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Jess hosts a roundtable discussion of romantic comedies: the good, the bad, and the just plan unwatchable. Is the genre more than just Katherine Heigl and Kate Hudson flicks? Does The Princess Bride count as a rom-com? Is the term 'rom-com' an insult? Jess, Rachel, Nick, James and Dylan attempt to answer all of these questions and more.
We'd also like to give a special shout-out to Clara of Just Chick Flicks, who was there and more than willing to participate in this discussion that was tailor-made for her and her site, but was unable to thanks to some technical issues.
Also on tap:
* Rants of the Week
* Trailer Talk: Bridesmaids
* Last LAMB Standing
Music provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service. The LAMBcast loves feedback, too. Either here in the comments section or to blogcabins@yahoo.com or to our Facebook page. Also, we're on iTunes, and would still love a review, even if it's a bad one.
Movies watched for the first time (non-theatrically) since last week: Rashomon Again, I talked about this a bit on the most recent LAMBcast (coming this Saturday), so I'll keep this short and sweet.
As with most any classic film, when I watch it I get a sense of appreciation for what must have been great advances in film making - and, to be sure, there are loads here - but am left pretty empty otherwise.
I suppose a large part of the problem as it pertains to Rashomon lands squarely on my shoulders. As far as I can tell, a large part of the appeal of the film is in analyzing and interpreting what it all means. However, I'm just not the type of person that can watch the type of events that it depicts on screen and see them as metaphors for this, that, or the other, at least not unless they're hitting me in the face (like Animal Farm, perhaps, and even then a fair amount of historical knowledge is necessary). No matter how many times I were to see the sunlight come pouring in through the trees of the grove, I don't think I'd be making any sorts of connections to good or evil (see the "Symbolic use of light" section on the film's Wikipedia page). I see shots of sunlight through the trees and think it's an establishing shot of the fucking sun and the trees. Does everything have a layered meaning? Is nothing just an element of a story? Yes, I'm an idiot.
All that said, I enjoyed Rashomon. There's a reason it has an "effect" named after it - it's a damn cool storytelling technique, and the film does say a lot about man's instinct to not only destroy but to also save face.
Fletch's Film Rating:
Expectation: "You're the best...around!"
Reality: "Darn tootin."
LAMBScore:
Music I'm currently obsessed with: * Not much on the music front this week, as I've been slammed with podcasts, thanks in no small part to the epic three-hour Cinecast (#206) that Andrew, Kurt and Matt did recently. I give them a hard time for the length of their show - because no podcast should be that long - but there I am, still listening. It's just that good.
That said...I've heard this song a few times recently and am digging it. I've been aware of Peter Bjorn and John for some time now, but have never listened to their music because (mostly) I didn't like the sound of their name. Came off as twee. But a big man can admit when he is wrong...
Book I'm currently reading: * Slogging (that's a word, right?) my way through The Roald Dahl Ombibus, a collection of 28 short stories from the author for adults.
I suppose it's the same story with any collection like this - some good, some bad, some meh. Mostly, I'm just left unsatisfied with the structure - I don't like just getting into a story only for it to end. Most of these stories are between 10-30 pages long, and I just need a novel.
Things to Click On* M. Hufstader also dug some Hanna, and perhaps even more so than I did. But then she had to go and write a kickass review for it, done in the style of Mythbusting. Breaks down a number of genre tropes and where and why Hanna avoided them. (The Smoking Pen)
* Um...the freak-a-frickin' LAMMYs are here, folks!!! I'm seeing more and more FYC posters up around the interwebs (which is awesome)...looking forward to seeing more (and more votes, too!). Thanks again to Rachel for doing a proper job running the show. (The LAMB)
* Tom Clift left us standing at the alter for the recording of the last LAMBcast. Don't worry...I'll forgive him eventually. Anyway, he was probably busy watching and/or writing his review for I Love You, Phillip Morris, which he dug quite a bit. (Reviews by Tom Clift)
Nick, Courtney and Rachel dive into a movie so bad that everyone else refused to see it, so they are the only three participating this week - in other words, the much-maligned latest effort from so-called visionary director Zack Snyder, Sucker Punch.
Also on tap:
* LAMB of the Week * Trailer Talk: The Hangover, Part II * Remember the Time
If you'd like your site to be a future LAMB of the Week, hit me up via email and I'll add you to the queue.
Music provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service. The LAMBcast loves feedback, too. Either here in the comments section or to blogcabins@yahoo.com or to our Facebook page. Also, we're on iTunes, and would still love a review, even if it's a bad one.
Apologies in advance to Rachel - this just seemed a topic ripe for conversation...
My friend Rachel (of Rachel's Reel Reviews) is one half of the Reel Insight podcast, along with Jess of Insight Into Entertainment). It's a weekly show that centers on a single actor or actress each week. The pair decide on their subjects ahead of time and watch as many films as they a) have time for and b) can get their hands on in a given week. It's admirable - they watch a ton of movies each week, delving through not only the good but the bad and ugly for us, the listener. One wonders how they have the time in a week to watch all these movies on these actors, especially when combined with the other films they watch and the chaos of life in general.
Well, Rachel pulled back the curtain just a little bit earlier this week, as she spoke about some of the distractions in her life that keep her from either a) watching more movies or b) giving her complete attention to the one's that she is watching at any given moment. In doing so, she revealed one of her secrets - she watches many a film at faster than their normal speeds (she mentioned both 1.5x and 1.7x).
I wouldn't call this blashpemy, but it just seems...wrong. Take note her disclaimer that she pretty much only does this to films that she's not all that much interested in seeing to begin with. In fact, see the comments section of the post for my full thoughts and her rebuttals.
But I wanted to ask - what do you think of this practice? Is it 100% pure evil? Do you think it okay under certain circumstances?
Things to Click On * If you are a LAMB member and have not yet taken the LIONS for LAMBs poll for 2010, DO IT NOW! The link can be found here. (the Large Association of Movie Blogs)
* Hatter and I bicker about the plots of The Social Network and Citizen Kane, even though even if we hadn't seen them, the internet is full of plot summaries. (The Dark of the Matinee)
* Steve counts down his list of the top 10 directors that set the tone for the last decade. Feel free to disagree with some of his choices *coughSamRaimicough*. (The Film Cynics)
* Kai's gonna become just the second movie blogging buddy that I'll meet in person; but first, he's gonna list his favorite Gary Busey flicks. (The List)
Quick sidenote: speaking of Busey, this Family Guy gag from their Christmas episode had me laughing more than anything from them in two years.
Movies watched for the first time (non-theatrically) since last week: * Knowing If I tell you I was disappointed with a Nic Cage flick, you're likely to roll your eyes and call me Captain Obvious or something. But just wait...
Knowing is actually a pretty good movie. Sure, director Alex Proyas (The Crow, Dark City) does his usual "third act gets friggin' loopy" business, but I was okay with that. If you think of the movie as an adult version of The Last Mimzy (I know, you didn't see that one, either), the nuttiness doesn't come across as so nutty. But see, that's just the problem. I had heard a little something about Nic Cage taking whacks at a tree with a baseball bat. Something or someone had me under the impression that he was doing battle against tree people. I knew there was something apocalyptic going down.
And yet, Knowing isn't all that crazy. It's a gloomy sci-fi thriller with some weird elements, but it never feels as though it's going off the rails. Proyas keeps a pretty steady hand and doles out the bizarro stuff just enough - this isn't The Happening, after all. And our buddy Nic - well, he never really does his Cage thing.
So, as you can imagine, I was pretty let down. Here I was looking for more mockery material and I ended up with a worthy viewing. Knowing won't knock your socks off, but it ain't a waste of your time, either.
Fletch's Film Rating:
Expectation: "Whatever."
Reality: "You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you."
LAMBScore:
* Oldboy I went into this new classic pretty damn cold, and I'm glad I did. All I really knew was "hammer fight" and the chief image used of Oh Dae-Su cocked and loaded with said hammer.
Admittedly, I'm not much a fan of Asian cinema, so perhaps Oldboy isn't as fresh feeling to others as it was to me, but I got a real sense that, despite having a plot that could be narrowed down to "revenge story," it really felt like I was watching something new and completely original, a la Fight Club or Eternal Sunshine. Like the rules of predictable cinema had flown out the window and all I could do was sit back and enjoy the ride. This is the reason I defend the work of Richard Kelly (and Southland Tales in general) so much - I looooove that feeling of 'anything goes' (so long as it's still somewhat comprehensible; hence my disclaimers about Southland and distaste for the work of someone like David Lynch).
And boy does it ever in Oldboy. This movie's a great mindf*#k of a film.
Choi Min-sik puts on a hell of show - barely recognizable from the opening shots to the next scene to the rest of the film. Thankfully, I wasn't watching this in a theater - I could back up and catch lines of shots multiple times when needed, and it certainly was for a while there. It's funny at all the right and wrong times. And Lee Woo-jin and Mr. Han make for a terrific pair of villains - one stoic and mysterious, the other suave and vulnerable.
Oh, and to the fellas I talked to the other day, where I said I was a tad unimpressed with the hammer fight...my apologies: I did not realize it was a one-taker! Read that there was just a tad of CGI thrown in to perfect it, but for the most part, au naturel! Makes me want to watch it again.
I'll get to the rest of the Vengeance trilogy soon enough. Oh, and Choi Min-sik's hair is awesome. That is all.
Fletch's Film Rating:
Expectation: "You're the best...around!"
Reality: "It's in the hole!"
LAMBScore:
Music I'm currently obsessed with: * Is it possible to be obsessed with a song or album that you've not yet even heard?
I woke up one morning this week with the words "halycon days" on the tip of my tongue. Didn't know why. Guess I just like the word "halycon," even though I have no idea what it is (I do that sometimes). Finally, another Best of 2010 reading brings it all back to me - Halycon Digest is the name of the latest Deerhunter album, and it's at or near the top of just about every indie music fan's list for 2010. I'm still not sure if I've ever even heard any Deerhunter songs, but I'd say that, given the universal love, there's probably an 80% I will dig it. I know I could just go to YouTube and listen to something from the album, but something's telling me to just buy it cold (an extreme rarity for music). Why not? Go crazy...
Book I'm currently reading: * I'm still not finished with Stone Cold, but after having been away from it for a few weeks, I am back to it. Nearing the climax, and it's getting good - quite possibly my favorite of the three Camel Club books thus far.
Now, for the important question of what to read next. Commenter and goody buddy Buffett35 has lent me his copy of The Green Mile after seeing the film on my Films to Watch in 2011 list, telling me I pretty much "gotta" read the books first. Okie doke. Believe it or not, it'll be the first Stephen King book I've ever read...
Things to Click On * It's a week old, but Jess's Burlesque review was tremendous. And to be honest, it was really just about the only way I was going to read a review of the film, so double kudos! (Insight Into Entertainment)
* Plus Trailers is no more. Check out LAMB buddy (and sometime LAMBcaster) Tom Clift out at his new digs, the creatively-titled Movie Reviews by Tom Clift.
* James finally saw The Room. Of course he loved it. It's downright un-American (or Martian, or wherever Wiseau is from) not to. (Cinema Sights)
Movies watched for the first time (non-theatrically) since last week time: * Footloose First of all, probably the biggest shocker of this 80s "classic" had to be this. I wasn't even aware that Nice Guy Eddie was in the dance fest, but after coming to know the guy mostly from his roles in two Tarantino-scripted flicks, it was downright shocking to see him a) in tremendous shape, b) playing a gymnast that learns to dance and c) playing a hick version of Spicoli, and I mean a spot-on Utah-born-and-bred doppelganger of Mr. Hand's best friend. It was bizarre, to say the least.
Bacon's solo, "Don't dance angry" five-minute parade of homosexuality at the abandoned warehouse, complete with gymnastics thrown in for good measure? Priceless. A gold mine of unintentional comedy. The icing on the cake was the gymnast's bar (half of an uneven parallel bars? I don't know what the proper terms is...) that just happened to be there waiting for him.
Overall, (as I discuss on episode #49 of the LAMBcast, soon to be posted) I was in shock at just how blatant the gay rights message (propaganda) was in this film. That sounds like a negative, but it's not - I'm all for the message that was doled out by Bacon and his infectious dancing feet, I'm just flabbergasted that this movie played so well to America at the time - and that I was unaware after 25+ years that that's what the film was in fact about. I thought it was just about dancing fools, like the predecessor of those Step Up movies or something. So, pat yourself on the back for your unknowing tolerance, America - you sure stuck it to them rural, intolerant folk. Though the book-burning scene got a bit over-handed. Subtlety isn't exactly a bad thing, right?
And yet, with all that said, and as horribly cheesy as the flick can be at times, I kinda liked it. It's well-acted and, despite the preachiness, delivers a good message and doesn't deliver the Super Happy Ending you might expect from it. Or maybe I was just suckered in by all of the 80s nostalgia. After all, as bad as "Let's Hear It for the Boys" may be, "Footloose" is even better. Kenny Loggins deserves a Career Achievement Award for the stamp he put on an entire decade, just via three films.
Fletch's Film Rating:
Expectation: "You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you."
Reality: "Darn tootin."
LAMBScore:
Music I'm currently obsessed with: * Right now, the only music I'm terribly obsessed with is that which either isn't out yet or I just haven't gotten around to purchase yet. Chief among them: the latest from Kings of Leon (hoping it's a return to their harder side), Royksopp, Kanye West, The Go Team! and DeVotchKa. Bring on Christmas!
Book I'm currently reading: * The second in the Camel Club series by David Baldacci, The Collectors. As with the first in the series, it's an entertaining page-turner a la Dan Brown's Robert Langdon novels - Washington, D.C.-set (for the most part) with a heavy emphasis on spies and cons and such. There's a decent Ocean's-y heist in this one that makes it much lighter than the terrorist plot of the first, which is welcome. The character development could stand to be better, though, as this series seems to be the Oliver Stone (that's a character, not the director) Show even though there are several other members of the Camel Club. Granted, he's always been the most interesting one, but perhaps that's because the spotlight has always been on him. Anyway, I've borrowed books three and four as well and will likely get to them eventually, though I'll definitely be taking a break and delving into something else after this one.
Editor's note: Yeah, I know - these LAMBcasts are pretty much all that I've been posting here lately. Seriously, I've not forgotten about the place and do plan on returning to form sometime here in the near future. Please be patient and wait for me! Thanks, Fletch
Nick, James, Rachel and host Dylan play the roles of Harry, Ron, Hermione and Dobby as they delve into the world of Harry Potter for the penultimate time. Expect large quantities of over-analysis and comparisons between the book(s) and the movie(s).
Also on tap:
* Listener Feedback * LAMB of the Week * Trailer Talk: Red Riding Hood * Last LAMB Standing
If you'd like your site to be a future LAMB of the Week, hit me up via email and I'll add you to the queue.
Music provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service. The LAMBcast loves feedback, too. Either here in the comments section or to blogcabins@yahoo.com or to our Facebook page. Also, we're on iTunes, and would still love a review, even if it's a bad one.
An under-the-weather Dylan (host), Nick, James and Rachel chat up their recent viewings, from the divisive Southland Tales to Hereafter to Harold and Maude to The Baker.
Also on tap:
* Listener Feedback * LAMB of the Week * Trailer Talk: Hall Pass * Last LAMB Standing
If you'd like your site to be a future LAMB of the Week, hit me up via email and I'll add you to the queue.
Music provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service. The LAMBcast loves feedback, too. Either here in the comments section or to blogcabins@yahoo.com or to our Facebook page. Also, we're on iTunes, and would still love a review, even if it's a bad one.
Jess, Kai, Nick and Dylan do what we do best - b.s. about our recent film watching experiences, spanning from The Boondock Saints 2 to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and more. Also on tap:
* Listener Feedback * LAMB of the Week: Rachel's Reel Reviews * Trailer Talk: I Am Number Four * Last LAMB Standing
For the LAMB of the Week, we take a look at LAMB #43, Rachel's Reel Reviews: If you'd like your site to be a future LAMB of the Week, hit me up via email and I'll add you to the queue.
Music provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service. The LAMBcast loves feedback, too. Either here in the comments section or to blogcabins@yahoo.com or to our Facebook page. Also, we're on iTunes, and would still love a review, even if it's a bad one.
Things to Click On * If you haven't checked out Rachel's unique take on the old Screenshot game, you must, and soon. She's done four of them now (new ones released every Saturday), and the latest was my favorite yet. (Rachel's Reel Reviews)
* Well, Nick's got his Vlog, but Jason's got his new "Jason Made a Video" series. Like Rachel, it's pretty young (he just posted #5). Though all are entertaining, #3 was far and away the tops. Outstanding! (Invasion of the B Movies)
* Speaking of Nick, in honor of our fellow LAMBcaster James, he counted down his Favorite Tree Moments. Ha! (Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob)
* I have some serious issues with the choices here, but countdowns of Ahnuld's top flicks should always be rewarded. (Anomalous Material)
Movies watched for the first time (non-theatrically) since last week: * G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra - I really don't know what I can possibly say about this while still respecting myself. It's like it has a built-in excuse: if you watch this film on purpose and then proclaim it to be idiotic, then you're the moron for watching it in the first place. What else did you think it was going to be? I mean, have you seen the cartoon?
I grew up on the cartoon - it was probably my favorite at age 10 or so - and had little interest in seeing this. I had hoped that they would have either a) taken it a bit more seriously or b) go full-on cartoony - my biggest gripe with this adaptation is the lack of color. Joes wearing all-black outfits? I wanted this and this and this. Instead, we got a movie that had no shortage of ridiculous action...with booooooooooring characters. Sure, Jo-Go was a great get to cast as the future Cobra Commander, but he spends 95% of this flick bottled up as some scientist with crap covering up his face. The stage is setup for Destro, but again, 95% of the flick he's boring old Christopher Eccleston. Channing Tatum and Dennis Quaid? Two of the most boring movie stars of the last 30 years.
At least there were a few plusses. Marlon Wayans was a welcome sight as some G.I. Joe character I don't even remember. They brought on two of my favorite character (and foreign) actors in Said Taghmaoui and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, but of course, both have glorified bit parts as we focus on the boring white guys. Sienna Miller is appealing in many ways as The Baroness, and it's always nice to see the Bizarro Billy Zane (aka Arnold Vosloo), playing Zartan here.
It's just ok. Stupid as hell, but if you must satisfy your nostalgia bone and give it a watch, I won't blame you.
Fletch's Film Rating:
Expectation: "I want you to punch me as hard as you can."
Reality: "Whatever.."
LAMBScore:
P.S. - I still have yet to figure out - at all - why Snake Eyes has lips. It's fucking weird, and worst of all, pointless. If you're gonna change a beloved character like that, at least make it worthwhile.
Music I'm currently obsessed with: Is it possible to be obsessed with something I haven't heard yet? Royksopp's Senior was released on September 13, but even the great Amazon doesn't have anything other than the dreaded "Import," a license to charge 2-3x as much for essentially the same product. Much as I want it, I can wait.
Book I'm currently reading: * Still Chuck Klosterman's novel Downtown Owl. Still digging it just as much as I did the first time around. The only downside to this thing is it's length - it's only around 250 pages, and when you get a book that you really love, that's nowhere near enough.
Next up? Well, I put out some feelers on the Facebook page and got some recommendations (thank you very much). Put a few of them on the list, so stay tuned.
Jess hosts a roundtable discussion of romantic comedies: the good, the bad, and the just plan unwatchable. Is the genre more than just Katherine Heigl and Kate Hudson flicks? Does The Princess Bride count as a rom-com? Is the term 'rom-com' an insult? Jess, Rachel, Nick, James and Dylan attempt to answer all of these questions and more.
Jess hosts a roundtable discussion of romantic comedies: the good, the bad, and the just plan unwatchable. Is the genre more than just Katherine Heigl and Kate Hudson flicks? Does The Princess Bride count as a rom-com? Is the term 'rom-com' an insult? Jess, Rachel, Nick, James and Dylan attempt to answer all of these questions and more.
