March of the robots

Previewreview

HarmlessAndroid — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 19:55:06 GMT

So I was feeling down on the new Transformers flick. That is, until I read this review over at Geeks of Doom (http://geeksofdoom.com/2007/06/29/movie-review-transformers/). Here is a short expert:

"Well thank GoD I wasn’t forced to settle! This summer’s blockbuster has finally arrived people. Only it’s not a mere blockbuster, it’s a two and a half hour atomic bomb… strapped to a roller-coaster… filled with snakes… on fire!"

I read that and was in. Nerds love it. I'm in. I will be there July 4th with my friends and we will love it. To get ready, we are watching this tonight: http://www.spout.com/films/35751/default.aspx

Unfortunately better than anything Gilliam successfully made

HarmlessAndroid — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 18:03:32 GMT

Lost in La Mancha made me realize something... Terry Gilliam can't really make movies. He can come up with really captivating ideas and he can run them into the ground through self-destructive madness. I would put Gilliam in the same bin as Herzog in terms of sheer madness when making films. The sad thing is that Gilliam doesn't have nearly as many successes. In short, watch this movie. It is a great view into his life and mind.

A fantastic small picture

HarmlessAndroid — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 14:55:23 GMT

This was a really good movie that surprised me in that it dealt with a lot more than graffiti. There are other good hip-hop graffiti flicks out there like Bomb the System and Style Wars, but The Graffiti Artist ends up being more a story about sexuality and finding your place when you are alone and poor.

Another interesting tid bit about The Graffiti Artist is that you have probably heard the soundtrack even though you have never seen the movie. NPR and This American Life use Kid Loco's powerful soundtrack constantly. You can get it on the cheap at emusic.

A great sequel

HarmlessAndroid — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:02:55 GMT

This movie expands and builds upon the great original. While not AS good, it is still an amazing flick. I really can't say much more than that. I personally appreciate that it stays true to classic zombie films. To do that there is pretty much one rule to follow... the zombies win. It is inevitable.

Ego indulgence or art?

HarmlessAndroid — Thu, 17 May 2007 17:32:00 GMT

I liked this movie, I really did. It is very slow, very tense, very emotional, very deep, very very. It is an Aronofsky movie. Somewhere I read that many view him to be the "next Kubrick." I think comparisons like that are generally unnecessary, but I can understand the desire to say that. Darren is definitely a director who values the lasting importance of his films. He is very choosy and generally hard to work with from what I have read. It is rare that a writer / director as young as him can get away with that anymore. He is one of a very few modern directors that seem completely in control of his cache of work. Wes Anderson is another that seems to be in that group.

That said, The Fountain, big ideas, that almost go over the brink into self-indulgence. But he holds it together. Looking forward to more.

How unfortunate

HarmlessAndroid — Mon, 07 May 2007 18:40:10 GMT

What a depressing movie. Just really bad. Spider-Man was so good for the first two (especially the second). Why some of the decisions that were made for this movie were allowed to fly is beyond me. The 2 dance sequences, the completely dopey acting that is strangely poor compared to the previous flicks.

If you want to know how good Spider-Man can be, I urge you to read Spider-Man: Reign by Kaare Andrews and the whole run of Amazing Spider-Man by J. Michael Strasynski. The current Amazing stuff starting with 539 is incredible and puts this movie to shame.

Sam Raimi... WHY?!?!?!?

One of the best things I have seen all year. Period.

HarmlessAndroid — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:16:26 GMT

What could be better than Grindhouse this year? Seeing a documentary about the star of Deathproof is what could be better. This is a really incredible story. The documentary starts off as two stories. One about Jeannie Epper, the stunt double from Wonder Woman and member of a legendary family of stunt-people. The second is about Zoe Bell, the stunt woman who began her career as the double for Lucy Lawless on Xena.

Their paths cross when Zoe is looking for work and Jeanie has her stay with her in California. The movie culminates in Zoe being discovered by a certain director and cast to double in a very popular 2-part epic.

This movie is just so good. I hate to say heart warming, but it really is. To see an out of work young woman, and a 60 year old experienced stunt woman come together like this is just really amazing. You feel like you are there at the beginning of something really important. After it all I just want to meet Zoe Bell. I want to shake her hand, give her a hug, she is such a positive and impressive person.

Typical American abuse of a concept

HarmlessAndroid — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:04:36 GMT

Why? Why do Americans feel the need to license and butcher movies from other countries. All the style with none of the flavor. It is like eating prop food. Mmm, tastes like foam and paint.

Good stuff

HarmlessAndroid — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:01:56 GMT

I think Korean directors have an incredible eye. Almost all Korean flicks I watch just look so damn good. Bloody Reunion is no exception. Aside from the unfortunate American title that is just too easy and obvious, this movie is a really entertaining ride. Well worth the watch.

Students get together, students argue, teacher demonized, really disturbing things happen (or do they). This has some good twists, and as is very common in asian cinema, a very BIG twist at the end.

In the mood for incredible action and style?

HarmlessAndroid — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:57:01 GMT

French people can't kick ass can they? Yes, yes they can actually.

Disctrict B13 is a near-future dystopian (sort of) action movie that takes you into the future ghettos of France where the unwanted and poor are kept inside and allowed to cause havoc and hopefully kill them selves off over time.

The action and cinematography are what this movie is all about. If you cheered and clapped in Casino Royale during the chase scene where Bond is jumping and flying through the air, this movie will make you grin. Why? Becuase that is all this movie really is. It is almost entirely one long chase.

Exhilarating, fun, and very very entertaining.