has a bit to that answer.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Published
by
Neville
on July 15, 2005
in Adventure, Based on a book, Based on a novel, Comedy, Family, Fantasy and Remake
. 0 Comments

I’ve never read Roald Dahl’s book. I’ve only seen the 1971 Gene Wilder film, and acted as Charlie Bucket in a play version of this same story when I was nine back in South Carolina. And I must say, put me in Tim Burton’s world over the other one any day!

One of the most anticipated movies of the summer is a fairy tale, a whimsical, wacky mess-of-a-movie…yes…but what an organized mess indeed! “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is fueled by smile-bringing visuals, quirky cookie-cutter characters and yes the wonderfully weird and demented Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. I realize people have been talking about how Depp is going to re-create or re-do Gene Wilder’s fascinating work as Willy Wonka and skeptical of whether or not it should be even done….but it seems to me that Depp’s performance—not only is it very entertaining and hilarious in a Napoleon Dynamite sort of way—is so realized and simple and brazenly “it” that I can’t imagine Willy Wonka being anything but now. Think about it. A man that lives by himself in a chocolate factory with crazy little oompa-loompas running around all day long. And he’s obsessed with chocolate. And spends all day figuring out new ways to eat candy and experience euphoria in the taste buds. And he’s the son of a psycho dentist who never let him eat candy as a kid. Come on now! If normal with an edge is what you’re expecting, go far far away. A guy like this is (of course) going to be this bizarre…this socially awkward…this not-so-smooth-with-parents-or-children. After all, he is who he is, so why try and change him?

The more I thought about this throughout the film, the more I appreciated Depp and Burton’s direction. Willy Wonka shouldn’t be some flashy, oooo-and-aaaaa, mainstream entertainer (as Gene Wilder depicted him to be)…he should be almost exactly how Depp fashions him to be.

Gene Wilder purists are hating me right now but I don’t care. Even though I grew up watching the 1971 film again and again and love and admire it for other reasons, I still am so glad someone had the nerve to give this story a “go” again.

From the annoying yet oddly likable musical numbers to the Burton trademark set designs to the “new” oompa loompas that are oh-so-very-creepy and funny and hip and shocking and Beatles-esque and pop culture savvy….”Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is probably one of the few movies of the summer that deserves to be seen on the big screen with a big audience (preferably with some children). Although it slips into almost science fiction fantasy in some moments (which is when it visually and emotionally becomes slightly disengaged and disconnected from the audience) it’s overall a sickly enjoyable treat. And a film Roald Dahl (knowing how and who he is and what he was like) I’m sure is very happy with.

P.S. Even though the perfection of Charlie was a bit too overdone, I still think this 2005 version brings out the satire in the story and tongue-and-cheek humor out of this messed up and imaginative work of childhood art much much more. The story is a fairy tale, yes, but it’s also a very bitingly funny satire. Burton takes advantage of this miracle from within the text, and allows it to critique and comment on the film and story and how it’s all being executed out on numerous occasions. And yes all, that is a very big compliment!

The Salton Sea

Published
by
Chalupa
on July 14, 2005
in Crime, Drama, Drugs, Neo Noir and Thriller
. 1 Comment

This is one that Bendog has been recommending to me for years. Val Kilmer had a bit of a dry spell in his acting career and this has been totted, by some, as his greatest role since Heat. There’s definitely some familiar faces in here as well as some new ones. Peter Sarsgaard would have to be my other favorite actor from this film.

This movie would definitely fall under the crime and thriller categories. Val’s character’s wife was shot and killed during a drug related crime and he decided to go undercover, become a junkie and find the people responsible. Now that’s what I call commitment. I wouldn’t say this movie gives great insights to drug sub-culture. It does, however, give an interesting 5min history on speed. Apparently the Japanese created it and gave it to their soldiers - especially kamikaze bombers and such. Then of course as we all know, it made it’s way to the United States and became popular among housewives and other folk.

I’m giving this one two thumbs up. I really liked it. Bendog was right. So if you haven’t seen it yet, go out and rent it sometime.

21 Grams

Published
by
Chalupa
on July 12, 2005
in Crime, Drama, Drugs, Independent, Multiple story line and Thriller
. 0 Comments

Another Netflix “rental”. This is one movie I thought looked really interesting and wanted to see and then never got around to seeing it. I think it was made out to be another ‘drug movie’ like Blow or Traffic or Trainspotting. There were some minimal drugs involved here, but it wasn’t really integral to the plot. I think I got a lot more out of this movie from little things rather then everything as a whole.

This movie has a couple stories going on that are kind of all connected. It also skips around a lot timeline-wise, but it’s not completely backwards like Memento or Irreversible. This isn’t an upbeat happy movie, but I still think it was good. Decent performances from Sean Penn and Naomi Watts. Great performance from Benicio del Torro.

There were some interesting topics to look at in this movie like religion, revenge, mercy, generosity, justice, kindness, responsibility, etc. I think this is another one of those movies that can be watched just for content, or can be looked at and thought about. Some movies only seem to fall into one category or the other.

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

Published
by
Chalupa
on July 6, 2005
in Based on a novel, Comedy, Drama, Dysfunctional, Family, Independent and Romance
. 0 Comments

This one’s a bit old, but pretty decent nonetheless. There’s also a few good actors: Johhny Depp, Juliette Lewis, John C Reilly, and then of course there was Leonardo DiCaprio. I almost feel ashamed to say that Leo did a good job here. I’m not exactly sure why but I’ve always just written him off as some bum actor. I used to heartily dislike Brad Pitt too, but the guy is a good actor. All you have to do is watch his movies and you’ll see him in a very wide selection of roles showing he’s not to be pidgeon-holed as a one trick pony.

I think this is a really good movie about family dynamics. Depp’s character definitely reminded me a bit of myself in how I’ve always been afraid I’ll turn out like my dad. I know that it doesn’t have to be that way cause I choose the way I am…but the possibility is still there. It’s scary. Like I said before, DiCaprio does an excellent job playing Arnie. It’s always interesting how everybody is always trying to be “normal” yet nobody really is. Everybody, every family has problems of some sort. Yet people try to hide/ignore them for various reasons. This doesn’t mean that people don’t deal with them, it’s just that everybody wants to be cool and fit in.

I think this is one of those films you can definitely watch and get something out of or watch and be completely bored/disinterested. I think there’s a message here to be heard. The real question is will you take the time to listen.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

Published
by
Chalupa
on July 6, 2005
in Action, Adventure, Airplane, Animation, Based on a comic, Based on a short film, Mystery, Neo Noir, New York, Sci-fi and Thriller
. 0 Comments

Here’s another one that was recommended to me by several and I finally saw. This was a very interesting breed of sci-fi-ish movie. It ended up being a lot different then I was expecting. I liked it though. It was kinda cool what they did with the lighting and the whole feel of the film. Then there would be parts where planes were flying over a map and you actually saw the map. I know it’s nothing special, but I thought it looked cool.

Even though I enjoyed this movie, I wouldn’t give it an A+ either. I’d have to give this one a B- at best. Definitely something to see, but not something to necessarily watch over and over.