tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post1666380751640508228..comments2024-03-27T15:16:57.305-05:00Comments on F This Movie!: Movies We Like Now But Didn't BeforePatrick Bromleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771837625286775607noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-61532975610357019812013-04-13T02:18:56.397-05:002013-04-13T02:18:56.397-05:00Haha. I actually don't hate the second Matrix ...Haha. I actually don't hate the second Matrix movie. There's some cool scenes in in it but overall it's just ok. The third one (which I'm writing about a bit in next week's column) fascinates me but not in a good way. It's a case study for what an action series that kills off most of the heroes looks like. Adam Riskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01165600746796326821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-48150649701980462842013-04-12T12:03:46.950-05:002013-04-12T12:03:46.950-05:00My best example would be Starship Troopers. The f...My best example would be Starship Troopers. The first time I saw it was on a Blockbuster VCR tape rental back in either 98 or 99. My stupid younger self (early 20’s) went in expecting an action-packed sci-fi movie in the vein of Aliens & was so disappointed by it. I thought the cast was horrible (Doogie Howser, the dude who stole Kelly from Zack on Saved by the Bell, Gary Busey’s talentless son as soldiers?) & the political stuff (“Do you want to know more?”) just went over my head. I only liked the bug action scenes & hated everything else about it.<br /><br />About a few years ago, I picked up the Blu Ray for cheap & could finally get all the World War II propaganda references, the fascism, & the young attractive cast was perfect for those roles. I even now considered it Paul Verhoeven’s best movie (Yes, even better than RoboCop). <br /><br />A close second is John Carpenter’s Escape from L.A. It was the same disappointment I had for Starship Troopers with my younger self was expecting a hardcore sequel to Escape from New York & couldn’t get the over-the-top comedic tone of it. Sometime in the early 00’s, I saw it several times on the premium channels & I was finally digging the comedy & Carpenter spoofing the big blockbuster genre of the 90’s. I also appreciated how gutsy that ending was. If I'm channel surfing & L.A is on, I’m not changing the channel til it's over. <br />JK47noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-66833320539273386992013-04-12T11:27:04.066-05:002013-04-12T11:27:04.066-05:00Adam...you should watch the 2nd and 3rd Matrix aga...Adam...you should watch the 2nd and 3rd Matrix again as well. You will come around on those just like you did on the first one.GDiddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04257406584729047550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-80399750918106680932013-04-12T10:32:05.432-05:002013-04-12T10:32:05.432-05:00And you are Canadian?!?! YES!!!And you are Canadian?!?! YES!!!Erikanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-57182310834992569522013-04-11T18:33:45.684-05:002013-04-11T18:33:45.684-05:00The first film that comes to mind for me is Jackie...The first film that comes to mind for me is Jackie Brown. On first viewing it left me cold and wasn’t at all what I expected going into it. I didn’t catch it again for several years and then one day I spotted it was on TV and gave it another go. This time I got onboard with it much more but still wasn’t a huge fan. <br /><br />Then a few more years went by and I gave it another chance, this time it all clicked for me and I came away having found so much more to enjoy than previously, the relationship between Jackie and Max Cherry, which Patrick mentioned in his excellent piece a few days ago, being one of major parts that resonated with me so much more on this occasion.<br /><br />Now I’d say it’s my favourite Tarantino film and one I catch a couple of times a year.Stuarthttp://letterboxd.com/cohaagen/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-56765397387292023752013-04-11T16:21:07.166-05:002013-04-11T16:21:07.166-05:00I have come around to a lot of movies over the yea...I have come around to a lot of movies over the years where initially I probably just did not get them. One that comes to mind is M Nights's "Signs".<br /><br />When I saw it in the theater I was kind of let down by it. I did not outright dislike it per se, I was just underwhelmed. I think I went in expecting something very different, I suppose coming off of Sixth Sense and Unbreakable. <br /><br />On subsequent viewings however it grew on me, I think I came to understand it better and see what it was doing. Now I really like how deliberate, personal and tender it seems to be.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10475027751253870681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-48028738162939823092013-04-11T16:02:19.854-05:002013-04-11T16:02:19.854-05:00A recent one for me is Casablanca. I'd watche...A recent one for me is Casablanca. I'd watched it in 2002 on the recommendation of a friend and thought that it was less than the sum of its parts. It had witty dialgogue and good performances but didn't quite enage me on the whole. <br /><br />I bought it in a 4-pack last year and gave it another shot at Christmas. I was really floored by how much I enjoyed it on this viewing. I just don't know how I missed it before.Darren Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15683665414007012419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-59348684800424473222013-04-11T14:40:01.153-05:002013-04-11T14:40:01.153-05:00Wow, first Heath tells me he loves me, now Erika. ...Wow, first Heath tells me he loves me, now Erika. Hmmm, tough choice here, let me th-Erika! If both of our spouses should ever die in suspicious boating accidents (God forbid - wink, wink), I've got a Canadian Green Card up here with your name on it!<br /><br />Seriously though, such an interesting mix of hope and inspiration (for and from the kids) on the one hand, and the ugliness of both where they come from and the insane amount of pressure put on them to succeed from all over (selves, parents, teachers, coaches, recruiters) on the other - it certainly evokes a wide spectrum of emotions - I've been recommending it to everyone!Sol O.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-10374370755148013612013-04-11T14:37:26.701-05:002013-04-11T14:37:26.701-05:00Erika-
I can't take the credit for using Cind...Erika-<br /><br />I can't take the credit for using <i>Cinderella Man</i> in class, because I first got the idea from you! However, I wlll say, F-heads, that Erika is totally right when she says the kiddoes do really like the movie.Mark Ahnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-66237087056868820342013-04-11T14:17:59.244-05:002013-04-11T14:17:59.244-05:00Thanks, John! I wish more people were opened minde...Thanks, John! I wish more people were opened minded about revisiting films. Although I guess the people who would never be interested in that aren't hanging around with us on this site anyway. All the readers (and writers!) are so nice. Erikanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-89064902782403188122013-04-11T13:58:06.520-05:002013-04-11T13:58:06.520-05:00Dear Sol,
I love you.
Sincerely,
ErikaDear Sol,<br />I love you.<br />Sincerely,<br />ErikaErikanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-79166168496474239402013-04-11T13:34:49.899-05:002013-04-11T13:34:49.899-05:00That one's easy for me: Eternal Sunshine of th...That one's easy for me: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I really disliked that movie when it came out, and thought it was just depressing and weird overall. I didn't connect with it at all. I also think I was still used to funny/zany Jim Carrey at the time, and that's not what you get here. <br /><br />But I just wasn't in the right state of mind.<br /><br />Now, after some life experiences, I watch it and realize that it's a tragically beautiful movie with great direction and an excellent dramatic Jim Carrey performance. It's an amazing movie.<br /><br />Erika, your story about Cinderella Man makes me realize that I haven't seen that movie since it was in theaters, I think. I don't believe I cared for it at the time, either. Perhaps I should revisit it. I could use a good inspiring story. I love that you guys often seem to give me incentives to revisit with new perspectives the movies that you discuss! John Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08810774557887719483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-67698800366831506792013-04-11T13:33:26.201-05:002013-04-11T13:33:26.201-05:00I mentioned this awhile back I think but the easy ...I mentioned this awhile back I think but the easy pick for me is <i>The Godfather</i> - bored the HELL out of me the first time I saw it for some reason. Then maybe 5 years later I watched it again and was absolutely enthralled - loved every minute and have watched it a few times since.<br /><br /><i>A Thin Red Line</i> is another one for me too - seemed like such a slog when I watched it back in high school but then picked up the Criterion blu-ray a couple years ago and was blown away by how beautiful and thoughtful it is (and I like a movie that actually tells me to turn up the volume at the beginning - yes, sir!).<br /><br />Erika - this is inappropriately placed but I wanted to mention I watched <i>Hoop Dreams</i> when I was home sick on Monday - it was fantastic! I have no idea why I didn't watch this when it first came out - it was at the height of my interest in both basketball and inner-city Black culture so it should have been a no-brainer (maybe I wasn't that keen on documentaries back then?) but yeah, it was great and the 3 hours fly by - one of my new favourite docs for sure - thanks for reminding me it was out there!Sol O.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-76468600764691866962013-04-11T12:59:23.460-05:002013-04-11T12:59:23.460-05:00Says the person who keeps going back to Cool as Ic...Says the person who keeps going back to <i>Cool as Ice</i>.Patrick Bromleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00771837625286775607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-5125764512809744612013-04-11T12:57:43.080-05:002013-04-11T12:57:43.080-05:00Has Doug seen any movies that aren't called &q...Has Doug seen any movies that aren't called "It's A Wonderful Life"?Tom Allennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-58874371843029682712013-04-11T12:53:03.271-05:002013-04-11T12:53:03.271-05:00Oh Erika, how I'm with you on the clunky Beaut...Oh Erika, how I'm with you on the clunky Beautiful Mind. Oy.<br /><br />I think mine would have to be, of all things, Continental Divide. I think I first saw it when I was around 10 and I was bored stiff by this bunch of malarkey about a city paper columnist and some lady up in the mountains. When was Belushi going to start breaking bottles over his head?<br /><br />But watching it again when I was in my 20s? Lordy, what a good movie this is and really a candidate for JB's Unsung column. It's perhaps not a classic, but it's a damn fine little movie about self-discovery that doesn't descend into maudlin Eat, Pray Love territory.Joseph Finnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17168159790992899470noreply@blogger.com