Sorry, just don't see how this was categorically more predictable or stupid than most of the other dross that infect the horror genre. Decidedly meh, and who cares.
Moments approach the sublime in this modern Hollywood take on a shakestale, but, and it's a big but, well, actually a small butt, two of them to be precise. Let's get to the bottom of the ass'nine choice that makes this the butt of Dream clones, complete with an incestuous Luke and Leia? Lord, what fools these mortals be.
Don't watch this if you're unfamiliar with the play - you'll get the wrong idea. Don't watch this if you think Shakespeare can only be played straight, well, as straight as a comedy can be played. Don't watch this if you're serious about just about anything.
But if you enjoy the art of the riff, find joy in mismatched mashups, take pleasure in the experimental, and have seen at least one good production (screen, stage, or in the park) of the source material, and can handle the butt of all ass jokes, then give it go. Just don't spend more than a buck on the disc, seat, or stream - and even that's a bit steep
This was recently released as a supplement to Criterion's "The Koker Trilogy" boxset and is on the disc 'Where Is the Friend's House." While the version on disc is about 10 minutes shorter than the runtime listed here, some of that might be to format conversion or restoration - hard to say, but the film felt pretty complete.
Quite an interesting watch, but not really for the boys telling about their experiences with homework, their teacher(s), parents, and siblings. After all, how many times does it take to get the idea the parents are illiterate, the kids subject to slaps and beatings, and few know what encouragement is, but that's a pretty big word/concept for this age group.
What is really interesting is the glimpses into Iranian society only a decade after the revolution and during the Iran-Iraq War: we get some glimpses of religious indoctrination in action, we hear of what probably is abuse, we see some gestures not familiar to most Westerners, we're told of systemic issues that they needed to overcome. This is what I found fascinating about the movie.
Otherwise, pretty simple premise and fairly simple execution though I don't mean that as an insult in anyway. These are just interviews of young boys standing in front of a wall - it's skillful for what it is, but it isn't great cinematography, But it is a decent example of how to make a movie on a budget about a given topic, especially when you're not really sure what it's going to be about. (Pay attention during the initial street scene for that.)
Last, I sure hope the first parent who spoke survived the film's release and airing unscathed! Not sure how well his critique of the educational system would have been viewed in a society not known for progressiveness. Would also be really interesting to know how things have changed and if most adults can now read an write. That certainly would be useful progress.
Coming soon, The Ten Commandments re-imagined for a modern audience. Or maybe Metropolis? Ugh. Some things are better left alone no matter what the filmmakers' good intentions may be.
For me, I found it hard to connect with the characters. Romans felt very one note, one dimensional and regardless what they tried to do with Messala, he felt very shallow. Freeman, as one would hope, had his moments, but it also seemed such a waste of great talents to use him as a narrative data dump. But the biggest problem I had was the pacing. Overall, this felt like a sprint. Even if you're not trying to get everything in, an hour and a half is roughly 75% more screen time (2016 v 1959). So while some complain about the first 40 minutes being a slog, maybe it's just a desire to get to the action. We needed character building, but it was more just an elaborate setup for the climactic chariot race. That brings another issue, and forgive me for pointing at the predecessors, but in the age of CG, the wonder is gone. While I knew going in that they actually filmed the actors in a circus, it was pretty easy to tell where living flesh gave way to animation. CG ruined the chariot race for me.
Now, all that said, if I hadn't seen two of the three predecessors (one of which I've probably watched at least 25 times - you can guess which), I'd probably shrug and say, "Okay. Not great. Not Baby Geniuses bad. Next ... " It does rather feel like movies they make these days. For better. Or for worse.
The problem with remakes is your work will inevitably be compared to the original - change too much and you're not staying true, change too little and it's an imitation. Alas, this is genie's curse. Speaking of Genie, Smith does bring his own style to the role and besides production design and production numbers, is the film's bright spot. Massoud and Scott are fine, but Massoud's performance struck me as imitation and boy can that Scott nail the Disney princess song, so nothing new there. Alas, Kenzari starts out okay but his performance turns into an overly animated cartoon of one of the great Disney cartoon villains and is tolerated by a few and hated by most. Then there's the odd cultural mishmash, but that's always been an issue with Disney's Aladdin, but at least Gottfried helped us forget parrots are a South American thing. Since Aladdin was added to a French translation of Les mille et une nuits in the early 1700s - well, I guess it could've happened. And tigers make great palace-pets. I'm also thinking someone has seen a few Bollywood production numbers as well. Other than that, one can nitpick if one wants. It's an average movie that's somewhat entertaining if you go for this sort of thing (I do and I was mildly entertained), but that's about it.
So VERY awful in just about every way possible. And no, that didn't make if fun. Okay, a couple of songs were fun, but that's about the only nice thing I can say about these three horrible hours of pain and suffering.
cute idea that would have made a better 17 minute short than a 71 minute feature - the gimmick just got a bit old after 30 minutes - not sure I can take any more 'spitting up' of drink and food
Comments 201 - 225 of 468
Movie comment on Slender Man
xianjiro
Sorry, just don't see how this was categorically more predictable or stupid than most of the other dross that infect the horror genre. Decidedly meh, and who cares.Movie comment on Dragonball Evolution
xianjiro
I felt my chi shriveling up while watching this.Movie comment on Child's Play
xianjiro
Proof, once again, that no one likes living "in the closet".Movie comment on La región salvaje
xianjiro
Men are from Mars;Women, from Venus.
Aliens come in Uranus.
Movie comment on Beast
xianjiro
I still say the mother did it and framed Pascal. He only says what he does because he knows she likes bad boys.Movie comment on Deadly Prey
xianjiro
It's like Steven Seagal directing Chuck Norris in a Rambo parody.Movie comment on Equinox
xianjiro
you're right @skaggs1995, Assmodeus ate it while I watchedMovie comment on A Midsummer Night's Dream
xianjiro
Moments approach the sublime in this modern Hollywood take on a shakestale, but, and it's a big but, well, actually a small butt, two of them to be precise. Let's get to the bottom of the ass'nine choice that makes this the butt of Dream clones, complete with an incestuous Luke and Leia? Lord, what fools these mortals be.Don't watch this if you're unfamiliar with the play - you'll get the wrong idea. Don't watch this if you think Shakespeare can only be played straight, well, as straight as a comedy can be played. Don't watch this if you're serious about just about anything.
But if you enjoy the art of the riff, find joy in mismatched mashups, take pleasure in the experimental, and have seen at least one good production (screen, stage, or in the park) of the source material, and can handle the butt of all ass jokes, then give it go. Just don't spend more than a buck on the disc, seat, or stream - and even that's a bit steep
Movie comment on Mashgh-e Shab
xianjiro
This was recently released as a supplement to Criterion's "The Koker Trilogy" boxset and is on the disc 'Where Is the Friend's House." While the version on disc is about 10 minutes shorter than the runtime listed here, some of that might be to format conversion or restoration - hard to say, but the film felt pretty complete.Quite an interesting watch, but not really for the boys telling about their experiences with homework, their teacher(s), parents, and siblings. After all, how many times does it take to get the idea the parents are illiterate, the kids subject to slaps and beatings, and few know what encouragement is, but that's a pretty big word/concept for this age group.
What is really interesting is the glimpses into Iranian society only a decade after the revolution and during the Iran-Iraq War: we get some glimpses of religious indoctrination in action, we hear of what probably is abuse, we see some gestures not familiar to most Westerners, we're told of systemic issues that they needed to overcome. This is what I found fascinating about the movie.
Otherwise, pretty simple premise and fairly simple execution though I don't mean that as an insult in anyway. These are just interviews of young boys standing in front of a wall - it's skillful for what it is, but it isn't great cinematography, But it is a decent example of how to make a movie on a budget about a given topic, especially when you're not really sure what it's going to be about. (Pay attention during the initial street scene for that.)
Last, I sure hope the first parent who spoke survived the film's release and airing unscathed! Not sure how well his critique of the educational system would have been viewed in a society not known for progressiveness. Would also be really interesting to know how things have changed and if most adults can now read an write. That certainly would be useful progress.
Movie comment on Ben-Hur
xianjiro
Coming soon, The Ten Commandments re-imagined for a modern audience. Or maybe Metropolis? Ugh. Some things are better left alone no matter what the filmmakers' good intentions may be.For me, I found it hard to connect with the characters. Romans felt very one note, one dimensional and regardless what they tried to do with Messala, he felt very shallow. Freeman, as one would hope, had his moments, but it also seemed such a waste of great talents to use him as a narrative data dump. But the biggest problem I had was the pacing. Overall, this felt like a sprint. Even if you're not trying to get everything in, an hour and a half is roughly 75% more screen time (2016 v 1959). So while some complain about the first 40 minutes being a slog, maybe it's just a desire to get to the action. We needed character building, but it was more just an elaborate setup for the climactic chariot race. That brings another issue, and forgive me for pointing at the predecessors, but in the age of CG, the wonder is gone. While I knew going in that they actually filmed the actors in a circus, it was pretty easy to tell where living flesh gave way to animation. CG ruined the chariot race for me.
Now, all that said, if I hadn't seen two of the three predecessors (one of which I've probably watched at least 25 times - you can guess which), I'd probably shrug and say, "Okay. Not great. Not Baby Geniuses bad. Next ... " It does rather feel like movies they make these days. For better. Or for worse.
Movie comment on Ett anständigt liv
xianjiro
seen here with English subs on 20191015Movie comment on En kärlekshistoria
xianjiro
seen here 20191014 with English subtitlesMovie comment on Tillbaka till Ararat
xianjiro
nymets' link good 20191012 and includes English subtitles and narrationMovie comment on Kocár do Vídne
xianjiro
available here 20191008Thanks Peaceful
Movie comment on Història de la meva mort
xianjiro
Went in cold and it's pretty much exactly as Rene has stated.Movie comment on Pokémon: Detective Pikachu
xianjiro
I so wasn't prepared for dad to beMovie comment on Aladdin
xianjiro
The problem with remakes is your work will inevitably be compared to the original - change too much and you're not staying true, change too little and it's an imitation. Alas, this is genie's curse. Speaking of Genie, Smith does bring his own style to the role and besides production design and production numbers, is the film's bright spot. Massoud and Scott are fine, but Massoud's performance struck me as imitation and boy can that Scott nail the Disney princess song, so nothing new there. Alas, Kenzari starts out okay but his performance turns into an overly animated cartoon of one of the great Disney cartoon villains and is tolerated by a few and hated by most. Then there's the odd cultural mishmash, but that's always been an issue with Disney's Aladdin, but at least Gottfried helped us forget parrots are a South American thing. Since Aladdin was added to a French translation of Les mille et une nuits in the early 1700s - well, I guess it could've happened. And tigers make great palace-pets. I'm also thinking someone has seen a few Bollywood production numbers as well. Other than that, one can nitpick if one wants. It's an average movie that's somewhat entertaining if you go for this sort of thing (I do and I was mildly entertained), but that's about it.Movie comment on Baazigar
xianjiro
So VERY awful in just about every way possible. And no, that didn't make if fun. Okay, a couple of songs were fun, but that's about the only nice thing I can say about these three horrible hours of pain and suffering.Movie comment on Sweet Movie
xianjiro
very NSFW, NSFD, NSFL ... (work/dinner/lunch/etc)spoiler ahead:
guess calling it Blood Shit Vomit Movie wouldn't have sold as many tickets
Movie comment on Na srebrnym globie
xianjiro
Just what I didn't know I wanted from a movie - a mass impaling that would have made Vlad proud.Movie comment on Lavoura Arcaica
xianjiro
Nothing says high cinema like seriously forbidden love.Am breathless for the sequel ...
Movie comment on Erosu purasu gyakusatsu
xianjiro
a brief phrase basically proves key"...intellectual masturbation..."
Movie comment on Ghost
xianjiro
seen here 20190826Movie comment on Aphex Twin: Come to Daddy
xianjiro
seen here 20190826Movie comment on Happy End
xianjiro
cute idea that would have made a better 17 minute short than a 71 minute feature - the gimmick just got a bit old after 30 minutes - not sure I can take any more 'spitting up' of drink and foodShowing items 201 – 225 of 468