It’s summer, so five kinds of movies will soon arrive: the rare ones that justify the existence of the Hollywood machine; the ones that I shouldn’t like but probably will; the ones that could turn out terrible or fine; the ones that are completely unpredictable; and the ones you couldn’t pay me to see. Given that hardly anyone gets paid to see movies these days, that category should perhaps be retired. But for what it’s worth, here’s my matrix of viewing expectations for June:
Couldn’t pay me:
Will Ferrell in ‘Land of the Lost’ – ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’ was such a travesty, depending on its 3-D technology to be entertaining, but then not being released in that format in most UK cinemas; and ‘Lost’s trailer reminds me too much of Brendan Fraser’s underworld adventures.
Will probably like even though I’m not supposed to:
‘Away we Go’ – My genial co-host doesn’t like Sam Mendes’ movies, and he’s of course entitled to this; but I’ve always found something meaningful in them.
‘The Hangover’ – The vision of the American male in movies like this bothers me. But the trailer looks hilarious.
‘The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3′ – I find Tony Scott’s films abrasive. But I like trains in movies.
‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ – I know, I know, Michael Bay’s films have no human compassion and are all about destruction. I have a moral objection to their view of the world. But I can’t deny that they excite me. That may be a reason not to see them. But I haven’t got there yet.
Maybe, Maybe Not:
‘Year One’: Jack Black almost always over-eggs the crude humour (what was portrayed as his self-parody in ‘Tropic Thunder’ felt more like himself than himself), and, like Russell Brand, is funnier when he’s more disciplined. Michael Cera has to find a way to be something other than what he is expected to be. But the human statue moment in the trailer made me laugh.
No Idea But It Has To Be Seen:
‘Tetro’ – Coppola’s last film, ‘Youth without Youth’ was, for me, equal parts brilliant and monotonous. The first few minutes of ‘Tetro’ suggest he’s still doing what he does best: which is ultimately whatever the hell he wants.
‘Whatever Works’ – every film that Woody Allen has made since ‘The Curse of the Jade Scorpion’ has been greeted as a ‘return to form’. I have no hopes. So maybe I’ll be surprised. Or maybe I’ll just watch ‘Crimes and Misdemeanors’ again.
May Justify the Industry:
‘Moon’. It’s a science fiction film with Sam Rockwell and a HAL-homage computer set in space. How can I not see it? How can I not love it? (Warning: If you can avoid it, do not see the trailer for this movie. It appears to have been edited by people who want to tell you everything before you watch the film.)
posted in forum Miscellaneous by zad1138
posted in forum Miscellaneous by seanpdudley
posted in forum General Movie Stuff by seanpdudley
posted in forum General Movie Stuff by Jett Loe
posted in forum General Movie Stuff by prawnman
For me, Woody Allen falls into two of Gareth's categories, and they contradict each other: “movies I know I should see, but haven't”, and “movies you couldn't pay me to see”.
I don't know why, but I have no desire to see any Woody Allen film.
How about one more category:
Promising, but will almost certainly disappoint:
Moon.
I predict it'll be more like a sequel to Sunshine than an attempt at anything Kubrickesque -which would be good news to most people I suspect.
Do I sound jaded? Don't mean to. I'm just very disappointed in almost *everything* I see from the film world these days. There's no room for creativity or originality. It's all quite depressing.
…I like trains in movies too. Not enough to watch another Tony Scott movie though.
like your show
I have to say, that I think that it's a little unfair to compare Journey to the Center of the Earth with Land of the Lost. LotL is directed by Brad Silberling who has some experience with effects heavy, family movies (Casper and the Lemony Snicket movie) and I think that he's got a good chance of creating a fun, action-adventure movie. With Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) and Danny McBride, this is a cast that I'm pretty happy with.
I have seen The Hangover, and I liked it a lot!
And having seen the original Taking of Pelham 123, I'm interested to see what Scott and co. do with the remake. The story was interesting and I'm sure ground-breaking when the movie initially came out, but today; I don't know how it's going to work.
I agree about Youth Without Youth and I'm really intrigued to see Tetro – hopefully in the theater, as I missed YWY that way. I'm not really expecting cinema perfection, but it's great to see Coppola following his dreams of doing the smaller art films, that he's been talking about for a long time.
And unlike say, Clint Eastwood, the rate at which Woody Allen is turning around movies kind of leads me to believe that Jett might be correct that these movies are more than just Allen turning these out.
And along with Moon, there's The Brothers Bloom, as smaller movies that I'm looking forward to seeing this summer. And I'd be interested to know what you guys think of Public Enemies, The Hurt Locker and Judd Apatow's Funny People, that are also coming out this summer.
(One of these days, I'm gonna have to try this video response thing…Jett looks like he gets to have all the fun.) :)
taking of pelham
For me, Woody Allen falls into two of Gareth's categories, and they contradict each other: “movies I know I should see, but haven't”, and “movies you couldn't pay me to see”.
I don't know why, but I have no desire to see any Woody Allen film.
How about one more category:
Promising, but will almost certainly disappoint:
Moon.
I predict it'll be more like a sequel to Sunshine than an attempt at anything Kubrickesque -which would be good news to most people I suspect.
Do I sound jaded? Don't mean to. I'm just very disappointed in almost *everything* I see from the film world these days. There's no room for creativity or originality. It's all quite depressing.
…I like trains in movies too. Not enough to watch another Tony Scott movie though.
like your show
I have to say, that I think that it's a little unfair to compare Journey to the Center of the Earth with Land of the Lost. LotL is directed by Brad Silberling who has some experience with effects heavy, family movies (Casper and the Lemony Snicket movie) and I think that he's got a good chance of creating a fun, action-adventure movie. With Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) and Danny McBride, this is a cast that I'm pretty happy with.
I have seen The Hangover, and I liked it a lot!
And having seen the original Taking of Pelham 123, I'm interested to see what Scott and co. do with the remake. The story was interesting and I'm sure ground-breaking when the movie initially came out, but today; I don't know how it's going to work.
I agree about Youth Without Youth and I'm really intrigued to see Tetro – hopefully in the theater, as I missed YWY that way. I'm not really expecting cinema perfection, but it's great to see Coppola following his dreams of doing the smaller art films, that he's been talking about for a long time.
And unlike say, Clint Eastwood, the rate at which Woody Allen is turning around movies kind of leads me to believe that Jett might be correct that these movies are more than just Allen turning these out.
And along with Moon, there's The Brothers Bloom, as smaller movies that I'm looking forward to seeing this summer. And I'd be interested to know what you guys think of Public Enemies, The Hurt Locker and Judd Apatow's Funny People, that are also coming out this summer.
(One of these days, I'm gonna have to try this video response thing…Jett looks like he gets to have all the fun.) :)
taking of pelham