Random Thoughts

I saw Ed Wood for the nth time last night. I've never did a proper review of the film, mind you for i've never seen the footage oustide the television box which of course, you knew, how much i hated watching films on TV (those commercial breaks, unnecessary cuts). Well, anyway, Ed Wood was a Tim Burton's film which depicted the live of one Edward D. Wood Jr. who many believed (i was excluded, for i've never seen his films) as The Worst Director of All Time. Now that was a grand title to be given to a person. And it didn't just merely said "A Bad Director", but "THE Worst Director" with capital "THE". Just waw.

It was one of the scene on the Ed Wood that actually prompt me to wrote about this random thoughts (what's so random about it anyway?). On one scene, Ed Wood was in bed with his lover, after a disastrous review he had received from his effort on theaterical play he directs. He says to his lover, "I was bad", and she says, in comforting voice all lover always seem to had, "You know, it's just one review". "Well, you know, Orson Wells wrote, stars, and direct 'Citizen Kane' when he was twenty-five and i'm already thirty", was his answers.

I was dumbfounded. Yeah, Citizen Kane a film that has been granted as the Greatest Film ever made by AFI (American Film Institute) was made by a guy whose age was 4 monhts away from my current-age. Immediately, my mind turned to Haute Tension. A 2003 horror film which i thought was one of the best and most original that the genre has seen for about.. oh, a decade? It was made by Alexandre Aja. And he was just twenty-three back then. And oh, its success has brought him to Hollywood where he was given a helmet to re-made The Hills Have Eyes, again, a decent re-make horror flicks if i ever see one.

All this success achieved in such a young age, always able to caught my attention and made me think. Damn! where was i? Where am i fit into this? i was practically going nowhere these last two years. I had so much wasted time. I was too concentrated on what other's think of me, and never thought of myself.. I was giving too much and never recieve any. Makes me really wanted to scream. Focus! Damn it! Focus!

Date Movie (2006)

United States, 2006
Cast: I dont care
Director: I really dont care either
My Rating: 0 / **** (only because i can't give negative scores on my sheet)

First of all, my man, James Berardinelli didn't reviewed this film so i dont put the movie's poster on this review as well. But instead, i grab a picture from New York Times which i think really say what i think about this film, "disgusting".

Once in a while, especially when my life was harsh, and my mind was heavy, i needed a stupid film so i could, you know, contemplating about what had happened to me, but mean-while, at the same time some foreign sounds would snapped my twigs and brought me back from whatever i had in mind before it's blogging my mind into further state of depression. And also, usually, i ended up cursing about the film in question and for a moment could really forgotten what i had in mind. And that was a very acceptable diversion.

Anyway, "Date Movie" was supposed to be a spoof from a several comedy/romance genre films that we've witnessed over the years. But, however, i used to say that a spoof film was worked well when the audience knew what film it spoofed of. On "Date Movie", despite several popular films to be spoofed, Darth Vader for instance, Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers, Kill Bill stuffs, there are few (far too many) references that left the common audience dumbfounded. I was watching this film with a friend of mine, he was a year older than me. He said that the movie was full with useless scenes. While i was fully agreed with him, mine was entirely on different reasons with him. Take this fake orgasms scene. I was surprised when he said, "what's the point of this scene?". That scene was stupid, not funny, and overlong, but i was immediately known that it was taken from "When Harry Met Sally" only the role was reversed. For on "When Harry Met Sally", Meg Ryan (female) doing a fake orgasm, on this film, it was the male (i dont care who he is) that doing a fake orgasm without any apparent reasons, and even without any apparent correlation with the scenes before or after. Hence, stupid, not funny, and overlong. But, alas, i was managed to give a chuckle. Only because i remembered Meg Ryan, not because the scene was actually funny.

All in all, let me back to where i started. This film was fake, stupid, and disgusting. I must warn you, only, just only if you were on my state (with weary mind, and harsh day) you should really consider of watching this movie. Hell, even Scary Movie's 2nd installment was better executed. And if you knew me, though Scary Movie series were my guilty preasure, to think about Scary Movie 2 always succeed in giving me shivers, and spat. Damn these stupid teenagers movies... i dont know, if this film was meant for teenagers, how come that there were several scenes that spoofed from the films that was made when they were still in their diapers, or worse yet, when they were still in their mom's womb, or still hinted on their pop's sperm... *what the hell am i talking about?*, *nudging head on the walls*.

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

United States, 2006
Cast: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tatou, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany
Director: Ron Howard
My Rating: ** / ****

I was one of those guys who happened to think that Da Vinci Code (the book) was highly over-praised. Not over-rated mind you, just over-praised. Everytime people say that "Whoa.. the book was superb!" i was immediately going into disgusted state and tried to shown how much i disliked the book. But again, not entirely disliked but simply because i dont think that the book was priviliged to recieve such praise. Truth be told, i wish to be distinguished from the common-folk by spotting the tiny holes in the book and turned it into a bigger hole yet.

Well, now let's talk about the movie. As a purist, i was usually read the book before i went to the movie which adapt the book in question. And so was the case with DVC (the film). I went to the cinema with full knowledge of how the story would evolve and the secret hidden under its sleeve. You may think that it would made my judgement to the film would be biased. But, again, i'm not the one who paid any mind for being spoiled.

The Da Vinci Code (the film) was meant to be a mystery / thriller. Easily judged by the way they executed the credit title, the way they bought the atmosphere, and the way they put those creepy sounds (which actually at some point really-really annoys me) all around. But as it turned out, too much expositions was spent between the thrills. Well, i know, it was inevitable for such things to happen. Mr. Howard was however, wanted to put as much essence from the book's story into 2:29 hours of movie time. And with many jargons and technical stuffs, it was actually pretty understandable to built the plot in such manner. However, i found that the plot was a little bit overlong. I dont know why. Maybe it was because none of the characters and their chemistry raised my interest beyond those 'controversy' that has been talked about since the book hit the world-wide shelves several years ago.

Even though led by superb actors / actress whose some of which are happen to be one of my favourite, they weren't given enough time to develop their characters from beyond the thin-paper the book gives. I sometimes winced when Sophie (Tatou) and Langdon (Hanks) doing their conversations. Mr Mc.Kellen however, gave a rather enjoyable performance. If i was about to mention my favourite scenes of the movie, i would certainly mentioned the scene where Teabing (McKellen) explains to Sophie about "The Last Supper" as one of those scenes.

But well, my take was, if you haven't read the book, you may enjoy this film (even though i could easily point out several people who hasn't read the book, but found the film was equally boring). If you have, by the way, you may also found the film (as i was) rather boring.

All in all, i would remember this film. Not because the film itself, but the situation that enabled me to watch this film (at theater, by the way, which something i haven't done in quite some-time).

News Flash

I'm in Love. i'm in Love. i'm in Love.

Quick Report

March 2006:

A History of Violence (2005) ***1/2 / ****
A pleasant departure from what many believed as a director who specialized in horror and disturbing pictures, David Cronenberg. A little bit dragging in the middle, the ending scene was moved. Best performance, in so far, from Viggo Mortensen. Clearly, one of the most under-appreciated film in 2005.

All About Eve (1950) ***1/2 / ****
It's a dog eat dog world... er.. i mean, girl eat girl world. In showbiz, one's innocence couldn't be held for what it is. As was Eve Harrington's innocence. From what looks like an innocence village girl who wanted to be a star to a wicked witch with many dirty schemes under her sleeve, Eve has it's all, and it's All About Eve. Also check Marlyn Monroe's quick performance. I never thought that she was THAT beautiful before.

The Seventh Seal (1957) *** / ****
A Knight came home to his castle from the Crusade. Only to come to a land where black plagues haunted every village and every living being. What make it worse, a grim reaper, a Death itself came confronted him in a game of chess, the very last game he was about to play. Packed full with subtlety and symbolism, this film was clearly not for everyone. Only recommended if you wanted to know what does Ingmar Bergman's take on religion, death, and god.

Mulholland Drive (2001) **** / ****
My first Lynch. I love it from start to finish. The haunted music, the surreality in Naomi Watts' expressions (and not to mention when she cried in the end of the film), the shocking twist, until the "what? why? and how?" questions that surely would surfaced after you finish the film and you see the end-credit rolls itself, you'd found yourself wanting more of this film, and thinking about it for days. Believe me, i do thinking about it, even after days.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) **1/2 / ****
Well..

Brokeback Mountain (2005) ** / ****
I dont understand about all the fusses about this film. It's about cowboys. It's about gay-thing. Sure, the cinematography and the soundtrack was beautiful. But, it doesn't give me what i want. The film was given too much attention on the unrequited and forbidden love between Heath Ledger's character and Jake Gyllenhaal's character. I found myself wanted to know more about Michelle William's character's take on the whole affair that befell on her husband. And when the film didn't give me what i want, i felt disappointed.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005) * / ****
Bla... bla.. bla... zzzzzz... what? what? huh? the film has ended? oh, well... i've read the book, i dont like it. I didn't expect anything from the film, and i didn't get anything except a good nap with earphones tucked on my ears.

City Lights (1931) ***1/2 / ****
My first Charlie Chaplin's. The story was well known, because i've seen it rehearsed or represented in various ways in recent modern cinemas. A poor guy fell in love with a blind flower girl, by some mischief and luck, this poor guy found enough money to cure the flower girl's blindness with somethin more to start a store. But when he comeback (with no intention to reveal his true identity to the girl) as a homeless, even poorer guy, the girl doesn't recognized him (of course). That is until, she hold his hand. Ow.. what the heck... i cried at the end of the film.

April 2006:

12 Angry Men (1957) **** / ****
I've always loved a film that situated in a single time-frame or a single set. This film has both. Twelve jury are about to decide a fate of the convicted murder. In order to do so, the jury must have anonymous vote regarding the fate (guilty or not guilty). I got hooked right from the first when the vote was 11 guilty and 1 not guilty. Superb dialogues. Superb chemistry between these 12 guys (who mostly only known as jury #1, jury #2, jury #3, and so forth).

Just Like Heaven (2005) *1/2 / ****
Too... many... in... consistent... logic... help. Hey, but Ms. Whiterspoon is quite a looker.

Saw 2 (2005) **1/2 / ****
I'm enjoying it, a tad better than the first one in fact. I liked the executions idea and methods, and i liked how this Jigsaw character held all the cards even before he was asked to play the game of cards.

Paths of Glory (1957) **** / ****
Of all the Kubrick's filmography that i've seen, i enjoyed this film the most. It's about human's greatest lust of power that even cheapen the life of other human being. When an ambush going awry, a general in charge decides to pull random men from his command to get executed as an example. What intriguing was, we the audiences clearly knew that the attack, the ambush was impossible even if the attacking forces were doubled. So, what happened to the wicked general? what happened to the men who deemed 'guilty of cowardice' and about to be executed? It's for you to find out. It's quite provoking, and emotional film in itself.

Hostel (2006) * / ****
First half of the film filled with bunch of eastern European ladies naked. Second half of the film filled with tortures, executions, bloods, fleshes, and gores. Since i watch this film only interested with the second film, i was greatly disappointed. Moreover, i didn't get much from the gore. Disclaimer: Even though i said that the gore wasn't much, a friend of mine had refused to watch the rest of the film after several minutes into the torture scene.