list mconrad3's Recent Activity - Spout http://www.spout.com/ mconrad3's Recent Activity - Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg mconrad3's Recent Activity - Spout http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 Spout Group:Spout Customer Care - Get answers to your questions here! http://www.spout.com/groups/Spout_Customer_Care/420/default.aspx Group Name: Spout Customer Care - Get answers to your questions here!
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Have a general question? Need help with some thing on the site? Have a bug you would like to report? Well then, you have come to the right place. No matter what you are having trouble with, we would like to help you find a solution. And maybe, through your own experience with the site, you will want to help other users too. That's what communities are all about. 


Created: 8/1/2007
Number of Members: 79
Number of discussion posts: 513
]]>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:47:00 GMTSpout Customer CareWed, 01 Aug 2007 09:06:04 GMT790513Group Spout Group:HORROR MOVIES 101 - FOR ALL WHO LOVE HORROR MOVIES http://www.spout.com/groups/HORROR_MOVIES_101/222/default.aspx Group Name: HORROR MOVIES 101 - FOR ALL WHO LOVE HORROR MOVIES
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:53:17 GMTHORROR MOVIES 101Sun, 17 Dec 2006 01:20:09 GMT41462333Group Spout Group:foureyedmonsters - Talk to Susan & Arin about the movie and those addictive podcasts. http://www.spout.com/groups/foureyedmonsters/338/endorsed.aspx Group Name: foureyedmonsters - Talk to Susan & Arin about the movie and those addictive podcasts.
Created: 6/4/2007
Number of Members: 322
Number of discussion posts: 56
]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:42:31 GMTfoureyedmonstersMon, 04 Jun 2007 15:28:43 GMT322056Group Spout Group:Weekly Theme - "Fighting off boredom with the Iron Fist of Variety" http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/625/default.aspx Group Name: Weekly Theme - "Fighting off boredom with the Iron Fist of Variety"
Created: 6/30/2008
Number of Members: 52
Number of Lists: 12
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]]>Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:20:23 GMTWeekly ThemeMon, 30 Jun 2008 15:13:45 GMT5212701Group Spout Group:Spout Mavens - Spout's best movie reviewers. Membership is limited. http://www.spout.com/groups/Spout_Mavens/366/default.aspx Group Name: Spout Mavens - Spout's best movie reviewers. Membership is limited.
Group Description:

A group of Spout's best reviewers.
Read the requirements.


Created: 6/20/2007
Number of Members: 36
Number of Lists: 9
Number of discussion posts: 451
]]>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:10:52 GMTSpout MavensWed, 20 Jun 2007 10:13:29 GMT369451Group Spout Group:missing a film - we'll help you find a film http://www.spout.com/groups/missing_a_film/263/default.aspx Group Name: missing a film - we'll help you find a film
Created: 3/5/2007
Number of Members: 131
Number of Lists: 1
Number of discussion posts: 234
]]>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:30:05 GMTmissing a filmMon, 05 Mar 2007 16:37:43 GMT1311234Group Spout Group:Friends of Foreign Flicks - Discussions of all films not American. http://www.spout.com/groups/Friends_of_Foreign_Flicks/591/default.aspx Group Name: Friends of Foreign Flicks - Discussions of all films not American.
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At some point you just want more than what's right in front of you.


Created: 4/24/2008
Number of Members: 30
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]]>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:05:26 GMTFriends of Foreign FlicksThu, 24 Apr 2008 11:44:11 GMT30192Group Spout Group:The Documentary - A place to talk about the much overlooked genre of the Documentary. http://www.spout.com/groups/The_Documentary/79/default.aspx Group Name: The Documentary - A place to talk about the much overlooked genre of the Documentary.
Created: 4/2/2006
Number of Members: 49
Number of Lists: 4
Number of discussion posts: 53
]]>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:05:39 GMTThe DocumentarySun, 02 Apr 2006 00:58:55 GMT49453Group Spout Group:Sound on Sight - Podcasts, movie reviews, interviews, news and more. http://www.spout.com/groups/Sound_on_Sight/529/default.aspx Group Name: Sound on Sight - Podcasts, movie reviews, interviews, news and more.
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Sound on Sight proudly brings you two podcasts each week. Voted best podcast in 2008, these hard working hosts cover everything from mainstream Hollywood films to noir, horror, science fiction, cult cinema, documentary film making and more. Look out for a new show added every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

http://www.soundonsight.org/

 

 


Created: 1/6/2008
Number of Members: 104
Number of discussion posts: 150
]]>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:03:03 GMTSound on SightSun, 06 Jan 2008 21:24:34 GMT1040150Group Spout Group:Worst Movie Ever - The Group is dedicated to uncovering the bombs, so you don't have too. http://www.spout.com/groups/Worst_Movie_Ever/104/default.aspx Group Name: Worst Movie Ever - The Group is dedicated to uncovering the bombs, so you don't have too.
Created: 5/5/2006
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]]>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:43:26 GMTWorst Movie EverFri, 05 May 2006 20:20:45 GMT20010412Group Spout Group:Movie Polls - Vote in weekly polls and discuss http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/657/default.aspx Group Name: Movie Polls - Vote in weekly polls and discuss
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Each week I will post a new poll.  Please vote in the poll and reply to the discussion thread to discuss the question.  Please do not vote more than once.


Created: 11/25/2008
Number of Members: 66
Number of discussion posts: 414
]]>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:42:29 GMTMovie PollsTue, 25 Nov 2008 16:54:38 GMT660414Group Spout Group:Zombie Obsession - Zombie Lovers, Unite! http://www.spout.com/groups/Zombie_Obsession/329/default.aspx Group Name: Zombie Obsession - Zombie Lovers, Unite!
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Join us to discuss your favorite or most horrifying Zombie Movies or just your most memorable Zombie Moments.  From Funny to Scary to Gory to Bizarre...

 


Created: 5/28/2007
Number of Members: 104
Number of Lists: 1
Number of discussion posts: 594
]]>Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:29:56 GMTZombie ObsessionMon, 28 May 2007 02:04:45 GMT1041594Group Spout Group:A World of MSTies - Thank You, Won't We? http://www.spout.com/groups/A_World_of_MSTies/590/default.aspx Group Name: A World of MSTies - Thank You, Won't We?
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Glorify the best show ever (MST3K) with wit, wisdom and downright wackiness!


Created: 4/23/2008
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]]>Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:25:25 GMTA World of MSTiesWed, 23 Apr 2008 20:21:48 GMT10223Group Spout Group:It's a Wonderful Night for Oscar! - Devoted to everything nominated or snubbed by the Academy of Golden Guys http://www.spout.com/groups/It_s_a_Wonderful_Night_for_Oscar/46/default.aspx Group Name: It's a Wonderful Night for Oscar! - Devoted to everything nominated or snubbed by the Academy of Golden Guys
Group Description: Year after year, movie lovers and non movie lovers alike discuss ad nauseum the fate of films nominated for the utmost honor, the Academy Award. Some people watch it for the fashion. Some people watch for the haute couture. Some people watch for their fill of celebrity sightings. If you are a member of this group, you love everything about the Super Bowl of movies, especially the movies themselves! You love to make predictions, guess at the politics, discuss and dissect who should have been nominated and who should have won...or, you're just an avid movie lover that likes to pay attention. Come join the group!
Created: 3/4/2006
Number of Members: 41
Number of Lists: 58
Number of discussion posts: 226
]]>Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:11:33 GMTIt's a Wonderful Night for Oscar!Sat, 04 Mar 2006 15:24:32 GMT4158226Group Spout Group:Movie Marathons http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Marathons/693/default.aspx Group Name: Movie Marathons
Group Description:

This is a group for members to start and organize movie marathons. Its primary purpose is to get more people exposed to more film. And to watch these films and discuss them as a group.

Anyone can start a marathon and marathons can be organized in many different ways to showcase the films of a director, actor, genre, theme etc...

Check the Guidlines and Suggestions discussion for ideas.


Created: 7/22/2009
Number of Members: 15
Number of discussion posts: 22
]]>Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:33:02 GMTMovie MarathonsWed, 22 Jul 2009 01:35:58 GMT15022Group Spout Group:Movies we do not want to see - Try to convince us to see these movies! http://www.spout.com/groups/Movies_we_do_not_want_to_see/70/default.aspx Group Name: Movies we do not want to see - Try to convince us to see these movies!
Group Description: Want to be a member? Send me a message with a list of at least 5 movies that you do not want to see. There are many movies that I do not want to see. I'm not sure if its right of me to decide never to see a movie without seeing it. You know...like when a kid says they hate mushrooms even though they admit never trying them. So maybe this is a good spot for people to display movies they don't think they want to see, and see if anyone can convince us to try them out.
Created: 3/22/2006
Number of Members: 20
Number of Lists: 3
Number of discussion posts: 190
]]>Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:31:56 GMTMovies we do not want to seeWed, 22 Mar 2006 14:27:50 GMT203190Group Spout Post: Tae Guk Gi http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/3/31/41371.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 3/31/2009 7:53:44 PM
Body: I'd be the first to admit that I haven't been up on foreign films as much as I probably should. One of my favorite films from last year (Let the Right One In) was made in Sweden. Today I had the opportunity to sample South Korean cinema in the form of Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War. I have never seen a war film that didn't deal with Amerian centered conflicts. Letters from Iwo Jima, while impressive, was still a primarily American film. Tae Guk Gi, on the other hand, is a product of Korea in which the American involvement is only mentioned in passing. The story is of two brothers living in South Korea who are drafted into service following the outbreak of hostilities that would last for three years and serve as a proxy war during the Cold War. The view from the trenches ain't pretty, but that's what makes this film important. Not unlike Saving Private Ryan, this film places a more human face on soldiers in the war. They aren't the brave war heroes marching off to victory. They're sons, brothers, fathers, and people with real motivations and problems. Throughout the story we are presented with gritty examples of the horrors the Korean War had to offer. What impressed me most about this film was its production value. On only a twelve million dollar budget, these filmmakers managed to create something on par with the greatest American war films. The Korean War was an ordeal that members of my generation have only seen from black and white file footage. In Tae Guk Gi, as it should be, it is treated as one of the most major conflicts their nation faced. Non native audience members can experience it as if it were "their" war and it adds that much impact to it. Emotionally moving, you are hard pressed not to feel affected by Tae Guk Gi by the time the credits roll. It illustrates a conflict I don't think Americans have been made aware enough of. Unfortunately, it has been dismissed by mainstream audiences, likely because it comes with subtitles. I have no doubts in my mind that if it was an American war film, people would be talking about it like they did for Saving Private Ryan.
]]>Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:53:44 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog3/31/2009 7:53:44 PMI'd be the first to admit that I haven't been up on foreign films as much as I probably should. One of my favorite films from last year (Let the Right One In) was made in Sweden. Today I had the opportunity to sample South Korean cinema in the form of Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War. I have never seen a war film that didn't deal with Amerian centered conflicts. Letters from Iwo Jima, while impressive, was still a primarily American film. Tae Guk Gi, on the other hand, is a product of Korea in which the American involvement is only mentioned in passing. The story is of two brothers living in South Korea who are drafted into service following the outbreak of hostilities that would last for three years and serve as a proxy war during the Cold War. The view from the trenches ain't pretty, but that's what makes this film important. Not unlike Saving Private Ryan, this film places a more human face on soldiers in the war. They aren't the brave war heroes marching off to victory. They're sons, brothers, fathers, and people with real motivations and problems. Throughout the story we are presented with gritty examples of the horrors the Korean War had to offer. What impressed me most about this film was its production value. On only a twelve million dollar budget, these filmmakers managed to create something on par with the greatest American war films. The Korean War was an ordeal that members of my generation have only seen from black and white file footage. In Tae Guk Gi, as it should be, it is treated as one of the most major conflicts their nation faced. Non native audience members can experience it as if it were "their" war and it adds that much impact to it. Emotionally moving, you are hard pressed not to feel affected by Tae Guk Gi by the time the credits roll. It illustrates a conflict I don't think Americans have been made aware enough of. Unfortunately, it has been dismissed by mainstream audiences, likely because it comes with subtitles. I have no doubts in my mind that if it was an American war film, people would be talking about it like they did for Saving Private Ryan. Spout Post: Waking Life http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/3/26/41283.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 3/26/2009 11:30:08 PM
Body: Despite my reverence for this film, there isn't much I can say about it. It is one of those films that I find difficult to describe to people who haven't seen it before. I recommend it, but I don't know if I can say anything else about it other than I think it is ineffable to a degree. It's a film about philosophy, but it's not a documentary. It's a film about a journey, but it's not exactly a cohesive story. It's animated, but it's rotoscoped so there's life action under the sketches and inking. It is a film that truly feels like a dream. You enter into it completely lost in what, if anything, is going on. It jumps around, but not so much that you lose the little footing you have. The main character sort of floats through different scenes and we, as an audience, go along with it. There's not necessarily a rhyme or reason to the plot movement, but it doesn't have to be...because it's a dream. Stuff will occur and things will be said that you'll barely remember (not unlike a real dream), but the more you watch it the more you pick up. My advice? Watch it a few times before you pass final judgement on it.
]]>Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:30:08 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog3/26/2009 11:30:08 PMDespite my reverence for this film, there isn't much I can say about it. It is one of those films that I find difficult to describe to people who haven't seen it before. I recommend it, but I don't know if I can say anything else about it other than I think it is ineffable to a degree. It's a film about philosophy, but it's not a documentary. It's a film about a journey, but it's not exactly a cohesive story. It's animated, but it's rotoscoped so there's life action under the sketches and inking. It is a film that truly feels like a dream. You enter into it completely lost in what, if anything, is going on. It jumps around, but not so much that you lose the little footing you have. The main character sort of floats through different scenes and we, as an audience, go along with it. There's not necessarily a rhyme or reason to the plot movement, but it doesn't have to be...because it's a dream. Stuff will occur and things will be said that you'll barely remember (not unlike a real dream), but the more you watch it the more you pick up. My advice? Watch it a few times before you pass final judgement on it. Spout Post: Singin' in the Rain http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/3/23/41212.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 3/23/2009 11:28:51 PM
Body: I was never a big fan of musicals. I had to participate in them throughout my elementary school career and even landed a few lead roles, but something about randomly breaking out into song didn't really jive with me. It's probably because it had been parodied so many times in my childhood shows and films that I couldn't take it seriously. Overall even the modern musicals haven't really appealed to me. Of all the musicals I've seen though, the ones from the forties, fifties, and sixties are the ones I can sit through. Singin' in the Rain is no exception. Taking place just at the beginning of the talkie era of filmmaking, I was quite intrigued by the plot and story of the film. In all honesty, I wasn't expecting that much of an interesting story, being that I was of the assumption the entire movie was about singing in the rain. I admit now that I was wrong, and that I actually enjoyed the tale constructed before me. It may be only because it is one of the few original movies I've seen in the last three years, but it is actually pretty well crafted. The music, which the film is defined by, was pretty good. Yes, several of the songs were catchy, but I still found somewhat annoyed by the breaking out into song. I think at this point in my life it can't be helped for me to feel that way. That being said, the amount of production that went into the bigger musical numbers is still astonishing to this day. In a world where green screen is the quick fix for every little thing, set design is something of an art unto itself. I was pleasantly surprised by Singin' in the Rain. It's a more happy and cheery than I'm used to, but it is a well executed feel good film.
]]>Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:28:51 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog3/23/2009 11:28:51 PMI was never a big fan of musicals. I had to participate in them throughout my elementary school career and even landed a few lead roles, but something about randomly breaking out into song didn't really jive with me. It's probably because it had been parodied so many times in my childhood shows and films that I couldn't take it seriously. Overall even the modern musicals haven't really appealed to me. Of all the musicals I've seen though, the ones from the forties, fifties, and sixties are the ones I can sit through. Singin' in the Rain is no exception. Taking place just at the beginning of the talkie era of filmmaking, I was quite intrigued by the plot and story of the film. In all honesty, I wasn't expecting that much of an interesting story, being that I was of the assumption the entire movie was about singing in the rain. I admit now that I was wrong, and that I actually enjoyed the tale constructed before me. It may be only because it is one of the few original movies I've seen in the last three years, but it is actually pretty well crafted. The music, which the film is defined by, was pretty good. Yes, several of the songs were catchy, but I still found somewhat annoyed by the breaking out into song. I think at this point in my life it can't be helped for me to feel that way. That being said, the amount of production that went into the bigger musical numbers is still astonishing to this day. In a world where green screen is the quick fix for every little thing, set design is something of an art unto itself. I was pleasantly surprised by Singin' in the Rain. It's a more happy and cheery than I'm used to, but it is a well executed feel good film. Spout Post: Requiem for a Dream http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/3/21/41158.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 3/21/2009 1:00:28 PM
Body: It's not often that someone manages to successfully create the genre of Greek tragedy in a modern setting. If I were to pin any director's name to such a project, it would be Darren Aronofsky. That being said, he's already managed to create said-tragedy in Requiem for a Dream. The story about a group of druggies attempting to break out of their sorry states but ultimately failing and ending up worse off then they they started is something that, had it not revolved around drugs, could have come from Sophocles. It is a story that is well constructed and well executed, but a story I can only watch a handful of times over a period of years. I can only liken watching Requiem of a Dream to watching a train wreck happen. On some primal, horribly morbid and vulgar level, it is entertaining and interesting to watch. It isn't until you realize you're watching people being hurt that you start to feel bad. In most cases, this transition last only seconds, but in Requiem for a Dream, the audience is constantly presented with new "train wreck" scenarios. Each one becoming more painful to watch then the next. It is as if the film is stuck in its second act, plummeting to Earth without the hope of there being any sort of salvation before the end. That being said, it is a well executed train wreck. Aronofsky and the actors make you feel for these characters. Yes, they are locked in their fateful course of self-destruction, but there is sympathy and pity for them. Not unlike infamous Greek tragedies, we watch these characters orchestrating their own doom in an effort to understand human flaws. One of my friends said this movie was a two hour long anti-drug commercial and I am inclined to agree with him under one condition: it is an anti-addiction story. Not just to drugs, but other habits that can be just as destructful. I know Requiem for a Dream is considered a hallmark of film, but it is a difficult one to watch without promise of resolution.
]]>Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:00:28 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog3/21/2009 1:00:28 PMIt's not often that someone manages to successfully create the genre of Greek tragedy in a modern setting. If I were to pin any director's name to such a project, it would be Darren Aronofsky. That being said, he's already managed to create said-tragedy in Requiem for a Dream. The story about a group of druggies attempting to break out of their sorry states but ultimately failing and ending up worse off then they they started is something that, had it not revolved around drugs, could have come from Sophocles. It is a story that is well constructed and well executed, but a story I can only watch a handful of times over a period of years. I can only liken watching Requiem of a Dream to watching a train wreck happen. On some primal, horribly morbid and vulgar level, it is entertaining and interesting to watch. It isn't until you realize you're watching people being hurt that you start to feel bad. In most cases, this transition last only seconds, but in Requiem for a Dream, the audience is constantly presented with new "train wreck" scenarios. Each one becoming more painful to watch then the next. It is as if the film is stuck in its second act, plummeting to Earth without the hope of there being any sort of salvation before the end. That being said, it is a well executed train wreck. Aronofsky and the actors make you feel for these characters. Yes, they are locked in their fateful course of self-destruction, but there is sympathy and pity for them. Not unlike infamous Greek tragedies, we watch these characters orchestrating their own doom in an effort to understand human flaws. One of my friends said this movie was a two hour long anti-drug commercial and I am inclined to agree with him under one condition: it is an anti-addiction story. Not just to drugs, but other habits that can be just as destructful. I know Requiem for a Dream is considered a hallmark of film, but it is a difficult one to watch without promise of resolution. Spout Post: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/3/10/40920.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 3/10/2009 12:36:46 AM
Body: Eternal Sunshine is a film that I seem to enjoy the more I watch it. The first time I saw it, it struck a chord with me. At the time there was this girl in my life that reminded me very much of Clementine and I think that's what first drew me into the film. The thing is, though, as I watched it a second time, I realized there was much more to it than the quirky love interest. There were a few themes going on that also rang true when I discovered them within the storyline. It's not a mainstream movie, but I'm counting that on the side of the pros. That being said, it no doubt does not appeal to people who aren't interested in thinking about what their watching. Aside from dissecting a relationship from the end backwards, I found this particularly intriguing kearnel commentary that may not have been intentional, but nevertheless spoke to me. It was the idea seen in many Greek and Shakespearian tragedies: fate cannot be escaped, and some things are meant to be. I'm not saying that there's a grand design to the universe, but I think there's a general procession to how it is going to unfold, and the story of Joel and Clem illustrates this theory. They erased each other from their memory, and yet something is left that goads them on to meet a second time. Even after they hear themselves talk about what they hated about their relationship, they decide to go for it anyway. I read that the director intended the last shot of the film to convey the repeating cycle that Clem and Joel would get sick of each other, wipe their memories, and start over again ad nauseum until their deaths. While that's not necessarily the interpretation I take away from this film, it also speaks volumes of this existential concept of rhyming events and repeating cycles. All of these little themes and ideas that get voiced throughout the film make me think about life, the universe, and everything. That's what I like about it. But because of this, it won't appeal to the crowd expecting another "zany" hollywood romantic comedy. It's more than that, which is probably why it doesn't gain wide appeal. Enough ramblings from my cynical mind. If you're into the arthouse scene, you'll like Eternal Sunshine. It's a dark film, a heartfelt film, and a funny film. It isn't the kind of film my dad is going to watch because he enjoys films like Epic Movie. I think all the people involved in the project did a wonderful job in telling a unique story (gasp! I know) that gives you and your friends something to talk about when the credits roll.
]]>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:36:46 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog3/10/2009 12:36:46 AMEternal Sunshine is a film that I seem to enjoy the more I watch it. The first time I saw it, it struck a chord with me. At the time there was this girl in my life that reminded me very much of Clementine and I think that's what first drew me into the film. The thing is, though, as I watched it a second time, I realized there was much more to it than the quirky love interest. There were a few themes going on that also rang true when I discovered them within the storyline. It's not a mainstream movie, but I'm counting that on the side of the pros. That being said, it no doubt does not appeal to people who aren't interested in thinking about what their watching. Aside from dissecting a relationship from the end backwards, I found this particularly intriguing kearnel commentary that may not have been intentional, but nevertheless spoke to me. It was the idea seen in many Greek and Shakespearian tragedies: fate cannot be escaped, and some things are meant to be. I'm not saying that there's a grand design to the universe, but I think there's a general procession to how it is going to unfold, and the story of Joel and Clem illustrates this theory. They erased each other from their memory, and yet something is left that goads them on to meet a second time. Even after they hear themselves talk about what they hated about their relationship, they decide to go for it anyway. I read that the director intended the last shot of the film to convey the repeating cycle that Clem and Joel would get sick of each other, wipe their memories, and start over again ad nauseum until their deaths. While that's not necessarily the interpretation I take away from this film, it also speaks volumes of this existential concept of rhyming events and repeating cycles. All of these little themes and ideas that get voiced throughout the film make me think about life, the universe, and everything. That's what I like about it. But because of this, it won't appeal to the crowd expecting another "zany" hollywood romantic comedy. It's more than that, which is probably why it doesn't gain wide appeal. Enough ramblings from my cynical mind. If you're into the arthouse scene, you'll like Eternal Sunshine. It's a dark film, a heartfelt film, and a funny film. It isn't the kind of film my dad is going to watch because he enjoys films like Epic Movie. I think all the people involved in the project did a wonderful job in telling a unique story (gasp! I know) that gives you and your friends something to talk about when the credits roll. Spout Post: Rachel Getting Married http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/3/3/40787.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 3/3/2009 12:30:28 AM
Body: Rachel Getting Married is one of the few Oscar nominated flicks I was at all interested in seeing. If there's anything that floats my boat as much as dark comedy, its dysfunctional families. Anne Hathaway plays recovering addict and sister to the bride as she reaquaints herself with her family in the closing days before the wedding. It's definitely an unmitigated view of a family during get togethers. The handheld camera and the choice of there being only music within the narrative makes you feel like it's a documentary. There are moments that make you cringe, make you laugh, and make you pause to take a breath. All of it works. I wasn't truly aware of Anne Hathaway's acting range outside of romantic/tween dramedies until this film. Turning a 180 from the roles she's usually known for, she doesn't waste any time getting into character. The same can be said for the rest of the cast, as the whole thing feels again like a documentary. Some of the moments I found so akin to moments at family gatherings of my own that I felt a little queezy reliving them. You can watch these people and tell that there is a history with all of them. They look and act like a genuine family. This is also the latest of several films I've seen now opting for the handheld look. It seems to have become something like compositional risk to use it on projects these days. Not everyone does it well, but I think considering the look they were going for it works in this film. I will have to say that it's gonna get harder and harder for me to like it as more and more films use this "technique." The part about this movie that strikes me closest to home is how close they come to the day to day operations of a family during big events. Everyone I know has a relative for the ones you see in this film and the interactions between all of them is so flawless you can feel like it's about your own family. This all being said, I may have an extremely screwed up family and friends so it may not strike many people the way it does me. For someone that does come from this sort of background, this flick serves as an erie reflection of our lives with our families. The Los Angeles Times reported 63 percent of American households were dysfunctional. I'm not surprised by the figure. I'm also very glad that they're becoming much more represented in today's cinema. It can get overdone at the risk of ruining the genre. Not all of the projects covering the subject do well with it. Rachel Getting Married does it well. It brings all the skeletons out of the closet but can still maintain that even the more screwed up families can come together when the shit hits the fan. They won't do it perfectly, and there's always casualties, but sunshine rainbow endings are overrated anyway.
]]>Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:30:28 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog3/3/2009 12:30:28 AMRachel Getting Married is one of the few Oscar nominated flicks I was at all interested in seeing. If there's anything that floats my boat as much as dark comedy, its dysfunctional families. Anne Hathaway plays recovering addict and sister to the bride as she reaquaints herself with her family in the closing days before the wedding. It's definitely an unmitigated view of a family during get togethers. The handheld camera and the choice of there being only music within the narrative makes you feel like it's a documentary. There are moments that make you cringe, make you laugh, and make you pause to take a breath. All of it works. I wasn't truly aware of Anne Hathaway's acting range outside of romantic/tween dramedies until this film. Turning a 180 from the roles she's usually known for, she doesn't waste any time getting into character. The same can be said for the rest of the cast, as the whole thing feels again like a documentary. Some of the moments I found so akin to moments at family gatherings of my own that I felt a little queezy reliving them. You can watch these people and tell that there is a history with all of them. They look and act like a genuine family. This is also the latest of several films I've seen now opting for the handheld look. It seems to have become something like compositional risk to use it on projects these days. Not everyone does it well, but I think considering the look they were going for it works in this film. I will have to say that it's gonna get harder and harder for me to like it as more and more films use this "technique." The part about this movie that strikes me closest to home is how close they come to the day to day operations of a family during big events. Everyone I know has a relative for the ones you see in this film and the interactions between all of them is so flawless you can feel like it's about your own family. This all being said, I may have an extremely screwed up family and friends so it may not strike many people the way it does me. For someone that does come from this sort of background, this flick serves as an erie reflection of our lives with our families. The Los Angeles Times reported 63 percent of American households were dysfunctional. I'm not surprised by the figure. I'm also very glad that they're becoming much more represented in today's cinema. It can get overdone at the risk of ruining the genre. Not all of the projects covering the subject do well with it. Rachel Getting Married does it well. It brings all the skeletons out of the closet but can still maintain that even the more screwed up families can come together when the shit hits the fan. They won't do it perfectly, and there's always casualties, but sunshine rainbow endings are overrated anyway. Spout Post: Idiocracy http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/3/2/40781.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 3/2/2009 7:37:53 PM
Body: It's a shame I didn't get around to seeing Idiocracy until I did. Mike Judge is one of my favorite comedic creators, but I wasn't aware he had done anything live action since Office Space, another cult classic. The issues with release certainly hampered its chances at a wider following, but I think considering the material and time of its completion wouldn't have helped it. Luke WIlson and Maya Rudolph play two people from the present accidentally frozen only to be woken up in a future where the culture revolves around all things stupid and/or redneck. The film pokes fun at just about every thing corporate and conservative America has to offer, but it doesn't have much depth to back it up. The raw, dark humor was enough to get more than a few laughs out of me throughout the course of the story. In the back of my head, I was thinking how absurdly plausible the dystopian future depected here is. The overall stupidity of the society and the punches thrown at Fox and NASCAR Dad culture were humorous, but had no depth to them. The plot was pretty thin and all the characters (even the ones we're supposed to sympathize with) are cardboard cut-outs. The good thing is there's enough satire flying around to distract you, but it was disappointing coming from the guy who brough us King of the Hill. Idiocracy isn't going to be a movie for everybody. People with vulgar senses of humor and cynics will both flock to this film despite its shortcomings. It does leave something to be desired when the credits start rolling. It is true that under all the absurdity there is a message to be heard, but if you think about it enough you might start to get depressed about the future of humanity.
]]>Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:37:53 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog3/2/2009 7:37:53 PMIt's a shame I didn't get around to seeing Idiocracy until I did. Mike Judge is one of my favorite comedic creators, but I wasn't aware he had done anything live action since Office Space, another cult classic. The issues with release certainly hampered its chances at a wider following, but I think considering the material and time of its completion wouldn't have helped it. Luke WIlson and Maya Rudolph play two people from the present accidentally frozen only to be woken up in a future where the culture revolves around all things stupid and/or redneck. The film pokes fun at just about every thing corporate and conservative America has to offer, but it doesn't have much depth to back it up. The raw, dark humor was enough to get more than a few laughs out of me throughout the course of the story. In the back of my head, I was thinking how absurdly plausible the dystopian future depected here is. The overall stupidity of the society and the punches thrown at Fox and NASCAR Dad culture were humorous, but had no depth to them. The plot was pretty thin and all the characters (even the ones we're supposed to sympathize with) are cardboard cut-outs. The good thing is there's enough satire flying around to distract you, but it was disappointing coming from the guy who brough us King of the Hill. Idiocracy isn't going to be a movie for everybody. People with vulgar senses of humor and cynics will both flock to this film despite its shortcomings. It does leave something to be desired when the credits start rolling. It is true that under all the absurdity there is a message to be heard, but if you think about it enough you might start to get depressed about the future of humanity. Spout Post: Body of Lies http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/3/1/40766.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 3/1/2009 8:33:09 PM
Body: Ridley Scott is always going to be one of my favorite directors. His work on movies like Blade Runner, Alien, Black Hawk Down, and Kingdom of Heaven always stick in my mind after I watch them. I wasn't expecting much from him for this film, however, so I suppose it is best that way. The trailer didn't interest me very much and it's my personal opinion that Ridley needs to do more sci fi if he wants to socially commentate properly.The film is an adaptation of a novel of the same name about a CIA agent who has to gets a ground's eye view of the things going on in the Middle East. The message it's trying to send is good, but I think it gets lost in its own setting. Going into the film, people are focused more on the overall good vs. bad conflict and they lose some of the nice subtleties Scott throws in the background. And subtletly is one of the things I always thought he does well in his films. For the most part, we're getting hung up on trying to catch the terrorist and put less emphasis on how that happens, which is a major problem when you want that to be the focus of your film. Otherwise, the overlying plot itself is unremarkable. I like all of the people involved in this project (yes, I can sit through two hours of Leonardo DiCaprio). I even think there are moments in this film that show you the clout of the man working behind the camera. The issue is that it gets muddled up in the fact that it's a "catch a terrorist" flick with undertones of "how do we best go about that?". That second part intrigues me a great deal, but if I had a nickel for every "catch the terrorist" movie that's come out since 9/11, I'd be able to make a movie of my own. I still think Ridley Scott is a good director, but I think he needs to take us out of our present conflicts so he can best make his point.
]]>Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:33:09 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog3/1/2009 8:33:09 PMRidley Scott is always going to be one of my favorite directors. His work on movies like Blade Runner, Alien, Black Hawk Down, and Kingdom of Heaven always stick in my mind after I watch them. I wasn't expecting much from him for this film, however, so I suppose it is best that way. The trailer didn't interest me very much and it's my personal opinion that Ridley needs to do more sci fi if he wants to socially commentate properly.The film is an adaptation of a novel of the same name about a CIA agent who has to gets a ground's eye view of the things going on in the Middle East. The message it's trying to send is good, but I think it gets lost in its own setting. Going into the film, people are focused more on the overall good vs. bad conflict and they lose some of the nice subtleties Scott throws in the background. And subtletly is one of the things I always thought he does well in his films. For the most part, we're getting hung up on trying to catch the terrorist and put less emphasis on how that happens, which is a major problem when you want that to be the focus of your film. Otherwise, the overlying plot itself is unremarkable. I like all of the people involved in this project (yes, I can sit through two hours of Leonardo DiCaprio). I even think there are moments in this film that show you the clout of the man working behind the camera. The issue is that it gets muddled up in the fact that it's a "catch a terrorist" flick with undertones of "how do we best go about that?". That second part intrigues me a great deal, but if I had a nickel for every "catch the terrorist" movie that's come out since 9/11, I'd be able to make a movie of my own. I still think Ridley Scott is a good director, but I think he needs to take us out of our present conflicts so he can best make his point. Spout Post: Night of the Comet http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/3/1/40757.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 3/1/2009 1:31:07 AM
Body: Night of the Comet is by no means a "good" film by normal standards. It is rife with plotholes, clunky dialogue, and B-movie acting. HOWEVER, I can't help but enjoy it. It is 80s in every sense of the word and I am irrevocably drawn to it despite all of its flaws. Set in LA during a fictional comet strike, the plot revolves around sisters Samantha and Regina who must survive on their own after the comet's...well, I don't know what, but people either turned into orange dust or flesh-eating zombies. (I know you're already wondering what's not to like aout this flick). I'm sure in other hands it could be fleshed out and turned into some sort of Omega Man knock-off, but it's the corniness that makes this movie. As I've said, the acting and story are what you'd expect from a Sci Fi Channel weekend movie. The lead actors don't put on terrible performances, but some of the lines they have to run through are hilarious in their own right. ("We can say fuck, but let's substitute 'have sex' with 'get with' at every opportunity") There also isn't a whole lot of character development, and there's an entire sequence that seems utterly superfluous outside of watching Star Trek vet Robbie Beltran fight off a zombie child for ten minutes. But I'm not watching this film for some deep artistic statement. I'm watching this film because it's simple 80s goodness in every sense of the phrase. Someone was hard at work on the synthesizer to score just about every second of the movie and I enjoyed all of it. I'm a sucker for 8-bit sound. The dress, hairstyles, arcade games, and random shopping mall montages all scream the decade they shot this thing in, and that's why I enjoy it. You won't be able to sit me down for those Sci Fi Channel weekend flicks, but tell me it's got a synthesizer soundtrack and was shot in 1984 and I'm there with a bag of popcorn. At its heart, Night of the Comet is pure 80s flash. It may not sit well with anyone who was born at the wrong time, but for a product of the 80s and 90s, it's a nostalgia trip in the cheap seats with the bubble gum that sticks to your feet and the (you hope it's a) soda stain on tthe upholstery. I make no excuses for the cinematic quality or artistic merit of this fillm. I will say that I enjoyed every bit of it.
]]>Sun, 01 Mar 2009 06:31:07 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog3/1/2009 1:31:07 AMNight of the Comet is by no means a "good" film by normal standards. It is rife with plotholes, clunky dialogue, and B-movie acting. HOWEVER, I can't help but enjoy it. It is 80s in every sense of the word and I am irrevocably drawn to it despite all of its flaws. Set in LA during a fictional comet strike, the plot revolves around sisters Samantha and Regina who must survive on their own after the comet's...well, I don't know what, but people either turned into orange dust or flesh-eating zombies. (I know you're already wondering what's not to like aout this flick). I'm sure in other hands it could be fleshed out and turned into some sort of Omega Man knock-off, but it's the corniness that makes this movie. As I've said, the acting and story are what you'd expect from a Sci Fi Channel weekend movie. The lead actors don't put on terrible performances, but some of the lines they have to run through are hilarious in their own right. ("We can say fuck, but let's substitute 'have sex' with 'get with' at every opportunity") There also isn't a whole lot of character development, and there's an entire sequence that seems utterly superfluous outside of watching Star Trek vet Robbie Beltran fight off a zombie child for ten minutes. But I'm not watching this film for some deep artistic statement. I'm watching this film because it's simple 80s goodness in every sense of the phrase. Someone was hard at work on the synthesizer to score just about every second of the movie and I enjoyed all of it. I'm a sucker for 8-bit sound. The dress, hairstyles, arcade games, and random shopping mall montages all scream the decade they shot this thing in, and that's why I enjoy it. You won't be able to sit me down for those Sci Fi Channel weekend flicks, but tell me it's got a synthesizer soundtrack and was shot in 1984 and I'm there with a bag of popcorn. At its heart, Night of the Comet is pure 80s flash. It may not sit well with anyone who was born at the wrong time, but for a product of the 80s and 90s, it's a nostalgia trip in the cheap seats with the bubble gum that sticks to your feet and the (you hope it's a) soda stain on tthe upholstery. I make no excuses for the cinematic quality or artistic merit of this fillm. I will say that I enjoyed every bit of it. Spout Post: Touch of Evil http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/2/26/40659.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 2/26/2009 11:45:54 PM
Body: I suppose it should be noted that, before I continue, I am commenting on the so-called "director's cut" that is supposedly as much the director's cut as that of Blade Runner. From what I have been told, the studio threw in as much footage as possible whether it perhaps belonged or not. It is clear that you can see Orson Welle's style behind the shots and composition, but it is clear there are elements of this film that belonged on the editing room floor. The story is clearly B-movie material, but it still doesn't meet up to my expectations of what to expect from a B-movie by Orson Welles. The biggest issue I noticed is the pacing. Throughout the entire ordeal, it is very difficult to figure out how this plot moves along. Characters show up that appear all of three times and have histories that are never really explored, while two dimensional characters show up all throughout the film and stick around solely to annoy and build tension. I can understand having fun with things like trying to play Charleton Heston off as a Mexican native, but when the film feels twice as long as it should, all the good moments get lost in the clunkers. I am not refuting the directing prowess of Orson Welles. Clearly there are moments in this flick I found enjoyable. The problem is they are too few and far between scenes that make little to no sense. I think seeing a different, more condensed version would have benefited my ability to enjoy it greaty. When I get the chance to watch a different version, I'll offer another judgement. However, this cut was clearly not the definitive version.
]]>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:45:54 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog2/26/2009 11:45:54 PMI suppose it should be noted that, before I continue, I am commenting on the so-called "director's cut" that is supposedly as much the director's cut as that of Blade Runner. From what I have been told, the studio threw in as much footage as possible whether it perhaps belonged or not. It is clear that you can see Orson Welle's style behind the shots and composition, but it is clear there are elements of this film that belonged on the editing room floor. The story is clearly B-movie material, but it still doesn't meet up to my expectations of what to expect from a B-movie by Orson Welles. The biggest issue I noticed is the pacing. Throughout the entire ordeal, it is very difficult to figure out how this plot moves along. Characters show up that appear all of three times and have histories that are never really explored, while two dimensional characters show up all throughout the film and stick around solely to annoy and build tension. I can understand having fun with things like trying to play Charleton Heston off as a Mexican native, but when the film feels twice as long as it should, all the good moments get lost in the clunkers. I am not refuting the directing prowess of Orson Welles. Clearly there are moments in this flick I found enjoyable. The problem is they are too few and far between scenes that make little to no sense. I think seeing a different, more condensed version would have benefited my ability to enjoy it greaty. When I get the chance to watch a different version, I'll offer another judgement. However, this cut was clearly not the definitive version. Spout Post: Zack and Miri Make a Porno http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/2/17/40511.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 2/17/2009 10:49:34 PM
Body: I should probably start by saying that I am a rabid Kevin Smith fan. This is not to say I think he can do no wrong, but one day I would be more than happy to be as successful as he is today. On small budgets and short, indie style shoots, Smith has acquired a fanbase most directors at his level don't possess. He's turned into that aloof musician that releases an album every few years and you hope it'll be just as good, if not better, than the last. Zack and Miri Make a Porno, while not my all time favorite of his films, delivers on most parts and despite its faults remains a genuinely funny movie. The film stars Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks as high school friends and roomates who are forced to film a porno in order to make payment on their month's behind bills. The cast is much more high profile than any of Smith's other films, and some might even be mislead to believe it is a Judd Apatow production. That being said, the acting is also of a higher calibur than most of his films. Seth Rogen isn't breaking any ground playing the deadpan, chunky lead, but he fills the shoes well. As a fellow writer I always look forward to hearing what dialogue will be coming out of Smith's characters next. The outrageous one-liners and vulgar ten minute conversations on God knows what always makes me laugh. He appeals to my baser instincts but also my wit; and I am rewarded for catching his inside geek/dork references (ie. Monroeville Zombies) strewn throughout the movie. I expect no less from Smith, and if nothing else he makes me laugh for an hour and a half. The weakness of this film seems to lie deep in its plot between the second and third acts. Up until this point the pacing of the movie feels comfortable. Instead of taking another twenty or so minutes to keep the pace going, Smith jumps the timeline ahead three months and resolves most of the conflicts too easily. I have no problem with fairly happy endings in Kevin Smith's films, but this just didn't feel natural and felt more like he took a shortcut to get us to the end of the movie. While this hurts the film, it doesn't mean it makes it unwatchable. Kevin Smith is the everyman's filmmaker. None of his films have won Oscars (these days I'd take that as a point of pride) and they aren't always deep. They do all manage to make me laugh, and you can still put them above all the poorly made remakes, reboots, sequels, prequels, adaptations, and [insert genre here] movie parodies. He's vulgar, dark, witty, and laughably funny. And although Zack and Miri has some mechanical flaws in its bones, it still fits the bill for an entertaining Smith flick.
]]>Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:49:34 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog2/17/2009 10:49:34 PMI should probably start by saying that I am a rabid Kevin Smith fan. This is not to say I think he can do no wrong, but one day I would be more than happy to be as successful as he is today. On small budgets and short, indie style shoots, Smith has acquired a fanbase most directors at his level don't possess. He's turned into that aloof musician that releases an album every few years and you hope it'll be just as good, if not better, than the last. Zack and Miri Make a Porno, while not my all time favorite of his films, delivers on most parts and despite its faults remains a genuinely funny movie. The film stars Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks as high school friends and roomates who are forced to film a porno in order to make payment on their month's behind bills. The cast is much more high profile than any of Smith's other films, and some might even be mislead to believe it is a Judd Apatow production. That being said, the acting is also of a higher calibur than most of his films. Seth Rogen isn't breaking any ground playing the deadpan, chunky lead, but he fills the shoes well. As a fellow writer I always look forward to hearing what dialogue will be coming out of Smith's characters next. The outrageous one-liners and vulgar ten minute conversations on God knows what always makes me laugh. He appeals to my baser instincts but also my wit; and I am rewarded for catching his inside geek/dork references (ie. Monroeville Zombies) strewn throughout the movie. I expect no less from Smith, and if nothing else he makes me laugh for an hour and a half. The weakness of this film seems to lie deep in its plot between the second and third acts. Up until this point the pacing of the movie feels comfortable. Instead of taking another twenty or so minutes to keep the pace going, Smith jumps the timeline ahead three months and resolves most of the conflicts too easily. I have no problem with fairly happy endings in Kevin Smith's films, but this just didn't feel natural and felt more like he took a shortcut to get us to the end of the movie. While this hurts the film, it doesn't mean it makes it unwatchable. Kevin Smith is the everyman's filmmaker. None of his films have won Oscars (these days I'd take that as a point of pride) and they aren't always deep. They do all manage to make me laugh, and you can still put them above all the poorly made remakes, reboots, sequels, prequels, adaptations, and [insert genre here] movie parodies. He's vulgar, dark, witty, and laughably funny. And although Zack and Miri has some mechanical flaws in its bones, it still fits the bill for an entertaining Smith flick. Spout Post: Citizen Kane http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/2/17/40510.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 2/17/2009 10:07:14 PM
Body: Few films can claim the laurels rested on Citizen Kane. Fewer still were made before 1960. Even today, Citizen Kane can be watched as if it were made yesterday. It serves as a testament to the film and the men behind it, namely Orson Welles, who propelled it to such a degree of fame among the film community. Loosely based off of newspaper mogul William Randolf Hearst, the film originally sparked controversy over the portrayal of the titular characters life. Today, however, it is an enjoyable trip back in time covering the societal climate from the 1890s to the early 1940s. There are a lot of things about this flick that are ahead of its time. The kind of shot composition and transition tricks used throughout the film are still eye catching. Sitting and watching it I wonder how they managed to pull off some of the things they did considering the year it was made. Also stunning are the sets and make-up, especially for the aging done to the characters. Welles was in his twenties when he played Kane, but made up to look like an eighty year old man, he didn't look too far removed from his physical appearance when he himself grew old. I still find it amazing how well made the film is considering the young cast and crew. It was also unheard of at the time for a director to have complete creative control over his work, yet Welles managed to do that as well with this project. Its length may be a turn-off for younger viewers, but it should absolutely be required viewing for anyone entering the film industry. It serves as both an inspiration and a benchmark for future and current filmmakers.
]]>Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:07:14 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog2/17/2009 10:07:14 PMFew films can claim the laurels rested on Citizen Kane. Fewer still were made before 1960. Even today, Citizen Kane can be watched as if it were made yesterday. It serves as a testament to the film and the men behind it, namely Orson Welles, who propelled it to such a degree of fame among the film community. Loosely based off of newspaper mogul William Randolf Hearst, the film originally sparked controversy over the portrayal of the titular characters life. Today, however, it is an enjoyable trip back in time covering the societal climate from the 1890s to the early 1940s. There are a lot of things about this flick that are ahead of its time. The kind of shot composition and transition tricks used throughout the film are still eye catching. Sitting and watching it I wonder how they managed to pull off some of the things they did considering the year it was made. Also stunning are the sets and make-up, especially for the aging done to the characters. Welles was in his twenties when he played Kane, but made up to look like an eighty year old man, he didn't look too far removed from his physical appearance when he himself grew old. I still find it amazing how well made the film is considering the young cast and crew. It was also unheard of at the time for a director to have complete creative control over his work, yet Welles managed to do that as well with this project. Its length may be a turn-off for younger viewers, but it should absolutely be required viewing for anyone entering the film industry. It serves as both an inspiration and a benchmark for future and current filmmakers. Spout Post: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/2/15/40475.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 2/15/2009 7:33:53 PM
Body: I'm not really sure why they're remaking this film. I like most of Tony Scott's stuff, but I don't know what else can be brought to the table after watching this version of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. Filled with dark humor and New York cynicism, it definitely speaks of the urban climate in the seventies, but also of the attitude most New Yorkers have on a daily basis to this day. I'm also a bit of a trainspotter, so anything dealing with trains/subways I always have a vested interest in. The flick has a brilliant cast from Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw to even Jerry Stiller. More than anything its fun to see these guys as they were more than thirty years ago before Jaws even came out. The choice of giving some of these roles to comedians definitely helped in adding the grim humor to the entire situation. Couple that with the soundtrack and it's a film that screams the seventies. It matches the kind of style everybody was used to during the first half of that decade and paints an interesting picture to future generations (moi) looking back. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is a pretty simple heist film with the twist of it being on the subway. The good guys win, the bad guys get killed, and a few hostages get popped along the way. But what is interesting is that "along the way" part. Seeing how people react to this insane situation and how they get from A to B to C. Its what makes the story worth watching, and if you're as deranged as me you'll even get a few laughs out of it.
]]>Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:33:53 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog2/15/2009 7:33:53 PMI'm not really sure why they're remaking this film. I like most of Tony Scott's stuff, but I don't know what else can be brought to the table after watching this version of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. Filled with dark humor and New York cynicism, it definitely speaks of the urban climate in the seventies, but also of the attitude most New Yorkers have on a daily basis to this day. I'm also a bit of a trainspotter, so anything dealing with trains/subways I always have a vested interest in. The flick has a brilliant cast from Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw to even Jerry Stiller. More than anything its fun to see these guys as they were more than thirty years ago before Jaws even came out. The choice of giving some of these roles to comedians definitely helped in adding the grim humor to the entire situation. Couple that with the soundtrack and it's a film that screams the seventies. It matches the kind of style everybody was used to during the first half of that decade and paints an interesting picture to future generations (moi) looking back. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is a pretty simple heist film with the twist of it being on the subway. The good guys win, the bad guys get killed, and a few hostages get popped along the way. But what is interesting is that "along the way" part. Seeing how people react to this insane situation and how they get from A to B to C. Its what makes the story worth watching, and if you're as deranged as me you'll even get a few laughs out of it. Spout Post: Stalker http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/2/15/40470.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 2/15/2009 12:38:33 AM
Body: Up until this point, there is only one film that I've ever seen that I could label as an "abstract film". That film is none other than Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. It means so many different things to so many different people, and that's where its appeal lies. I can now add Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker to that short list. Unfettered by exposition or backstory, Stalker is a film that relies only on what you see and hear for the two and a half hours it is playing. When it is over, it leaves you to decide what it means. The story revolves around an enigmatic "Zone" that the government is keeping everyone from visiting, for fear they'll reach an infamous room fabled to grant your deepest wish. The path to the room is arduous and often deadly, and on top of that, its traps change on a random basis. Enter our main character, one of the guides, called stalkers, designated to lead people through the deadly terrain. On this particular day he is taking a writer and a scientist to the room to have their wishes granted, and we learn more about them as they go along. Tarkovsky may very well be Kubrick's Russian counterpart as far as visual style goes. Every shot is maticulously planned and set up. Nothing appears in a shot that isn't supposed to be there, and everything that is has a purpose to it. As per his style, the pacing of the plot moves along at a hum drum speed, most shots lasting for entire minutes, making you feel like the story is taking place in realtime. It's not something for the riddalin children of the world, but if you are patient enough to sit through it, it pays off. The thing I enjoyed most about this film was how introspective and interpretive it is. It is never explained exactly what the Zone is or why it's being cut off from the populace. It is widely suggested that it is serving as an allegory for religion in an athiest state (as the situation was in the Soviet Union), but it could easily serve as a metaphor for scores of any other things. The idea of the writer, the scientist, and the guide, all passionately devoted to their fields, are brought to this one place all to have their wishes fulfilled makes you think. And their dialogue provides you with more than enough mental food to chew on. Stalker is one of those films that isn't going to appeal to everyone, but will mean a great deal to the ones it connects with. It is my first venture into Russian cinema, and I am impressed by what I have seen by it. The film will entertain you not with flashy explosions and visual effects or even snappy dialogue and "hilarious" antics. It will entertain you because it will make you think. And a film that makes you think is always worth watching in my book.
]]>Sun, 15 Feb 2009 05:38:33 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog2/15/2009 12:38:33 AMUp until this point, there is only one film that I've ever seen that I could label as an "abstract film". That film is none other than Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. It means so many different things to so many different people, and that's where its appeal lies. I can now add Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker to that short list. Unfettered by exposition or backstory, Stalker is a film that relies only on what you see and hear for the two and a half hours it is playing. When it is over, it leaves you to decide what it means. The story revolves around an enigmatic "Zone" that the government is keeping everyone from visiting, for fear they'll reach an infamous room fabled to grant your deepest wish. The path to the room is arduous and often deadly, and on top of that, its traps change on a random basis. Enter our main character, one of the guides, called stalkers, designated to lead people through the deadly terrain. On this particular day he is taking a writer and a scientist to the room to have their wishes granted, and we learn more about them as they go along. Tarkovsky may very well be Kubrick's Russian counterpart as far as visual style goes. Every shot is maticulously planned and set up. Nothing appears in a shot that isn't supposed to be there, and everything that is has a purpose to it. As per his style, the pacing of the plot moves along at a hum drum speed, most shots lasting for entire minutes, making you feel like the story is taking place in realtime. It's not something for the riddalin children of the world, but if you are patient enough to sit through it, it pays off. The thing I enjoyed most about this film was how introspective and interpretive it is. It is never explained exactly what the Zone is or why it's being cut off from the populace. It is widely suggested that it is serving as an allegory for religion in an athiest state (as the situation was in the Soviet Union), but it could easily serve as a metaphor for scores of any other things. The idea of the writer, the scientist, and the guide, all passionately devoted to their fields, are brought to this one place all to have their wishes fulfilled makes you think. And their dialogue provides you with more than enough mental food to chew on. Stalker is one of those films that isn't going to appeal to everyone, but will mean a great deal to the ones it connects with. It is my first venture into Russian cinema, and I am impressed by what I have seen by it. The film will entertain you not with flashy explosions and visual effects or even snappy dialogue and "hilarious" antics. It will entertain you because it will make you think. And a film that makes you think is always worth watching in my book. Spout Post: Pan's Labyrinth http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/2/13/40437.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 2/13/2009 1:18:12 AM
Body: Guillermo del Toro is a very visual director. I was introduced to him through his earlier flick, The Devil's Backbone, and was enticed by his melding gritty realism with the supernatural. In Pan's Labyrinth he return's to Franco's Spain to tell another tale of a child stuck in a bad situation. I think I still enjoy the Devil's Backbone more, but Pan's Labyrinth definitely holds its own and was crucial in establishing del Toro's presence on the American filmmaking scene. The film begins in 1944 in Spain after the end of the Spanish Civil War. Ofelia is unfortunately thrown into the middle of the woods at a fascist camp because her mother has remarried and is having the child of one Captain Vidal. Shortly after arriving, she discovers a magical prophecy that may prove her to be some form of underworld royalty. With the help of a faun, she goes about the tasks of allowing herself into this fantastical world. Compelling and original stories are hard to come by these days, and I have to give props to del Toro for managing to pull another one off. Although things start slow, Pan's Labyrinth doesn't hold back on the shocking and disturbing moments once the plot starts moving. A fan of conventional effects over CGI, del Toro's penchan shows well in his rather sparse use of visual effects in a film that would probably warrant twice his budget of $19 million alone. His art direction, as usual, is his biggest strength. He can convince you of the mystical creatures residing in this forest, but also that they can reside right next to a historical conflict. Instead of worrying how fascists and fairies fit in the same film, we actually focus on the story. I've heard that some of the roles in this flick were cast against their usual genre. Comedians playing sadists, sex kittens playing plain janes, etc. Although I am not fluent in Spanish, their visual performance was spot on and I sensed no awkwardness or clunky line deliveries. It may have been a gamble, but I think it paid off. Ivana Baquero, who plays Ofelia, conveys the curiosity and naivety required for the part and does well with it. Considering the film's success it should be interesting to see where she goes from here. It was a little too slowly paced in the first act, and certain characterizations like the true motives of the faun aren't explored to the extent I think they could be. Like I've said, I prefer The Devil's Backbone, but Pan's Labyrinth is still a good film. I'll always be willing to sit down for a good yarn from del Toro, and if nothing else they're fun to look at.
]]>Fri, 13 Feb 2009 06:18:12 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog2/13/2009 1:18:12 AMGuillermo del Toro is a very visual director. I was introduced to him through his earlier flick, The Devil's Backbone, and was enticed by his melding gritty realism with the supernatural. In Pan's Labyrinth he return's to Franco's Spain to tell another tale of a child stuck in a bad situation. I think I still enjoy the Devil's Backbone more, but Pan's Labyrinth definitely holds its own and was crucial in establishing del Toro's presence on the American filmmaking scene. The film begins in 1944 in Spain after the end of the Spanish Civil War. Ofelia is unfortunately thrown into the middle of the woods at a fascist camp because her mother has remarried and is having the child of one Captain Vidal. Shortly after arriving, she discovers a magical prophecy that may prove her to be some form of underworld royalty. With the help of a faun, she goes about the tasks of allowing herself into this fantastical world. Compelling and original stories are hard to come by these days, and I have to give props to del Toro for managing to pull another one off. Although things start slow, Pan's Labyrinth doesn't hold back on the shocking and disturbing moments once the plot starts moving. A fan of conventional effects over CGI, del Toro's penchan shows well in his rather sparse use of visual effects in a film that would probably warrant twice his budget of $19 million alone. His art direction, as usual, is his biggest strength. He can convince you of the mystical creatures residing in this forest, but also that they can reside right next to a historical conflict. Instead of worrying how fascists and fairies fit in the same film, we actually focus on the story. I've heard that some of the roles in this flick were cast against their usual genre. Comedians playing sadists, sex kittens playing plain janes, etc. Although I am not fluent in Spanish, their visual performance was spot on and I sensed no awkwardness or clunky line deliveries. It may have been a gamble, but I think it paid off. Ivana Baquero, who plays Ofelia, conveys the curiosity and naivety required for the part and does well with it. Considering the film's success it should be interesting to see where she goes from here. It was a little too slowly paced in the first act, and certain characterizations like the true motives of the faun aren't explored to the extent I think they could be. Like I've said, I prefer The Devil's Backbone, but Pan's Labyrinth is still a good film. I'll always be willing to sit down for a good yarn from del Toro, and if nothing else they're fun to look at. Spout Post: American Psycho http://www.spout.com/blogs/mconrad3/archive/2009/2/13/40436.aspx Post By: mconrad3
Post To: mconrad3 Blog
Post Date: 2/13/2009 12:52:03 AM
Body: To say that American Psycho is one of the funniest movies I've seen is probably a testament to my sick sense of humor. It's full of satire and insanity and plenty of dark humor. The odd thing is I can't seem to come up with enough things to say about it because it can be summed up so simply. I know people criticize Christian Bale's acting, but had he reversed roles with Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight, I'm convinced he would have been able to pull it off.The unmitigated violence and sex is completely appropriate because it only seems to add to the humor of this psychotic character. On the flip side, there's also this sense of baring witness to Bateman's neurosis firsthand. In the end of the film, you aren't sure whether anything you just saw actually happened, or if it was just a deranged fantasy. All the characters are painted as two-dimensionally as they would in a comedy and some of the events are so bizarre and difficult to explain that you question reality at any level. It is that surrealism, however, that allows you to disconnect enough to laugh at things you'd normally feel sick watching. The social commentary on 80s yuppie culture is priceless as well. After spending ten minutes with Batemen and his circle of friends, it's no wonder he starts them off. American Psycho is just one of those movies that can pull off all these seemingly incongruous elements together and still be entertaining. Sure it'll leave you scratching your head thinking if you choose to, but you could also just sit down and turn your brain off and still enjoy it.
]]>Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:52:03 GMTmconrad3mconrad3 Blog2/13/2009 12:52:03 AMTo say that American Psycho is one of the funniest movies I've seen is probably a testament to my sick sense of humor. It's full of satire and insanity and plenty of dark humor. The odd thing is I can't seem to come up with enough things to say about it because it can be summed up so simply. I know people criticize Christian Bale's acting, but had he reversed roles with Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight, I'm convinced he would have been able to pull it off.The unmitigated violence and sex is completely appropriate because it only seems to add to the humor of this psychotic character. On the flip side, there's also this sense of baring witness to Bateman's neurosis firsthand. In the end of the film, you aren't sure whether anything you just saw actually happened, or if it was just a deranged fantasy. All the characters are painted as two-dimensionally as they would in a comedy and some of the events are so bizarre and difficult to explain that you question reality at any level. It is that surrealism, however, that allows you to disconnect enough to laugh at things you'd normally feel sick watching. The social commentary on 80s yuppie culture is priceless as well. After spending ten minutes with Batemen and his circle of friends, it's no wonder he starts them off. American Psycho is just one of those movies that can pull off all these seemingly incongruous elements together and still be entertaining. Sure it'll leave you scratching your head thinking if you choose to, but you could also just sit down and turn your brain off and still enjoy it. Spout Member:The_MOW - Mickey Micklon http://www.spout.com/members/148616/default.aspx Identity: The_MOW
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMTfire13110Beginner (<10)Sat, 01 Sep 2007 21:48:24 GMTMember Spout Member:Argueta http://www.spout.com/members/91469/default.aspx Identity: Argueta
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMTArgueta0Beginner (<10)Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:52:15 GMTMember Film:Funny Games http://www.spout.com/films/Funny_Games/288707/default.aspx Title: Funny Games
Year: 2007
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]]>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:47:00 GMTFunny Games2007Michael Haneke27Tag Target (>10)241483http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s288707.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Funny_Games/288707/default.aspxFilm Film:The Dark Knight http://www.spout.com/films/The_Dark_Knight/288704/default.aspx Title: The Dark Knight
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:13:34 GMTThe Dark Knight2008Christopher Nolan149Tag Target (>10)98156554http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s288704.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Dark_Knight/288704/default.aspxFilm Film:H2 http://www.spout.com/films/H2/397884/default.aspx Title: H2
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:45:58 GMTH22009Rob Zombie111http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s397884.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/H2/397884/default.aspxFilm Film:Eleanor: First Lady of the World http://www.spout.com/films/Eleanor_First_Lady_of_the_World/10331/default.aspx Title: Eleanor: First Lady of the World
Year: 1982
Director: John Erman
Number of blog posts: 1
]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:47:51 GMTEleanor: First Lady of the World1982John Erman1http://www.spout.com/images/no_image.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Eleanor_First_Lady_of_the_World/10331/default.aspxFilm Film:Black Test Car http://www.spout.com/films/Black_Test_Car/328181/default.aspx Title: Black Test Car
Year: 1962
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]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 23:01:54 GMTBlack Test Car196224http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u37747stl5z.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Black_Test_Car/328181/default.aspxFilm Film:Dumpster Baby http://www.spout.com/films/Dumpster_Baby/273527/default.aspx Title: Dumpster Baby
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]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:53:10 GMTDumpster BabyJames Bickert1http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t76920jjhow.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Dumpster_Baby/273527/default.aspxFilm Film:Rick http://www.spout.com/films/Rick/235722/default.aspx Title: Rick
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]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:32:48 GMTRick2002Curtiss Clayton1Slightly Tagged (1-5)12http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t51978e8qnf.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Rick/235722/default.aspxFilm Film:Speed Racer http://www.spout.com/films/Speed_Racer/297765/default.aspx Title: Speed Racer
Year: 2008
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]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:21:45 GMTSpeed Racer2008Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski90Tag Target (>10)1641163http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s297765.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Speed_Racer/297765/default.aspxFilm Film:Speed Racer [Anime Series] http://www.spout.com/films/Speed_Racer_Anime_Series/32330/default.aspx Title: Speed Racer [Anime Series]
Year: 1967
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]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:20:43 GMTSpeed Racer [Anime Series]19671113http://www.spout.com/images/no_image.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Speed_Racer_Anime_Series/32330/default.aspxFilm Film:The Raven http://www.spout.com/films/The_Raven/317289/default.aspx Title: The Raven
Year: 2007
Director: Ulli Lommel
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]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:13:53 GMTThe Raven2007Ulli Lommel21http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u08974fjkcg.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Raven/317289/default.aspxFilm Film:The Ballad of the Sad Cafe http://www.spout.com/films/The_Ballad_of_the_Sad_Cafe/2239/default.aspx Title: The Ballad of the Sad Cafe
Year: 1991
Director: Simon Callow
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]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:25:24 GMTThe Ballad of the Sad Cafe1991Simon Callow22http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t54643em1b1.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Ballad_of_the_Sad_Cafe/2239/default.aspxFilm Film:New York, New York http://www.spout.com/films/New_York_New_York/24524/default.aspx Title: New York, New York
Year: 1977
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]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:22:40 GMTNew York, New York1977Martin Scorsese23Tag Target (>10)125722http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47828gvtpe.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/New_York_New_York/24524/default.aspxFilm Film:St. Nick http://www.spout.com/films/St_Nick/402616/default.aspx Title: St. Nick
Year: 2009
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]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:01:06 GMTSt. Nick2009David Lowery3Slightly Tagged (1-5)255http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s402616.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/St_Nick/402616/default.aspxFilm Film:We Are the Strange http://www.spout.com/films/We_Are_the_Strange/314016/default.aspx Title: We Are the Strange
Year: 2007
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]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:25:52 GMTWe Are the Strange2007M dot Strange334http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s314016.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/We_Are_the_Strange/314016/default.aspxFilm Film:The Sadist http://www.spout.com/films/The_Sadist/29811/default.aspx Title: The Sadist
Year: 1963
Director: James Landis
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]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:08:29 GMTThe Sadist1963James Landis43http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t27402rl1sl.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Sadist/29811/default.aspxFilm Film:The Alligator People http://www.spout.com/films/The_Alligator_People/50507/default.aspx Title: The Alligator People
Year: 1959
Director: Roy Del Ruth
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]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:04:19 GMTThe Alligator People1959Roy Del Ruth212http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t46806zj8ua.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Alligator_People/50507/default.aspxFilm