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nerd85 Blog

  • Fragments of watchable cinema.

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    I like Ellen Page a lot. My brother owns a fair amount of her filmography and for good reason...this unfortunately, isn't one of them. I got to the 30 minute mark and I consider 20 minutes a decent test of whether I can invest emotion into a film. A bad practice on my part, but I try to avoid watching something that feels like a chore to finish. I found it hard to invest much of anything into even a single scene of The Tracey Fragements, because it didn't want to let me.

    Despite the ADHD editing, the characterization (if painfully flat) is set up quickly enough to leave out the guess work. It has to be. And since damning a film for being artistically and conceptually unique is against pretty much everything I stand for, I respect the vision.  


  • Do we all in fact live in a Yellow Submarine?

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    Yellow Submarine  (1968)

    Once in a while, there's a dvd that for no other reasons than availability, I am glad I bought. I'm not saying this is the case, but after a bit of research...this is not an easy find, especially for only 6 bucks!

    I have seen this only once before, on a library rental vhs, but transfer quality is really quite good. The songs sound full even broken into 5.1 and as cliche as it may sound, jump out of every channel. A plot analysis, however might not be a fair angle to go after. There is a clever (and lightly masked) social commentary-inspired plot, but the  emphasis is definitely on the music. A broadway-esque sensation, this is not. But only in a trippy, pop art style animation could this be possible. The expectations were low for Yellow Submarine in 1968, but for us Beatle fans, expectations take a back seat to the experience itself.


  • The Darkest Yet...

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    I'll be short. This isn't the best book in the series. It's a set-up for the grand finale and the tone of the film...got me a little excited, honestly. It was bleak and hit just enough points of the source material to carry it. There is some of the heaviest emotion weighing on these characters and it shows. There's a few laughs, a few cries and even a few zombies. Plus without debate, the best special effects of the series despite no climactic action to feature them in full swing.


  • Solid early Kurosawa

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    The Quiet Duel  (1949)

    My brother found this for me in a used section and desperate to get my hands on any Akira Kurosawa, I didn't think twice. I guess it's not an easy one to find either, especially since it seems to be his only feature NOT in the Criterion.

    Anyway...getting past the dated scenario and ideals, this is a very watchable early drama. Performances are strong and the passion comes through the less-than-perfect dialogue. Kurosawa manages to get the most out of the poorly constructed hospital sets and lights the small spaces to great effect. There are some hearted scenes between Toshiro Mifune's character and his father as well in a scene of the two lighting their cigarettes, short but effective...even managed to squeeze a fart joke in (out of place, but funny). As I re-watch Seven Samurai and Yojimbo (in my newly purchased Criterion sets) I may apperciate this simple offer.


  • Not another teen movie...or comic book movie...or comic book teen movie.

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    Ghost World  (2001)

    I saw this on tv shortly after it came out of theaters. I enjoyed it (hard not to) but even as a teenager, I didn't get it. Sure I knew girls like this at my high school, albeit not quite as cut-out. Now that I'm 23...I totally get it. I found bits of myself in the three main characters. Do I want to grow up? Do I ever want to get rid of my treasured collectables and pretend that I'm like everyone else? Do I want to color my hair green while listening to the Buzzcocks?  


  • odd little fatasy film

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    Legend  (1985)

     Coming from someone who has seen this about 10 times as a kid, this is still a weird film. You'd think with the decent cast and director this could have been the next Lord of the Rings, but it is far from it. Don't get me wrong it's still a strong entry in the Fantasy genre (no better decade than the 80's) but I grew up with the theatrical cut. I have read the original screenplay but haven't seen the Directors cut...I like the Tangerine Dream score too much.

  • Lost gem

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     I recently bought a vhs copy about a month ago ($2.00!) from a local flea market. I had been looking for some kind of copy for years and my patience was finally rewarded.

     This is truly a film that, although not as intelligent as a Miyazaki film, can still impress those who remember it from youth. Detailed animation, rich visuals and nostalgiac glaze all over. One forgotten classic I wouldn't mind having re-made as a gorgeous live action family flick.


 

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