[RLacey]

Mulan
My spate of Disney-watching continues.

I really, really liked this one. The songs weren't very memorable, but otherwise 'twas great.

[Not A Speck Of Cereal]

Spider-man 3. Okay, I have go back and watch it again, but I'm left with the impression that it is something of a mess and nowhere near as good as the great #2 and the okay #1. Maybe it was a bad night for me--opinions?

[lumi]

I'm of the opinion that I should get around to watching the Spider-man movies. I could care less about him, but the movies seem entertaining enough. I've heard others say that the third one was the worst, and apparently there's a part that makes you wonder what they were thinking about.

[Not A Speck Of Cereal]

I've heard it said that the 2nd Spidey is one of the best ever super-hero films, and I have to agree that it's quite good. Alfred Molina does a most excellent job as the scientist turned villain,

Spoiler:

then shows remorse at the end (without spoiling too much--you got'a know that Spidey prevails)

.And Parker/Spidey go through many great changes. And when he stops the train? Oh boy--you're in for a treat.

But watch the first film first to set this all up. That's a must.

I'm still reserved on the 3rd installment though. This morning, I was thinking how the Alien franchise did the same. Great 1st film, even better 2nd, but lackluster 3rd. Usually, the 2nd is the bottom point (Indiana Jones, Back From the Future, etc.).

[lumi]

Originally Posted by Not A Speck Of Cereal

Usually, the 2nd is the bottom point (Indiana Jones, Back From the Future, etc.).

I'd have to say Back to the Future III is the worst in the series. It's been a long time since I saw the second, but I remember liking it. But I do remember liking Temple of Doom, too...

[Ninja Dodo]

I like both the 2nd and 3rd Back to the Future.

[lumi]

Punch-Drunk Love - interesting movie and somewhat humorous.

Dancer in the Dark - there was potential in this movie, but the director kept thinking, "How can I make the sadness more ham-fisted?" I have trouble getting emotionally involved when it seems like the director's on the screen saying, "Cry! This is sad!"

[Melanie68]

The Wizard of Oz is on TV tonight (and I'm watching it for the millionth time ). Some interesting trivia about the movie:

• "Over the Rainbow" was nearly cut; MGM felt that it made the Kansas sequence too long, as well as being too far over the heads of the children for whom it was intended. The studio also thought it was degrading for Judy Garland to sing in a barnyard.
  
• A reprise of "Over the Rainbow" was filmed, in which Dorothy was remembering Kansas while being imprisoned in the Witch's castle. Judy Garland began to cry, along with the crew, because the song was so sad. It was later cut.
  
• The horses in Emerald City palace were colored with Jell-O crystals. The relevant scenes had to be shot quickly, before the horses started to lick it off.
  
• If you look very closely at the Wicked Witch that Miss Gulch transformed into while Dorothy looks out her bedroom window during the tornado, you will see a shimmer from her shoes--she's wearing the Ruby Slippers. That means that she is the Wicked Witch of the East, who is soon to be killed when Dorothy's house falls on her. Margaret Hamilton has never been credited for playing this role (which is practically a cameo). This shimmer from her shoes is even more obvious when watching a better-quality copy of the film, such as the 1989 50th anniversary laserdisc version or the 1999 60th anniversary Warner Bros. DVD restored version.
  
• Nikko, the name of the head winged monkey, is the name of the Japanese town which houses the shrine featuring the famous Hear No Evil/See No Evil/Speak No Evil monkeys.
  
• Margaret Hamilton suffered a serious injury on the set when her make-up heated up and nearly caught fire in the scene where she disappears in a cloud of orange smoke and fire. As it was, she suffered second- and third-degree burns to her hands and face. It was later discovered that one of the key components in her make-up was copper.
  
• The shot of Dorothy's house falling from the sky was achieved by filming a miniature house being dropped onto a sky painting on the stage floor, then reversing the film to make the house appear to fall towards the camera.

I have to add that the Wicked Witch of the West scared the heck out of me as a kid!

[Intrepid Homoludens]

Casino Royale. For the very first time.


Vesper (teary eyed): "You know, James...I just wanted you to know that if all that was left of you was your smile and your little finger...you'd still be more of a man than anyone I've ever met."

James: "That's because you know what I can do with my little finger."

Vesper (after smiling through her teary eyes): "I've no idea..."

James: "...but you're aching to find out."

Vesper (knowingly): "You're not going to let me in there, are you? You've got your armour back on. That's that."

James (gazing into her eyes, inches from her face): "I have no armour left. You've stripped it from me. Whatever is left of me...whatever is left of me...whatever I am...I'm yours."

(a single tear runs down Vesper's cheek but she does not notice because she plunges herself into James in that definitive kiss)



I want that. I want......that.

Wait......shit, I actually HAD that happen to me years ago, soon after I moved back to Chicago from L.A., with a broken heart of my own. I'd say he, the man who told me such, was the most beautiful man who said that in essence to me. But it never went further, it was the wrong timing, emotionally, for both of us. *sigh*



And Eva Green's interpretation of Vesper Lynd is exquisite! The nuanced layers she brings to the role. I love her.

[Not A Speck Of Cereal]

I have to say that this is the best Bond ever, so much so that I couldn't believe it at first and had to watch it over and over. And each time, it was "wow".

It exquisitely couples everything that was Bond previously in film, from ruthless assassin, to cunning spy, and vulnerable lover filled with vengeance, all in one film! I look forward to the growth of this new Bond.

[Aj_]

I like Golden Eye, Sean Bean makes a good villain, Alan Cumming "I'm invincible!", and Robbie Coltrane as Valentin. I agree, Casino Royale goes above and beyond any other Bond film. It took the franchise into realism and playing on the emotional toll of spying, with attachments, remorse, and self-hate, like Spooks (MI-5 in the US).

Green and Craig are going to be in the Golden Compass. My cousin lent me the book last week, I really should start reading it before the movie comes out.

[Not A Speck Of Cereal]

I liked Goldeneye for Bean and Brosnan, but I really disliked the silliness of Cumming's character and the cheese of the whole Goldeneye satallite, and the satanic train takes the cake. The defining Bond moments for me was the tank ride in the tux (and his hair was perfect), but the tropping in of a Beemer into Cuba was just a bad move. Forget the remote control Beemer in the followup film--shades of Roger Moore.

Naw, Craig takes it home! Whomever is at the helm of Bond now is doing it right. Fairwell Broccoli.

[Henke]

I thought Casino Royale was the best Bondmovie ever made. I have only seen it once though so I have to see it again to form a firmer opinion.

I saw Stardust yesterday because everybody said it was so good. I didn't like it all. In the end when the line came that "a star can't shine with a broken heart" I seriously wanted to kill myself. It was that bad.

[RLacey]

The Jungle Book
A Disney classic, this. It's weird, because it doesn't really have much of a plot, and yet each of the little scenes that happens is quite fun. I was also a little surprised by how much stuff there is in this that I just wouldn't have got as a child.

Some of the animation is looking a tad dated, mind you, but it would be wrong to complain.

[Not A Speck Of Cereal]

Ratatouille, an exellent Pixar film. Plus, if you're a foodie, the extras have Thomas Keller all over it.

[Ninja Dodo]

Key Largo - some nice characters, but the story didn't really grab me. I prefer Bogey and Bacall in To Have And To Have Not or The Big Sleep.

School of Rock - Jack Black in his element. Rocking.

[RLacey]

Tarzan
Another Disney film. This is about as far removed a jungle-based movie as could be possible after watching The Jungle Book. It's enjoyable, but it feels like it was written for people with a split-second attention span by a bunch of people on a sugar high.

Bonkers, and the Phil Collins songs are rubbish. Kind of fun, though.

[Reflection]

Not a movie but I just finished watching The Sopranos Season 5, ordered Season 6, Part 1.

Last movie would have been Raging Bull.

[RLacey]

Pocahontas
Hmm. I liked the animals, and a couple of the songs were reasonable, but this is distinctly average Disney fare. And I didn't like the animation style very much.

Oh, and either I have a faulty DVD, or they put the layer transition in the middle of a piece of dialogue, which isn't exactly great.

[stepurhan]

Originally Posted by Henke

I saw Stardust yesterday because everybody said it was so good. I didn't like it all. In the end when the line came that "a star can't shine with a broken heart" I seriously wanted to kill myself. It was that bad.

I liked it but I've always had a thing for Michelle Pfeiffer (who still looks good) so that might have clouded my judgement a bit.

I get what you're saying about that line though. It's a bit much isn't it. But surely the most horrifying thing to come away form that film with is the image of Robert De Niro dancing in ladies underwear.