After nearly two months off - thanks a lot, Ladies/Dudes of the 80s Tournaments! - TGITDNMAR makes its return. I missed it, anyway. Unfortunately, it's come back at a pretty bad time...
Prince of PersiaI understand why they're marketing PoP as being from "the producers of Pirates of the Caribbean," what with that series massive success, as well as also being originated from perhaps not the most noble of sources (though video games are surely a step or two ahead of theme park rides).
However, I can't help but think that they're shooting themselves in the foot as well by comparing this Jake Gyllenhaal vehicle to the Depp-Bloom-Knightley caper; Pirates' biggest asset turned out to be its shock value - the fact that a movie that entertaining came from "a theme park ride, can you believe it?!?" added to the word of mouth phenomenon that it became. PoP will have no such in that regard; by being sidled up to Pirates, all it can do is disappoint.
And don't get me wrong, I like Kingsley and Jake as much as the next guy, but is it just me or does the cast seem low-rent?
I dunno - just no interest here whatsoever. Having never played the video game probably isn't helping, either. Maybe if we get really, really bored and feel like watching a shitty movie (it happens).
Fletch's Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 16%
Sex and the City 2
I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but it warrants mentioning again: have I told you how great Mrs. Fletch is?
Fletch's Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 16%
Sex and the City 2I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but it warrants mentioning again: have I told you how great Mrs. Fletch is?
I have never been dragged to a shitty romantic comedy. Sure, we'll go see something like Definitely, Maybe if we both think it looks good (we did, and it pretty much was), but the Twilights, Notebooks, and Sex and the Citys of the world? Never. Not a chance. And god bless her. She might not go see The Expendables with me, but she's up for just about everything else that I'm up for.
I don't mean to bag on SATC2 too much, though. Yes, I watched the show. With my (at the time) two male roommates. I'm not ashamed of this; SATC was a good show, and even more than that, it was part of HBO's dominant Sunday lineup from some years ago: The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Oz, with SATC and Curb and/or some crappy comedy that never took off (The Mind of the Married Man, anyone?) paired with it. But we all enjoyed SATC, and we'd be lying if any of us said otherwise (ask Buffett35 if you don't believe me).
The movies, though? No thanks, not at all. Maybe it's the whole girlpower/shoetini *experience* that it's marketed and interpreted as. And I'm just sick to death of Kim Catrall...
Unrelated: uh, what the hell's up with Chris Noth's eyes?
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 2%
MICMACS
Jean-Pierre Jeunet is back for his first film since 2004's A Very Long Engagement (which I still need to see), and this one appears to be even more full of quirkaliciousness and whimsicality than 20 Amelies. No matter - I'm fully prepared for it, and it's getting pretty good reviews. If it comes to Phoenix, I'm on board.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 73%
MICMACSJean-Pierre Jeunet is back for his first film since 2004's A Very Long Engagement (which I still need to see), and this one appears to be even more full of quirkaliciousness and whimsicality than 20 Amelies. No matter - I'm fully prepared for it, and it's getting pretty good reviews. If it comes to Phoenix, I'm on board.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 73%
16 people have chosen wisely: on "TGITDNMAR (5/28/10)"
Hey glad to see this feature is back.
Prince of Persia has been getting surprisingly good reviews. I mean not revolutionary or anything, mostly 3 to 3 and a half stars, but certainly better than I expected. As a huge fan of the game series the trailers made me want to vomit but considering the games designers and creators have actually had say in what goes on it makes me semi interested.
I don't expect a deep film with a lot of substance, just a flashy and colorful film with lots of action and a few laughs (like the last two Pirates films)
Sex and the City 2 I will no doubt be dragged to see. I'm with you I actually enjoyed the TV series for what it was but the movies were just boring. If nothing else just the fact that both movies are 2 and a half hours make me itch.
But might as well see it.
And Micmacs I'm actually quite interested in seeing but sadly it's not playing here so the chances of me seeing it are slim
With my (at the time) two male roommates.
At the time? Are they no longer male?
Thanks, Travis. That's actually good to hear about the semi-positive reviews for PoP. Bodes well for me eventually seeing it, as does the inclusion of Alfred Molina, who's always fun to watch. Though comparing it to the latter two Pirates flicks ain't gonna get me in the door anytime soon - those things sucked.
Yea, those 2.5 hour runtimes are brutal enough for crappy action movies (hey, like those Pirates sequels!) - but for SATC? No way.
smacdonn - poor wording, I suppose. As you might guess with me being married and all, they haven't been my roommates for some time now.
(Jerk. ;) )
No interest in PoP at all, except maybe to drool over the eye candy (Gemma & Jake). The knife gimmick overkill ruined me for it.
Mrs. Whore is not a fan of Twilights or Notebooks, but she will be dragging me to SATC2. I liked the show. The first movie, bleh and I doubt this will improve my opinion. But this is her crack. Besides she's excited to see The Expendables. I have corrupted her sufficiently over the years.
I'm actually relatively excited for PoP. Not played the games, but I've always loved the concept. And it's been getting, as Travis said, surprisingly good reviews. I think the shock factor here is "good video game movie."
Reel Whore (with a W): I'm pretty sure the knife gimmick is the entire point. It's what the whole series is based around.
Saw PoP this afternoon. I went it with middling expectations and was pleasantly suprised. Not great by any means, but quite entertaining.
Alfred Molina, who I am a big fan of, stole the show.
I hope PoP does well just for Gyllenhaal's career.
RW - you've done a tremendous job with the missus, even dragging her to conventions and such. She's a trooper, man.
JSR - good to hear on all counts. no shocker there with Molina. He pops up in the next Cage flick, too, I think playing the main villain. Still not enough to get me in the door for that one, though.
Fitz - I guess I'd agree with that, but I can't say that I'm all that worried for him in general. I'll hope then that it's a middling success, but not enough to spawn sequels (as if that's possible; even mild successes get sequels these days).
Thought Prince of Persia wasn't half bad. Saw it last night and it was pretty entertaining. I mean it has absolutely no substance, pretty shocking acting and some poor editing! But it's escapism at its best and hey isn't that what summer movies are all about?
good to have TGITDNMAR back, fletch. too bad there are no movies to be too thankful for this weekend though.
-durden
I can't believe I missed the chance to see a bulked-up Jake Gyllenhaal for four overdressed, overprivileged whiners doing fashion shows in the Abu Dhabi desert. Ugh! What a waste of money, and the sad thing is I knew it would be. Curse me and my "I have to finish out the series!" mentality.
This has to be the weakest Memorial Day weekend in recent memory. Absolutely nothing I want to see. Looking forward to Splice next weekend though :)
Enjoyed both Prince of Persia and Sex and the City. People are being too hard on the Sex sequel. It's supposed to be silly, and I think critics are missing the point.
Olive- right you are. Good to hear that PoP isn't all that bad - that appears to be the general consensus at this point.
Durden - wait, THE Durden? Never knew you were a reader (much) in the first place. What's up, man?
Castor - as am I. I can already feel myself being let down by Splice, but I'm still a bit excited to see it. And in your comment, replace "Memorial Day weekend" with "summers" and I'm right there with you.
Angie - you seem to be the lone bright voice coming to the defense of SATC2. Been all negative thus far, even from longtime fans (and fans of the first flick). You seem to have a point, but the other side of the argument is that the show was never silly or stupid fun (they were fun, for sure, but meant to be a bit on the smarter side, no?), so why should the movies be?
@Nick - I shouldn't be bothered by the knife gimmick, but it gives me Nic-Cage-Next-style night terrors. :-) I still plan to catch PoP at the cheap theater in a month or so.
yea man, haha. blog cabins is good stuff. life's been good.. no complaints.
keep up the good work, and no more slacking on TGITDNMAR!
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