Saturday, January 26, 2008

R A M B O

I admit it, I paid money to see "Rambo" on opening day. I didn't get any popcorn with extra butter, and I didn't ball out and get slushie, I just spent seven bones and got to see an awesomely bad, yet outrageously awesome movie. I won't review the movie, the New York Times review is spot on with how I feel about it. Check it out here. Here is a sample:

"Mr. Stallone is smart enough — or maybe dumb enough, though I tend to think not — to present the mythic dimensions of the character without apology or irony. His face looks like a misshapen chunk of granite, and his acting is only slightly more expressive, but the man gets the job done. Welcome back."


People frequently say to me, "I don't know how you can think that movie is good" or "Why would you ever see that?" For me, certain movies are about the experience of being in the theater. For me, going to see some crazy big budgeted action movie in a packed house with everyone screaming and going nuts is equal to a sporting game. My first memory of this phenomenon is watching this scene with my Dad and my brothers at a "guys" night at the film.

For those who can't remember, in this scene, Ethan Hunt has to break in (check out how massive that computer is). In the end that knife falls on the table. I remember that knife falling and the whole theater gasped in a huge way, and then breathed a sigh of relief when it stuck in the table.

And "gasp" is what I went to see Rambo for. When Rambo shot an arrow through a dude's chin, did the entire crowd yell, you bet they did. And that yell was worth my seven bones.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

There Will Be Blood


THERE WILL BE BLOOD (AND ALSO A WAY OVER-HYPED MOVIE)

So I managed to see "There Will Be Blood" the Academy Award Nominated darling from P. W. Anderson. I must say I was extremely impressed with the power of the movie, but maybe I've been watching too much Die Hard, but I didn't like it. There I said it, let the movie gods who have labeled this film "Citizen Kane" for the 21st century douse me in oil and set my aflame.
This guy, Mr. Daniel Day Lewis. Oh damn, talk about a thundering performance. If he wasn't in the film I wouldn't have really cared for it. It looked pretty, but seriously this guy is a monster. When is he going to chew into a really meaty when known role. I'd love to see him tackle a historical figure or maybe even a fictional character like Captian Ahab in a new "Moby Dick" film.


It was the first movie I have ever seen that I was completely mesmerized but also completely bored by. Also mad props to CiarĂ¡n Hinds, who is a fine actor who frequently goes un-recognized in his roles.

P.S. If you are not looking for a wildly intense movie like this go see "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" you will not be disappointed.