list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Adaptation on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Adaptation/205733/default.aspx Title: Adaptation
Year: 2002
Director: Spike Jonze
Plot: The creative team behind Being John Malkovich -- director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman -- return with this equally offbeat comedy, in which Kaufman himself becomes the leading character. Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) is a gifted but profoundly neurotic screenwriter who, after the success of Being John Malkovich, has been hired to write a script adapted from the nonfiction book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean. But while Charlie is obsessive about his work, he's also intensely paranoid, given to deep depression, socially inept, and terrified of talking to women, qualities which are making it difficult to get on with his work or hold on to his tenuous relationship with girlfriend Amelia (Cara Seymour). Meanwhile, Charlie's identical twin brother, Donald Kaufman (also played by Cage), has shown up to move in with his brother. Emotionally, Donald is Charlie's polar opposite -- a loudmouthed, over-confident, superficial party animal who has an easy way with the ladies. Donald has decided to follow his brother's footsteps and take up screenwriting as well, but embracing the dictates of screenwriting tutor Robert McKee (Brian Cox), he's cranking out a cliché-ridden serial-killer thriller when not busy making time with new girlfriend Caroline (Maggie Gyllenhaal). As Donald blazes through his screenplay, Charlie slowly picks away at his story, in which author Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) chronicles John Laroche (Chris Cooper), a scruffy but devoted plant enthusiast who tries to save rare species of orchids by stealing them from their natural home in the swamps of Florida. As John and Susan become better acquainted, they find themselves attracted to one another; similarly, Charlie finds himself increasingly fascinated with Susan, and finds himself falling in love with her, even though he's only seen her photo on the dust jacket of her book. Charlie arranges to meet Susan, but is too nervous to confront her face to face, so he sends Donald (who has just scored a seven-figure deal for his script) in his place, while he attends a screenwriting seminar held by McKee. Adaptation also features Tilda Swinton, Judy Greer, and Stephen Tobolowsky. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 120
Number of Lists: 105
Number of blog posts: 13
Number of discussion threads: 11
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:08:09 GMTAdaptation2002Spike JonzeThe creative team behind <a href=/films/135033/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Being John Malkovich</a> -- director <a href="/players/P___263616/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Spike Jonze</a> and screenwriter <a href="/players/P___271315/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Charlie Kaufman</a> -- return with this equally offbeat comedy, in which Kaufman himself becomes the leading character. <a href="/players/P___271315/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Charlie Kaufman</a> (<a href="/players/P____10155/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Nicolas Cage</a>) is a gifted but profoundly neurotic screenwriter who, after the success of <a href=/films/135033/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Being John Malkovich</a>, has been hired to write a script adapted from the nonfiction book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean. But while Charlie is obsessive about his work, he's also intensely paranoid, given to deep depression, socially inept, and terrified of talking to women, qualities which are making it difficult to get on with his work or hold on to his tenuous relationship with girlfriend Amelia (<a href="/players/P___270330/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Cara Seymour</a>). Meanwhile, Charlie's identical twin brother, Donald Kaufman (also played by Cage), has shown up to move in with his brother. Emotionally, Donald is Charlie's polar opposite -- a loudmouthed, over-confident, superficial party animal who has an easy way with the ladies. Donald has decided to follow his brother's footsteps and take up screenwriting as well, but embracing the dictates of screenwriting tutor Robert McKee (<a href="/players/P____86106/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Brian Cox</a>), he's cranking out a cliché-ridden serial-killer thriller when not busy making time with new girlfriend Caroline (<a href="/players/P____29409/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Maggie Gyllenhaal</a>). As Donald blazes through his screenplay, Charlie slowly picks away at his story, in which author Susan Orlean (<a href="/players/P____68676/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Meryl Streep</a>) chronicles John Laroche (<a href="/players/P____14803/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Chris Cooper</a>), a scruffy but devoted plant enthusiast who tries to save rare species of orchids by stealing them from their natural home in the swamps of Florida. As John and Susan become better acquainted, they find themselves attracted to one another; similarly, Charlie finds himself increasingly fascinated with Susan, and finds himself falling in love with her, even though he's only seen her photo on the dust jacket of her book. Charlie arranges to meet Susan, but is too nervous to confront her face to face, so he sends Donald (who has just scored a seven-figure deal for his script) in his place, while he attends a screenwriting seminar held by McKee. Adaptation also features <a href="/players/P____69397/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Tilda Swinton</a>, <a href="/players/P___235491/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Judy Greer</a>, and <a href="/players/P___114258/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Stephen Tobolowsky</a>. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide120Tag Target (>10)10513113http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t30914a2l46.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Adaptation/205733/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/windbreaker/archive/2009/7/11/43003.aspx Post By: Windbreaker
Post To: Windbreaker!
Post Date: 7/11/2009 9:08:09 AM
Body: I watched Adaptation several years ago but had almost no recollection of the movie until I was re-watching last week. Certain scenes would jump back to memory and I'd know what was coming, but only 10 seconds ahead. This should have been a strobing red light in my brain that I wasn't a huge fan. The premise is very creative -- like the story itself, there are a lot of cool and innovative ideas... I just think it came across boring on film. I found myself paying attention to Nic Cage acting as Charlie & Donnie Kaufman and Chris Cooper acting as the wild plant guy than necessarily caring about characters.
]]>Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:08:09 GMTWindbreakerWindbreaker!7/11/2009 9:08:09 AMI watched Adaptation several years ago but had almost no recollection of the movie until I was re-watching last week. Certain scenes would jump back to memory and I'd know what was coming, but only 10 seconds ahead. This should have been a strobing red light in my brain that I wasn't a huge fan. The premise is very creative -- like the story itself, there are a lot of cool and innovative ideas... I just think it came across boring on film. I found myself paying attention to Nic Cage acting as Charlie &amp; Donnie Kaufman and Chris Cooper acting as the wild plant guy than necessarily caring about characters. http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2009/3/27/41301.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 3/27/2009 5:00:55 PM
Body: This has been quite the week for me to wish Nicolas Cage still made good movies. Besides crying over the fact that his latest sci-fi action thriller involving disaster prophesy was #1 at the box office despite being panned by critics, some of my unrelated experiences over the past seven days have coincidentally included the following: watching Wild at Heart for the first time; learning from locals that Moonstruck was partly shot in my neighborhood; discussing, at a party, not only the merits of The Rock, but also its qualifications for inclusion in the Criterion catalog. I’m now thinking I should stay home tonight and watch a marathon of Raising Arizona, Face/Off and Adaptation. Or, maybe I can just lay back and think about how Disney’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is going to be Cage’s return to quality. I know, I know, those of you who didn’t stop reading at my profession of love for The Rock are now wondering if I’m crazy. “Certainly this movie is going to be terrible,” you’re saying to yourself (as you plan your derisive comment). And besides, Herzog’s Bad Lieutenant “remake” shall be his next good film. Well, maybe, but after seeing the new production photos from Apprentice circulating the net (originating at JustJared), I’m prophesizing that the Fantasia-inspired film will be the Moonstruck to Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans‘ Raising Arizona, or the Face/Off to Lieutenant’s Con Air, or the Adaptation to Lieutenant’s Windtalkers. Perhaps I am soiling my reputation by confessing my overextending appreciation of Cage’s career, but you have to respect a guy who allows himself to look and be so ridiculous for his art. The rest of the film blogosphere’s responses to the photos after the jump: As usual, Dan Hopper at Best Week Ever has the best jokes: “…on the set of his new movie Something Surely Worth Seing Dangerous. He’s about to change out of his normal clothes and hairpiece and into his costume (zuhhhh-zinggg!!!).” Pajiba headlines that this could be Cage’s “Most Hilarious Role Ever.” Let’s hope so. Mark at I Watch Stuff compares the look to WWE wrestler The Undertaker and Sega video game character Chakan: The Forever Man. Cinematical’s Elizabeth Rappe sees Cage instead as “apparently ripping his look off Hugh Jackman’s Gabriel Van Helsing” in the site’s “LOL of the Day” post. “The only thing that has me curious about this movie,” she adds, “is how Baruchel ends up as his apprentice. Because if I was approached by a ‘magician’ who looked like that, I’d run screaming the other way.” Rob Bricken at Topless Robot agrees with Rappe’s comparison but seems a tad more hopeful of the film: I admit, despite my utter hatred and fear of Jerry Bruckheimer movies, I did really enjoy the first Pirates of the Carribbean movie. And I love Fantasia, so I’ll — very regretfully — be giving this a shot. But the fact that Cage is dressed exactly like Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing means I probably won’t be watching sober. Jeremy at We Are Movie Geeks also agrees: “Looks like Cage is trying out for ‘Van Helsing 2.’” Mike Sampson at JoBlo.com sees Cage more as a “geriatric Criss Angel” and tells us how to respect this film: if I hear any “raping my childhood” crap, I’m gonna reach through the computer screen and smack you across the head. This movie has nothing to do with the Mickey Mouse cartoon. The story is a German poem written by Goethe. Get that in your head now and you’ll be OK. Somehow Josh Radde at Film School Rejects thinks Cage “appears to be doing his best Kris Kristofferson,” before once again concentrating on the actor’s hair: Add this hairdo to the pretty amazing collection of Cage ‘Dos so far. In fact, Rotten Tomatoes created a game linking a pic of his hair to the movie it appears in and it’ll surprise you how many twisted coifs this man has sported over the years. The typically optimistic Alex Billington of FirstShowing.net argues on Cage’s behalf: I would say, don’t be so quick to judge these and Cage’s new hairdo and leather outfit, but I’m sure you’ve already made up your mind. I don’t know if these will help Cage any more, or potentially ruin him entirely again, but honestly, I’m still looking forward to The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. And Sean at FilmDrunk also defends the powers of Cage, at least as box office gold: “In all seriousness though, you can make fun of Nicolas Cage all you want, but if the past has taught us anything it is that America loves his movies. National Treasure + Harry Potter = $$$.” In additional Nic Cage-is-nuts bloggery from today: Graeme McMillan at io9 shares the actor’s recent statements regarding his preference for science fiction, abandonment of gratuitous violence and overall desire to go more “into the abstract”: Does this mean that Cage sees science fiction as a gateway drug to take audiences into indulgently abstract movies? I hope so, if only because I’d love to see just how abstract the man behind Ghost Rider, Bangkok Dangerous and Adaptation can get when he puts his mind to it. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:00:55 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com3/27/2009 5:00:55 PMThis has been quite the week for me to wish Nicolas Cage still made good movies. Besides crying over the fact that his latest sci-fi action thriller involving disaster prophesy was #1 at the box office despite being panned by critics, some of my unrelated experiences over the past seven days have coincidentally included the following: watching Wild at Heart for the first time; learning from locals that Moonstruck was partly shot in my neighborhood; discussing, at a party, not only the merits of The Rock, but also its qualifications for inclusion in the Criterion catalog. I’m now thinking I should stay home tonight and watch a marathon of Raising Arizona, Face/Off and Adaptation. Or, maybe I can just lay back and think about how Disney’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is going to be Cage’s return to quality. I know, I know, those of you who didn’t stop reading at my profession of love for The Rock are now wondering if I’m crazy. “Certainly this movie is going to be terrible,” you’re saying to yourself (as you plan your derisive comment). And besides, Herzog’s Bad Lieutenant “remake” shall be his next good film. Well, maybe, but after seeing the new production photos from Apprentice circulating the net (originating at JustJared), I’m prophesizing that the Fantasia-inspired film will be the Moonstruck to Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans‘ Raising Arizona, or the Face/Off to Lieutenant’s Con Air, or the Adaptation to Lieutenant’s Windtalkers. Perhaps I am soiling my reputation by confessing my overextending appreciation of Cage’s career, but you have to respect a guy who allows himself to look and be so ridiculous for his art. The rest of the film blogosphere’s responses to the photos after the jump: As usual, Dan Hopper at Best Week Ever has the best jokes: “…on the set of his new movie Something Surely Worth Seing Dangerous. He’s about to change out of his normal clothes and hairpiece and into his costume (zuhhhh-zinggg!!!).” Pajiba headlines that this could be Cage’s “Most Hilarious Role Ever.” Let’s hope so. Mark at I Watch Stuff compares the look to WWE wrestler The Undertaker and Sega video game character Chakan: The Forever Man. Cinematical’s Elizabeth Rappe sees Cage instead as “apparently ripping his look off Hugh Jackman’s Gabriel Van Helsing” in the site’s “LOL of the Day” post. “The only thing that has me curious about this movie,” she adds, “is how Baruchel ends up as his apprentice. Because if I was approached by a ‘magician’ who looked like that, I’d run screaming the other way.” Rob Bricken at Topless Robot agrees with Rappe’s comparison but seems a tad more hopeful of the film: I admit, despite my utter hatred and fear of Jerry Bruckheimer movies, I did really enjoy the first Pirates of the Carribbean movie. And I love Fantasia, so I’ll — very regretfully — be giving this a shot. But the fact that Cage is dressed exactly like Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing means I probably won’t be watching sober. Jeremy at We Are Movie Geeks also agrees: “Looks like Cage is trying out for ‘Van Helsing 2.’” Mike Sampson at JoBlo.com sees Cage more as a “geriatric Criss Angel” and tells us how to respect this film: if I hear any “raping my childhood” crap, I’m gonna reach through the computer screen and smack you across the head. This movie has nothing to do with the Mickey Mouse cartoon. The story is a German poem written by Goethe. Get that in your head now and you’ll be OK. Somehow Josh Radde at Film School Rejects thinks Cage “appears to be doing his best Kris Kristofferson,” before once again concentrating on the actor’s hair: Add this hairdo to the pretty amazing collection of Cage ‘Dos so far. In fact, Rotten Tomatoes created a game linking a pic of his hair to the movie it appears in and it’ll surprise you how many twisted coifs this man has sported over the years. The typically optimistic Alex Billington of FirstShowing.net argues on Cage’s behalf: I would say, don’t be so quick to judge these and Cage’s new hairdo and leather outfit, but I’m sure you’ve already made up your mind. I don’t know if these will help Cage any more, or potentially ruin him entirely again, but honestly, I’m still looking forward to The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. And Sean at FilmDrunk also defends the powers of Cage, at least as box office gold: “In all seriousness though, you can make fun of Nicolas Cage all you want, but if the past has taught us anything it is that America loves his movies. National Treasure + Harry Potter = $$$.” In additional Nic Cage-is-nuts bloggery from today: Graeme McMillan at io9 shares the actor’s recent statements regarding his preference for science fiction, abandonment of gratuitous violence and overall desire to go more “into the abstract”: Does this mean that Cage sees science fiction as a gateway drug to take audiences into indulgently abstract movies? I hope so, if only because I’d love to see just how abstract the man behind Ghost Rider, Bangkok Dangerous and Adaptation can get when he puts his mind to it. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/leeroy711/archive/2009/1/14/39536.aspx Post By: leeroy711
Post To: leeroy711 Blog
Post Date: 1/14/2009 3:30:41 PM
Body: This is the part of my blog that I pick a director and take a few minutes to examine his career. This month I will take a look a one of Hollywood's coolest people, Spike Jonze. Why?? Because I said so. Spike started his career in the skateboarding industry shooting promotional skate vids. Later, he would co-found Girl Skateboard with Rick Howard. He went on to raise the artistic bar when it came to traditional skate videos with one he directed called Mouse. Here is an clip which features pro skater, Eric Koston as Charlie Chaplin in a moment of discovery. ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ His most recent video for Lakai shoes was titled Fully Flared. Here is by far the coolest intro to a skate video ever. ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ He has also had a very accomplished career as a music video director. His work with The Beastie Boys, Bjork and Fatboy Slim has been critically acclaimed. Everyone remembers the Beastie Boys' "Sabatoge" video and who could forget Christopher Walken's dance moves in the hotel lobby in Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice" His most popular video may still be the amature dance recital for Fatboy Slim's "Praise You" video. My personal favorite is this gem from the mid-90s. Remember that Jack Johnson video a couple of years ago that featured him singing the entire song backwards. Well, it had allready been done. Here's Spike's video for The Pharcyde's "Drop" ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ OK, enough of this. I'm a movie guy, let's get onto his film career. In 1998 he made his first full-lenth feature, Being John Malkovich. This film featured John Cusack, Catherine Keener, Cameron Diaz and of course John Malkovich. More importantly, it featured an incredible screenplay by writer Charlie Kaufman about a secret portal into the mind and soul of a New York actor. This combined with the semi-surrealistic camera style of Jonze created an incredibly memorable film. I recall watching this film and thinking that I had never seen a concept as inventative as this one. A few years later, Jonze and Kaufman would colaborate again in 2002's Adaptation. I recall reading the synopsis of this movie when it was still in post-production and thinking that it had to be the most original concept for a movie since Being John Malkovich. This is a movie... about a screenwriter, writing a screenplay.... for the movie that you are currently watching, which is supposed to be an adaptation of a popular book. Charlie Kauafman played by Nicolas Cage is the film's main character. In one of it's most brilliant moments, Kaufman reveals to his twin brother (also played by Cage), "I've written myself into the movie." Jonze's direction was spot on in this one. It was much more of a strait shot film than BJM because most of the trickery lied within the script. Spike is currently working on an adaptation of the super-popular, Where The Wild Things Are. The screenplay was co-written by himself and first-time screenwriter, David Eggers. This is going to be a live action version of a short story. The news I've read about it is very concerning. Apparently, the attempt to animate the character's mouths onto the film is proving very technically difficult. I even read somewhere that Warner Bros. may be asking for a complete reshoot. A move that would more than likely kill the project entirely. Here is a leaked test shoot of the film. ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ I really hope this one gets released. I think it's got great potential to be, if nothing else, a very fun movie.
]]>Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:30:41 GMTleeroy711leeroy711 Blog1/14/2009 3:30:41 PMThis is the part of my blog that I pick a director and take a few minutes to examine his career. This month I will take a look a one of Hollywood's coolest people, Spike Jonze. Why?? Because I said so. Spike started his career in the skateboarding industry shooting promotional skate vids. Later, he would co-found Girl Skateboard with Rick Howard. He went on to raise the artistic bar when it came to traditional skate videos with one he directed called Mouse. Here is an clip which features pro skater, Eric Koston as Charlie Chaplin in a moment of discovery. ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ His most recent video for Lakai shoes was titled Fully Flared. Here is by far the coolest intro to a skate video ever. ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ He has also had a very accomplished career as a music video director. His work with The Beastie Boys, Bjork and Fatboy Slim has been critically acclaimed. Everyone remembers the Beastie Boys' "Sabatoge" video and who could forget Christopher Walken's dance moves in the hotel lobby in Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice" His most popular video may still be the amature dance recital for Fatboy Slim's "Praise You" video. My personal favorite is this gem from the mid-90s. Remember that Jack Johnson video a couple of years ago that featured him singing the entire song backwards. Well, it had allready been done. Here's Spike's video for The Pharcyde's "Drop" ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ OK, enough of this. I'm a movie guy, let's get onto his film career. In 1998 he made his first full-lenth feature, Being John Malkovich. This film featured John Cusack, Catherine Keener, Cameron Diaz and of course John Malkovich. More importantly, it featured an incredible screenplay by writer Charlie Kaufman about a secret portal into the mind and soul of a New York actor. This combined with the semi-surrealistic camera style of Jonze created an incredibly memorable film. I recall watching this film and thinking that I had never seen a concept as inventative as this one. A few years later, Jonze and Kaufman would colaborate again in 2002's Adaptation. I recall reading the synopsis of this movie when it was still in post-production and thinking that it had to be the most original concept for a movie since Being John Malkovich. This is a movie... about a screenwriter, writing a screenplay.... for the movie that you are currently watching, which is supposed to be an adaptation of a popular book. Charlie Kauafman played by Nicolas Cage is the film's main character. In one of it's most brilliant moments, Kaufman reveals to his twin brother (also played by Cage), "I've written myself into the movie." Jonze's direction was spot on in this one. It was much more of a strait shot film than BJM because most of the trickery lied within the script. Spike is currently working on an adaptation of the super-popular, Where The Wild Things Are. The screenplay was co-written by himself and first-time screenwriter, David Eggers. This is going to be a live action version of a short story. The news I've read about it is very concerning. Apparently, the attempt to animate the character's mouths onto the film is proving very technically difficult. I even read somewhere that Warner Bros. may be asking for a complete reshoot. A move that would more than likely kill the project entirely. Here is a leaked test shoot of the film. ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ I really hope this one gets released. I think it's got great potential to be, if nothing else, a very fun movie. http://www.spout.com/groups/sci_fi/Re_Sci_Fi_Recommendations/4/38624/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: firegiver
Post To: sci-fi
Post Date: 12/19/2008 2:38:21 PM
Body: [quote user="mciocco"] [quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="firegiver"] I really enjoyed Primer and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for movies that were in a similar vein. Thanks :) [/quote] I haven't actually seen it, but I heard this Spanish movie Timecrimes deals with a lot of similar types of ideas. [/quote] Timecrimes is definitely a great movie and well worth a watch if you like Primer. The time travel concept is a little more basic and easier to follow in Timecrimes, but it still works really well. I remember when Primer was showing at a local film fest, the buzz was that it was "the next Pi" (Pi isn't a time travel story, but it's an artsy math/paranoia movie - the first directed by Darren Aronofsky) If you liked Primer, I'd imagine you'd also like the storytelling of Charlie Kaufman (i.e. stuff like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Adaptation), though we're starting to get away from SF now... [/quote] Excellent suggtestions guys. I have seen Eternal Sunshine (one of my favorites) and Adaptation (it was less memorable but maybe I'll rewatch it.) Thanks again, Im definitely going to pick up Timecrimes soon.
]]>Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:38:21 GMTfiregiversci-fi12/19/2008 2:38:21 PM[quote user="mciocco"] [quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="firegiver"] I really enjoyed Primer and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for movies that were in a similar vein. Thanks :) [/quote] I haven't actually seen it, but I heard this Spanish movie Timecrimes deals with a lot of similar types of ideas. [/quote] Timecrimes is definitely a great movie and well worth a watch if you like Primer. The time travel concept is a little more basic and easier to follow in Timecrimes, but it still works really well. I remember when Primer was showing at a local film fest, the buzz was that it was "the next Pi" (Pi isn't a time travel story, but it's an artsy math/paranoia movie - the first directed by Darren Aronofsky) If you liked Primer, I'd imagine you'd also like the storytelling of Charlie Kaufman (i.e. stuff like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Adaptation), though we're starting to get away from SF now... [/quote] Excellent suggtestions guys. I have seen Eternal Sunshine (one of my favorites) and Adaptation (it was less memorable but maybe I'll rewatch it.) Thanks again, Im definitely going to pick up Timecrimes soon. http://www.spout.com/groups/sci_fi/Re_Sci_Fi_Recommendations/4/38419/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mciocco
Post To: sci-fi
Post Date: 12/15/2008 6:02:14 PM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="firegiver"] I really enjoyed Primer and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for movies that were in a similar vein. Thanks :) [/quote] I haven't actually seen it, but I heard this Spanish movie Timecrimes deals with a lot of similar types of ideas. [/quote] Timecrimes is definitely a great movie and well worth a watch if you like Primer. The time travel concept is a little more basic and easier to follow in Timecrimes, but it still works really well. I remember when Primer was showing at a local film fest, the buzz was that it was "the next Pi" (Pi isn't a time travel story, but it's an artsy math/paranoia movie - the first directed by Darren Aronofsky) If you liked Primer, I'd imagine you'd also like the storytelling of Charlie Kaufman (i.e. stuff like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Adaptation), though we're starting to get away from SF now...
]]>Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:02:14 GMTmcioccosci-fi12/15/2008 6:02:14 PM[quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="firegiver"] I really enjoyed Primer and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for movies that were in a similar vein. Thanks :) [/quote] I haven't actually seen it, but I heard this Spanish movie Timecrimes deals with a lot of similar types of ideas. [/quote] Timecrimes is definitely a great movie and well worth a watch if you like Primer. The time travel concept is a little more basic and easier to follow in Timecrimes, but it still works really well. I remember when Primer was showing at a local film fest, the buzz was that it was "the next Pi" (Pi isn't a time travel story, but it's an artsy math/paranoia movie - the first directed by Darren Aronofsky) If you liked Primer, I'd imagine you'd also like the storytelling of Charlie Kaufman (i.e. stuff like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Adaptation), though we're starting to get away from SF now... http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_November_10_Whatchamacallit/625/37190/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: seely
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 11/11/2008 10:02:55 AM
Body: This isn't necessarily a great example of the theme, but I've always found it exceedingly interesting that the phrase is used in Donnie Darko. When Donnie is in the bathroom, about to get his ass kicked, someone else walks in and Seth (who has a 666 in his locker if you look closely) is forced to back down. At that point, Donnie whispers a barely audible 'deus ex machina'. It's always been a bit of a confusing point in the film for me, and I suppose that it could simply be that the unexpected entrance of someone else, however I find it interesting the writers specifically referenced 'deus ex machina' instead of simply having Donnie say 'thank god' or something to that effect. Maybe I'm looking for meaning where there isn't any? [quote user="mercurial"] A deus ex machina (lat. IPA: [ˈdeːus eks ˈmaːkʰina], literally "god from a/the machine")[1] is a god brought on the stage by a mechanical device[2] or 'an improbable contrivance in a story characterized by a sudden unexpected solution to a seemingly intractable problem'.[1] Thus, the term "deus ex machina" has come to mean any inferior plot device that expeditiously solves the conflict of a narrative. In fiction writing, the phrase has been extended to refer to a sudden and unexpected resolution to a seemingly intractable problem in a plotline, or what might be called an "Oh, by the way..." ending.[1] A deus ex machina is generally undesirable in writing and often implies a lack of skill on the part of the author because it does not pay due regard to the story's internal logic and is often so unlikely that it challenges suspension of disbelief, allowing the author to conclude the story with an unlikely, though more palatable, ending.[29] A well-known modern example of deus ex machinaoccurs in the Michael Crichton book The Andromeda Strain. The pathogen referred to in the title is suddenly rendered non-lethal by a random mutation which apparently affects every existing virus particle instantaneously. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This week is all about those films that use some "creative storytelling" to further a plot that might otherwise be stymied. Probably one of the most flagrant uses of a deus ex machina in recent film history has to be in Magnolia (I won't give any spoilers for those who haven't seen the film, so let's just say it involves one of the biblical plagues occurring in the center of Los Angeles). My personal favorites have to be in Shakespeare in Love when Queen Elizabeth suddenly appears to save the day and declare that Gwyneth Paltrow is really a man and Adaptation, the film about writing a film, which pokes fun at Hollywood writers that use D.E.M. in their films. Has time sorted things to where using a deus ex machina is a good thing? Or was Horace right in thinking it is a moronic device that shows a lack of creativity? Should films avoid it and leave it for television shows like The Simpsons? Let get talkin! [/quote]
]]>Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:02:55 GMTseelyWeekly Theme11/11/2008 10:02:55 AMThis isn't necessarily a great example of the theme, but I've always found it exceedingly interesting that the phrase is used in Donnie Darko. When Donnie is in the bathroom, about to get his ass kicked, someone else walks in and Seth (who has a 666 in his locker if you look closely) is forced to back down. At that point, Donnie whispers a barely audible 'deus ex machina'. It's always been a bit of a confusing point in the film for me, and I suppose that it could simply be that the unexpected entrance of someone else, however I find it interesting the writers specifically referenced 'deus ex machina' instead of simply having Donnie say 'thank god' or something to that effect. Maybe I'm looking for meaning where there isn't any? [quote user="mercurial"] A deus ex machina (lat. IPA: [ˈdeːus eks ˈmaːkʰina], literally "god from a/the machine")[1] is a god brought on the stage by a mechanical device[2] or 'an improbable contrivance in a story characterized by a sudden unexpected solution to a seemingly intractable problem'.[1] Thus, the term "deus ex machina" has come to mean any inferior plot device that expeditiously solves the conflict of a narrative. In fiction writing, the phrase has been extended to refer to a sudden and unexpected resolution to a seemingly intractable problem in a plotline, or what might be called an "Oh, by the way..." ending.[1] A deus ex machina is generally undesirable in writing and often implies a lack of skill on the part of the author because it does not pay due regard to the story's internal logic and is often so unlikely that it challenges suspension of disbelief, allowing the author to conclude the story with an unlikely, though more palatable, ending.[29] A well-known modern example of deus ex machinaoccurs in the Michael Crichton book The Andromeda Strain. The pathogen referred to in the title is suddenly rendered non-lethal by a random mutation which apparently affects every existing virus particle instantaneously. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This week is all about those films that use some "creative storytelling" to further a plot that might otherwise be stymied. Probably one of the most flagrant uses of a deus ex machina in recent film history has to be in Magnolia (I won't give any spoilers for those who haven't seen the film, so let's just say it involves one of the biblical plagues occurring in the center of Los Angeles). My personal favorites have to be in Shakespeare in Love when Queen Elizabeth suddenly appears to save the day and declare that Gwyneth Paltrow is really a man and Adaptation, the film about writing a film, which pokes fun at Hollywood writers that use D.E.M. in their films. Has time sorted things to where using a deus ex machina is a good thing? Or was Horace right in thinking it is a moronic device that shows a lack of creativity? Should films avoid it and leave it for television shows like The Simpsons? Let get talkin! [/quote] http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Weekly_Theme_for_November_10_Whatchamacallit_a_D/625/37159/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mercurial
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 11/10/2008 4:54:33 PM
Body: A deus ex machina (lat. IPA: [ˈdeːus eks ˈmaːkʰina], literally "god from a/the machine")[1] is a god brought on the stage by a mechanical device[2] or 'an improbable contrivance in a story characterized by a sudden unexpected solution to a seemingly intractable problem'.[1] Thus, the term "deus ex machina" has come to mean any inferior plot device that expeditiously solves the conflict of a narrative. In fiction writing, the phrase has been extended to refer to a sudden and unexpected resolution to a seemingly intractable problem in a plotline, or what might be called an "Oh, by the way..." ending.[1] A deus ex machina is generally undesirable in writing and often implies a lack of skill on the part of the author because it does not pay due regard to the story's internal logic and is often so unlikely that it challenges suspension of disbelief, allowing the author to conclude the story with an unlikely, though more palatable, ending.[29] A well-known modern example of deus ex machinaoccurs in the Michael Crichton book The Andromeda Strain. The pathogen referred to in the title is suddenly rendered non-lethal by a random mutation which apparently affects every existing virus particle instantaneously. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This week is all about those films that use some "creative storytelling" to further a plot that might otherwise be stymied. Probably one of the most flagrant uses of a deus ex machina in recent film history has to be in Magnolia (I won't give any spoilers for those who haven't seen the film, so let's just say it involves one of the biblical plagues occurring in the center of Los Angeles). My personal favorites have to be in Shakespeare in Love when Queen Elizabeth suddenly appears to save the day and declare that Gwyneth Paltrow is really a man and Adaptation, the film about writing a film, which pokes fun at Hollywood writers that use D.E.M. in their films. Has time sorted things to where using a deus ex machina is a good thing? Or was Horace right in thinking it is a moronic device that shows a lack of creativity? Should films avoid it and leave it for television shows like The Simpsons? Let get talkin!
]]>Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:54:33 GMTmercurialWeekly Theme11/10/2008 4:54:33 PMA deus ex machina (lat. IPA: [ˈdeːus eks ˈmaːkʰina], literally "god from a/the machine")[1] is a god brought on the stage by a mechanical device[2] or 'an improbable contrivance in a story characterized by a sudden unexpected solution to a seemingly intractable problem'.[1] Thus, the term "deus ex machina" has come to mean any inferior plot device that expeditiously solves the conflict of a narrative. In fiction writing, the phrase has been extended to refer to a sudden and unexpected resolution to a seemingly intractable problem in a plotline, or what might be called an "Oh, by the way..." ending.[1] A deus ex machina is generally undesirable in writing and often implies a lack of skill on the part of the author because it does not pay due regard to the story's internal logic and is often so unlikely that it challenges suspension of disbelief, allowing the author to conclude the story with an unlikely, though more palatable, ending.[29] A well-known modern example of deus ex machinaoccurs in the Michael Crichton book The Andromeda Strain. The pathogen referred to in the title is suddenly rendered non-lethal by a random mutation which apparently affects every existing virus particle instantaneously. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This week is all about those films that use some "creative storytelling" to further a plot that might otherwise be stymied. Probably one of the most flagrant uses of a deus ex machina in recent film history has to be in Magnolia (I won't give any spoilers for those who haven't seen the film, so let's just say it involves one of the biblical plagues occurring in the center of Los Angeles). My personal favorites have to be in Shakespeare in Love when Queen Elizabeth suddenly appears to save the day and declare that Gwyneth Paltrow is really a man and Adaptation, the film about writing a film, which pokes fun at Hollywood writers that use D.E.M. in their films. Has time sorted things to where using a deus ex machina is a good thing? Or was Horace right in thinking it is a moronic device that shows a lack of creativity? Should films avoid it and leave it for television shows like The Simpsons? Let get talkin! http://www.spout.com/blogs/jakestevens/archive/2008/11/2/36878.aspx Post By: JakeStevens
Post To: JakeStevens Blog
Post Date: 11/2/2008 12:46:57 PM
Body: Simple in its premise but mind-bendingly complex in its execution, Adaptation is one of those films that only come along once in a while, and with Charlie Kaufman penning this and his other wildly imaginative narratives, those once in a whiles seem to be closing the gap in their regularity. Kaufman is the rare screenwriter whose name draws an audience (thanks to his oddly original "Being John Malkovich") and his work with both Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry is some of the most original and exciting in recent cinematic history, if not ever. This story melds your basic novel adaptation with the process of adapting a novel in a very autobiographical way, and Nicolas Cage gives a surprisingly good turn as the lead(s). Why he doesn't do more material like this is beyond me, because it seems he has the quirky idiosyncracies to pull off tons of this material. Well, in any case, I'm pleasantly surprised that all involved have assembled a fantastic film worth watching several times.
]]>Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:46:57 GMTJakeStevensJakeStevens Blog11/2/2008 12:46:57 PMSimple in its premise but mind-bendingly complex in its execution, Adaptation is one of those films that only come along once in a while, and with Charlie Kaufman penning this and his other wildly imaginative narratives, those once in a whiles seem to be closing the gap in their regularity. Kaufman is the rare screenwriter whose name draws an audience (thanks to his oddly original "Being John Malkovich") and his work with both Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry is some of the most original and exciting in recent cinematic history, if not ever. This story melds your basic novel adaptation with the process of adapting a novel in a very autobiographical way, and Nicolas Cage gives a surprisingly good turn as the lead(s). Why he doesn't do more material like this is beyond me, because it seems he has the quirky idiosyncracies to pull off tons of this material. Well, in any case, I'm pleasantly surprised that all involved have assembled a fantastic film worth watching several times. http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_September_22_Breaking_the_Fou/625/35672/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 9/29/2008 10:22:18 AM
Body: [quote user="leeroy711"] I totally forgot to mention Adaptation. This is a movie about a screenwriter writing a screenplay....................... to the movie................... that is about the screenwriter writing a screenplay.........of the movie that you are watching right now. It reminds me of a house of mirrors or something. The fact that The Orchid Theif is a real book just makes it sooooo much more interesting. You get the feeling that the movie has a lot less fiction in it than it lets on. [/quote] meta-film
]]>Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:22:18 GMTRisseladaWeekly Theme9/29/2008 10:22:18 AM[quote user="leeroy711"] I totally forgot to mention Adaptation. This is a movie about a screenwriter writing a screenplay....................... to the movie................... that is about the screenwriter writing a screenplay.........of the movie that you are watching right now. It reminds me of a house of mirrors or something. The fact that The Orchid Theif is a real book just makes it sooooo much more interesting. You get the feeling that the movie has a lot less fiction in it than it lets on. [/quote] meta-film http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_September_22_Breaking_the_Fou/625/35608/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: leeroy711
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 9/26/2008 2:40:00 PM
Body: I totally forgot to mention Adaptation. This is a movie about a screenwriter writing a screenplay....................... to the movie................... that is about the screenwriter writing a screenplay.........of the movie that you are watching right now. It reminds me of a house of mirrors or something. The fact that The Orchid Theif is a real book just makes it sooooo much more interesting. You get the feeling that the movie has a lot less fiction in it than it lets on.
]]>Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:40:00 GMTleeroy711Weekly Theme9/26/2008 2:40:00 PMI totally forgot to mention Adaptation. This is a movie about a screenwriter writing a screenplay....................... to the movie................... that is about the screenwriter writing a screenplay.........of the movie that you are watching right now. It reminds me of a house of mirrors or something. The fact that The Orchid Theif is a real book just makes it sooooo much more interesting. You get the feeling that the movie has a lot less fiction in it than it lets on. http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspxlove
Number of films tagged: 12477

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]]>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:42:37 GMT10852531339Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Loved-It/MemberTagFilms.aspxLoved-It
Number of films tagged: 509

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]]>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:56:35 GMT509179921Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/death/MemberTagFilms.aspxdeath
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]]>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:27:13 GMT4306140526Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/brilliant/MemberTagFilms.aspxbrilliant
Number of films tagged: 179

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Number of films tagged: 223

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Number of films tagged: 1643

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]]>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:36:00 GMT1643130488Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/movie/MemberTagFilms.aspxmovie
Number of films tagged: 363

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]]>Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:09:46 GMT363114187Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Quirky/MemberTagFilms.aspxQuirky
Number of films tagged: 131

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]]>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:54:25 GMT131110249Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/overrated/MemberTagFilms.aspxoverrated
Number of films tagged: 152

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]]>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:35:41 GMT65782190Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Creepy/MemberTagFilms.aspxCreepy
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