I wasn't going to use my next entry on Who Framed Roger Rabbit. It's a fun film and all and shows director Robert Zemeckis' growing comfort with technology that will allow him to go on to make Forrest Gump before he stepped too far into the Uncanny Valley of motion-capture film making. Quite frankly, if you use your massive computer technology to create a character that looks exactly like Tom Hanks, but not quite, and is voiced by him, why not use the actual Tom Hanks and not a (not really) reasonable facsimile? Pixar and others have shown you can have good animation without motion capture, and modern CGI means you can put actors into anything, but the hybrid just does. Not. Work. Not as the whole feature. Creating a nonhuman thing like Gollum or various apes, or anything played by Andy Serkis, really, interacting with real people seems fine, but those things are not meant to look like the actor playing him/her/it. When Dr. Manhattan has more humanity about him than half the cast of Beowulf, then you have problems.
But I am digressing. I was originally considering writing about the old Vincent Price horror film The Last Man on Earth next, but then I was flipping channels and found good ol' Roger on the Cartoon Network. I'd seen the movie a few hundred times as a kid and knew it fairly well. I remember seeing it in theaters and hearing the closest it comes to real profanity (the gorilla bouncer at Jessica's toon review nightclub calls Eddie Valiant a "wiseass") then be tamed to a different word for the Disney Channel ("wiseguy"). So, basically, I know the movie. And for reasons unknown, Cartoon Network cut the hell out of it. And the choices were baffling.
Take this exchange: Eddie, Roger, and Benny the cab are making a getaway from a pair of motorcycle cops and Judge Doom's weasels. Benny drives a bit recklessly, to say the least, and shoots down an alleyway.
Roger: Benny, they're right behind us!
Benny: Not for long, Roger!
(Benny spins around and is going backwards, facing the cops)
Benny: Now they're right in front of us!
Is it funny? From any other movie, probably not. For a movie about 1940s cartoons, yeah, it works. Now imagine that exchange, everything above happens, but Benny's punchline is absent.
That's what Cartoon Network did, and this was hardly the only example.
It's not even an offensive line, unless someone thought it was too bad to include.
Meanwhile, Jessica Rabbit's attempts to seduce Eddie in his office, complete with boob humor, stays intact.
I turned the movie off shortly thereafter.
Roger Rabbit is a nice curio. Disney tried to make Roger a star at the time, alongside Mickey Mouse as often as possible. I haven't seen Roger outside the movie and the handful of shorts he made in a while, so I don't know if some poor "castmember" is still wandering around DisneyWorld dressed like him. The at-the-time cutting edge special effects mean Roger and co. tote real world stuff, despite being two-dimensional beings (which largely works). And given the major crime being revealed is the birth of the Los Angelos freeway system, I've heard and can easily see Roger's story is the unofficial sequel to Chinatown. Truth be told, not many directors can get the feel of 1940s crazy animation down right, but Zemeckis did. Now, so long as the rumored all-motion-capture sequel aren't true, and he can actually do something again with live actors, I think that would be a good thing.
Given all the cameos, and how this will probably be the only time Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse share a screen (to say nothing about a certain pair of ducks), the attention to detail (Eddie's cartoon gun has a thank you plaque from Yosemite Sam on the inside of the case), there's not much to not like about this movie.
Unless some TV network cuts a lot out of it for no discernible reason.
Two more things: I read a plot summary of the novel the movie was based on once. Winston Groom has been less than happy about the changes made to his novel for the movie (I've read that book, the changes are very noticeable), but that's nothing compared to the changes made to Roger's source novel to bring it to the big screen. Basically, there are toons, Roger, Jessica, and Eddie exist, and that's about it.
Second, I am wondering if the upcoming Wreck-It Ralph is going to do for videogames what this movie did for old cartoon characters.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Brave (2012)
I'm probably not going to be updating this every day, but I'll make an effort to do so a couple times a week, and any time I see something new. Last night was something new as Carly and I took in Brave, the newest from Pixar. I, generally speaking, love Pixar's movies, though I have somehow missed both Bugs Life and Cars 2...though the second was more intentional. I only saw the first Cars on a long flight back from a solo London vacation, and by my way of thinking, movies you have only a little interest in are more than fair game for a flight, especially if you can pretend you didn't pay to see the movie. It's the only reason I saw (and didn't care for, frankly) The Expendables.
Brave, though, I wanted to see, and it was good. But the movie-going experience can temper enjoyment, and ours was, sadly, not that good.
It started out OK as we arrived just in time and I learned we were a screener audience with Pixar asking us to fill out a quick survey. Me, I'm a cooperative fellow, so I agree to do so. Previews have started, we go in, I spot two seats in the lowest part of the stadium seating and we quickly sit down. Herein is where our troubles begin. Behind us is a family with a baby, maybe 2 years old at the most. The kid never cried, but he or she never stayed quiet for long either.
The family spoke Spanish. I know this because one took or sent a phone call in the middle of the movie in Spanish. Now, every movie theater I've ever been to, including the art house Carly and I saw Midnight in Paris in has a nice, "please turn off your cell phones" message. Good to see other people matter to some people.
And then Carly got spat on by some kid behind her. We moved forward a few more rows for the rest of the film. No apologies were ever given. Maybe the parent didn't notice, but still...
Anyway, the movie itself was fine. For a Pixar film, it wasn't as emotionally devastating as many of their films, like Up or either of the Toy Story sequels. Maybe if I was somebody's mother or daughter. Pixar deserves a good deal of credit for, as always, improving their animation ability (I rewatched the first Toy Story last summer, and it is amazing how far those people have come), and also for having a mostly actual Scottish cast for a movie set in Scotland. Emma Thompson obviously isn't, but I was a little surprised to learn Robbie Coltraine is. Oh and John Ratzenberger isn't either.
Yes, he's in there too.
As always, there's a lot of high energy to the movie. Characters, like heroine Merida's three younger brothers do. Not. Sit. Still. The humor is great, and despite some initial selfishness on the part of Merida, the characters are likeable enough. Good music, and scenes that might make a viewer want to visit the actual Scotland.
This was not a perfect film, though. The plot was rather straightforward and simple by the standards of the company. It's basically a fairy tale that runs smoothly from A to B. That's not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination, but there aren't any sort of major twists unless you count a teenage girl learning a valuable lesson a twist. I more or less knew the real secret of the demon bear before the movie told me, to say nothing of the real way to break the daffy witch's spell.
But, my thoughts may have been tempered by the bad experience, so I may revisit this when I see the movie a second time on DVD in the future.
Brave, though, I wanted to see, and it was good. But the movie-going experience can temper enjoyment, and ours was, sadly, not that good.
It started out OK as we arrived just in time and I learned we were a screener audience with Pixar asking us to fill out a quick survey. Me, I'm a cooperative fellow, so I agree to do so. Previews have started, we go in, I spot two seats in the lowest part of the stadium seating and we quickly sit down. Herein is where our troubles begin. Behind us is a family with a baby, maybe 2 years old at the most. The kid never cried, but he or she never stayed quiet for long either.
The family spoke Spanish. I know this because one took or sent a phone call in the middle of the movie in Spanish. Now, every movie theater I've ever been to, including the art house Carly and I saw Midnight in Paris in has a nice, "please turn off your cell phones" message. Good to see other people matter to some people.
And then Carly got spat on by some kid behind her. We moved forward a few more rows for the rest of the film. No apologies were ever given. Maybe the parent didn't notice, but still...
Anyway, the movie itself was fine. For a Pixar film, it wasn't as emotionally devastating as many of their films, like Up or either of the Toy Story sequels. Maybe if I was somebody's mother or daughter. Pixar deserves a good deal of credit for, as always, improving their animation ability (I rewatched the first Toy Story last summer, and it is amazing how far those people have come), and also for having a mostly actual Scottish cast for a movie set in Scotland. Emma Thompson obviously isn't, but I was a little surprised to learn Robbie Coltraine is. Oh and John Ratzenberger isn't either.
Yes, he's in there too.
As always, there's a lot of high energy to the movie. Characters, like heroine Merida's three younger brothers do. Not. Sit. Still. The humor is great, and despite some initial selfishness on the part of Merida, the characters are likeable enough. Good music, and scenes that might make a viewer want to visit the actual Scotland.
This was not a perfect film, though. The plot was rather straightforward and simple by the standards of the company. It's basically a fairy tale that runs smoothly from A to B. That's not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination, but there aren't any sort of major twists unless you count a teenage girl learning a valuable lesson a twist. I more or less knew the real secret of the demon bear before the movie told me, to say nothing of the real way to break the daffy witch's spell.
But, my thoughts may have been tempered by the bad experience, so I may revisit this when I see the movie a second time on DVD in the future.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Spaceballs (1987)
I've seen many a movie, but picking out just one to start with seemed to be a bit of a rough thing to do. So, I'll go with a movie my wife and I both enjoy. Future entries may be longer or shorter, depending on what I have to say.
Do I need to mention at this point that, yes, there will be SPOILERS most likely in this discussion? The movie is 25 years old, so chances are, anyone reading this has probably seen it, and it's not like this movie has a complex plot to spoil for anyone, but this will be the general rule going forward so everybody knows.
Anyway, the movie for today is 1987's Spaceballs.
I basically figure all movies fall into two broad categories: fun or meaningful/artistic. Very few movies are both, and as long as you recognize which category any given movie you are encountering, you should be fine. Steven Spielberg used to be able to do both, and Martin Scorsese still can, and off the top of my head, Wes Anderson and a few others also fit the bill. Mel Brooks, however, is not one of them.
Fortunately, Spaceballs is flat-out fun. It's highly quotable for people who want to throw out random one-liners and confuse their friends, features two SCTV alumni who, for very different reasons, do not make movies anymore, and, well, is the last really funny Mel Brooks movie.
Don't believe me? Here are the movies Brooks directed post-Spaceballs.
Life Stinks
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Small wonder he decided to remake himself through converting his older films into Broadway musicals. Unlike another former Sid Caesar writer, Woody Allen, Brooks mostly seems to want to be funny in his work. There's nothing too deep about the human condition in a movie like Spaceballs, unless you think over merchandising of movies is a surprise of some kind.
Now, as much as I enjoy this movie, its not Brooks' best work. Bill Pullman and Daphne Zuniga do OK, but neither seem to have the vigor for these sorts of roles that Gene Wilder or Madeline Kahn would be able to put in. John Candy and Rick Moranis both are fine in their respective roles of Barf and Dark Helmet, and Brooks himself livens things up as evil President Skroob and wiseguy merchandiser/schwartz intstructor Yogurt. What makes the movie work as much as it does is the sheer volume of jokes that get tossed out, some of which may not work, but don't worry, another one will be along in a second.
In fact, here are some nice touches the movie has that work for me:
Meta-touches, where the characters knows they're in a movie and sometimes you might accidentally capture the stunt doubles. That's also Stephen Tobolowsky as the officer there, a character actor that gets around, perhaps best know as Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day.
John Hurt (painfully) reprising his role from Alien.
That self-same creature suddenly deciding he's Michigan J. Frog.
Renting the movie before its finished.
"Who made that man a gunner?"
And, of course, Ludicrous Speed. Moranis screaming as Dark Helmet plunges forward and crashes into a wall when Spaceball One hits the brakes always makes my wife laugh. I have a similar reaction to Nic Cage and some other guy doing the same in the middle of Raising Arizona.
Not everything works. "Gone to plaid" always seemed a little odd to me, and I always thought Pizza the Hut was more disgusting than funny.
Of course, there's nothing overly deep here. Lone Starr will get the girl, and everyone will live happily ever after, unless you're a high-ranking Spaceball on a planet with some unhappy apes. But that goes without saying.
Do I need to mention at this point that, yes, there will be SPOILERS most likely in this discussion? The movie is 25 years old, so chances are, anyone reading this has probably seen it, and it's not like this movie has a complex plot to spoil for anyone, but this will be the general rule going forward so everybody knows.
Anyway, the movie for today is 1987's Spaceballs.
I basically figure all movies fall into two broad categories: fun or meaningful/artistic. Very few movies are both, and as long as you recognize which category any given movie you are encountering, you should be fine. Steven Spielberg used to be able to do both, and Martin Scorsese still can, and off the top of my head, Wes Anderson and a few others also fit the bill. Mel Brooks, however, is not one of them.
Fortunately, Spaceballs is flat-out fun. It's highly quotable for people who want to throw out random one-liners and confuse their friends, features two SCTV alumni who, for very different reasons, do not make movies anymore, and, well, is the last really funny Mel Brooks movie.
Don't believe me? Here are the movies Brooks directed post-Spaceballs.
Life Stinks
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Now, as much as I enjoy this movie, its not Brooks' best work. Bill Pullman and Daphne Zuniga do OK, but neither seem to have the vigor for these sorts of roles that Gene Wilder or Madeline Kahn would be able to put in. John Candy and Rick Moranis both are fine in their respective roles of Barf and Dark Helmet, and Brooks himself livens things up as evil President Skroob and wiseguy merchandiser/schwartz intstructor Yogurt. What makes the movie work as much as it does is the sheer volume of jokes that get tossed out, some of which may not work, but don't worry, another one will be along in a second.
In fact, here are some nice touches the movie has that work for me:
Meta-touches, where the characters knows they're in a movie and sometimes you might accidentally capture the stunt doubles. That's also Stephen Tobolowsky as the officer there, a character actor that gets around, perhaps best know as Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day.
John Hurt (painfully) reprising his role from Alien.
That self-same creature suddenly deciding he's Michigan J. Frog.
Renting the movie before its finished.
"Who made that man a gunner?"
And, of course, Ludicrous Speed. Moranis screaming as Dark Helmet plunges forward and crashes into a wall when Spaceball One hits the brakes always makes my wife laugh. I have a similar reaction to Nic Cage and some other guy doing the same in the middle of Raising Arizona.
Not everything works. "Gone to plaid" always seemed a little odd to me, and I always thought Pizza the Hut was more disgusting than funny.
Of course, there's nothing overly deep here. Lone Starr will get the girl, and everyone will live happily ever after, unless you're a high-ranking Spaceball on a planet with some unhappy apes. But that goes without saying.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Introduction
Welcome to my thoughts
As my lovely wife recently started a blog of her own, A Semi-Vegetarian's Love of Food, I decided, why not do the same myself? I mean, in real life I am loud, opinionated on some topics, and don't often know when to shut up. That sounds about right to me for being an Internet blogger.Of course, every blog needs a topic. For myself, I really like movies and good television. I like reading too, but that's what Goodreads is for. So, for the three people that may wander in here at some point (I have no delusions about how many readers I am likely to get since I'm not exactly Roger Ebert), this will be my musings and reviews on whatever I see that catches my eye and makes me want to say something. Since I have a fairly large DVD collection, now being augmented by Blu-rays, there's bound to be a lot to say and I may even say something clever at some point.
Disclaimer
I have no formal training in either film or film criticism outside a handful of college classes I took almost 20 years ago(That long? Sheesh. I'm only 37.)
As such, my opinions on what's going on in various movies are limited to my layman's understanding of film. Mostly I'm really good with useless trivia (as if there's some other kind of trivia), and as I am an English teacher by profession, I may be somewhat good with words. Bottom line: I do not consider myself an expert, and neither should you. This is, as they say, all for fun.
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