The Killing (1956)
NEXT: ?
This had some good points to it. I liked the narration, the dialog is great, the jumping around in time is cool too. I liked most things about this movie except the ending.
SPOILERS
Having the dog run out, the case fall, the money blow away - I don't really like that kinda ending. Feels kinda cheap. I'd rather see the "good guys" figure things out or the bad guys make a fatal mistake or something, but not the rich lady's poodle. :|
Haiku Summary
Guys rob racetrack cash.
Great plan, great execution.
Poodle saves the day!
Showing posts with label filmspotting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label filmspotting. Show all posts
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Du rififi chez les hommes (1955) - 4/5
Du rififi chez les hommes (1955) "Rififi"
Next: "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" (2005)
An interesting movie, but it didn't seem to build enough on its strengths: the characters.
UPDATED: Thinking more about this movie and given time, I believe I appreciate this movie more for the same reason as before too: the characters. The heist itself is a work of art that at the time I didn't appreciate. More in spoilers.
SPOILERS
I enjoyed the scenes of the robbery: no dialog, intensity, etc. But then the story turned to the kidnapped boy, etc. I liked that turn, but too much time was spent on the robbery that was fun to watch, but didn't build. Update: I was wrong here - I didn't appreciate the heist for what it was: artwork and the payoff of who these characters are: professional and skilled. Great stuff! Blueprint.
Haiku Summary:
Men want diamonds.
They rob store, boy is kidnapped.
All die, the boy lives.
Next: "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" (2005)
An interesting movie, but it didn't seem to build enough on its strengths: the characters.
UPDATED: Thinking more about this movie and given time, I believe I appreciate this movie more for the same reason as before too: the characters. The heist itself is a work of art that at the time I didn't appreciate. More in spoilers.
SPOILERS
I enjoyed the scenes of the robbery: no dialog, intensity, etc. But then the story turned to the kidnapped boy, etc. I liked that turn, but too much time was spent on the robbery that was fun to watch, but didn't build. Update: I was wrong here - I didn't appreciate the heist for what it was: artwork and the payoff of who these characters are: professional and skilled. Great stuff! Blueprint.
Haiku Summary:
Men want diamonds.
They rob store, boy is kidnapped.
All die, the boy lives.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) - 3/5
The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
NEXT: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
A fun little movie w/ "cute" criminals. I'm not sure if it was intentionally "cute" or just b/c of the times it was made, but they're so naive and such.
Great quote in the movie...
Haiku Summary
Two straight guys figure
out how to steal gold. Mistake,
chases, they are caught.
NEXT: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
A fun little movie w/ "cute" criminals. I'm not sure if it was intentionally "cute" or just b/c of the times it was made, but they're so naive and such.
Great quote in the movie...
"Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these - it might have been" is a taken from 'Maud Muller', a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier
Haiku Summary
Two straight guys figure
out how to steal gold. Mistake,
chases, they are caught.
Monday, June 09, 2008
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) - 3/5
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
NEXT: "Idiocracy" (2006)
Fairly artsy and hard to follow seriously unless you're really trying... and I wasn't. I get turned off pretty quickly if I feel people are trying too hard to be weird.
Core message: Our society is killing itself w/ entertainment and dangerous addictions.
WARNING: Nudity.
Haiku Summary
Spaceman needs water
to save home planet. Gets cash,
gets wasted. Does nil.
NEXT: "Idiocracy" (2006)
Fairly artsy and hard to follow seriously unless you're really trying... and I wasn't. I get turned off pretty quickly if I feel people are trying too hard to be weird.
Core message: Our society is killing itself w/ entertainment and dangerous addictions.
WARNING: Nudity.
Haiku Summary
Spaceman needs water
to save home planet. Gets cash,
gets wasted. Does nil.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Logan's Run (1976) - 3/5
Logan's Run (1976)
NEXT: "Iron Man" (2008)
The first half has the same type of production as "The Omega Man", "The Andromeda Strain", etc.: bad '70's sci-fi. But the second half kinda frees itself from that and gets more into the story and implications of everything. Maybe it's just in contrast, but the second half "feels" a lot better.
It's a lot like "The Matrix" in some senses.
SPOILERS
Once they get out of the city, the movie isn't weighed down w/ the bad scenes and sets so that helps.
Haiku Summary
Future: all renew
when thirty. Some run. They die.
Logan runs and lives.
NEXT: "Iron Man" (2008)
The first half has the same type of production as "The Omega Man", "The Andromeda Strain", etc.: bad '70's sci-fi. But the second half kinda frees itself from that and gets more into the story and implications of everything. Maybe it's just in contrast, but the second half "feels" a lot better.
It's a lot like "The Matrix" in some senses.
SPOILERS
Once they get out of the city, the movie isn't weighed down w/ the bad scenes and sets so that helps.
Haiku Summary
Future: all renew
when thirty. Some run. They die.
Logan runs and lives.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Silent Running (1972) - 1/5
Silent Running (1972)
NEXT: "I'm Not There" (2007)
Man, not good. In the same vein of "Omega Man" and "The Andromeda Strain" this is just slow, poorly acted and suffers from the same production style.
I might have given this 2 out of 5, but the music (Joan Baez) is just painful.
There's a lot of possible messages from this like man doesn't care about nature, nature freaks are crazy, etc. I think mainly the message is: we need to take care of the planet or it will go away and that man cares more about money than beauty and nature. I'm not sure, but that might be it???
Haiku Summary
Ship with plants to save
Earth's nature. Told to destroy
and come back. He's nuts.
NEXT: "I'm Not There" (2007)
Man, not good. In the same vein of "Omega Man" and "The Andromeda Strain" this is just slow, poorly acted and suffers from the same production style.
I might have given this 2 out of 5, but the music (Joan Baez) is just painful.
There's a lot of possible messages from this like man doesn't care about nature, nature freaks are crazy, etc. I think mainly the message is: we need to take care of the planet or it will go away and that man cares more about money than beauty and nature. I'm not sure, but that might be it???
Haiku Summary
Ship with plants to save
Earth's nature. Told to destroy
and come back. He's nuts.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
The Andromeda Strain (1971) - 2.5/5
The Andromeda Strain (1971)
NEXT: "Dan in Real Life" (2007)
Wow. Slow. It felt like "THX-1138" and "2001" in a lot of ways. An interesting idea/story, but only decently told.
About 40% of the movie is watching the scientists prep for the sterile environment. Another 50% is watching them use robotic tools. The other 10% is the resolution at the very end... maybe it's only 5%.
You might be able to make a higher case for this story's implications about science and man and our position and such. About the decisions we have to make about humanity and who has the right to know this or cause that or how we might be playing God at times. I can see those arguments in there, but unfortunately the metal arms get more screen time and their humming gets most of the dialog.
Haiku Summary
Satellite falls. Town
dies. Unknown cause. Robotics.
Watch. Wait. Slow. Scare! Done.
NEXT: "Dan in Real Life" (2007)
Wow. Slow. It felt like "THX-1138" and "2001" in a lot of ways. An interesting idea/story, but only decently told.
About 40% of the movie is watching the scientists prep for the sterile environment. Another 50% is watching them use robotic tools. The other 10% is the resolution at the very end... maybe it's only 5%.
You might be able to make a higher case for this story's implications about science and man and our position and such. About the decisions we have to make about humanity and who has the right to know this or cause that or how we might be playing God at times. I can see those arguments in there, but unfortunately the metal arms get more screen time and their humming gets most of the dialog.
Haiku Summary
Satellite falls. Town
dies. Unknown cause. Robotics.
Watch. Wait. Slow. Scare! Done.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) - 4/5
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
NEXT: "The Andromeda Strain" (1971)
Very fun and good music. I liked the story and the development of the characters. The tone was great too: dark w/ the direction and coloring to match.
It was painful in several ways to watch (the "drop" is harsh).
Haiku Summary
Man lost family.
Goes back. Kills lots of peeps. They
pretty much all die.
NEXT: "The Andromeda Strain" (1971)
Very fun and good music. I liked the story and the development of the characters. The tone was great too: dark w/ the direction and coloring to match.
It was painful in several ways to watch (the "drop" is harsh).
Haiku Summary
Man lost family.
Goes back. Kills lots of peeps. They
pretty much all die.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Hable con ella (2002) - 3/5
Hable con ella (2002) (Talk To Her)
NEXT: "The Last Dragon" (1985)
It's hard to say what this movie is about, but it's well made and mostly pleasant to watch. It's very powerful and uses people's longings and dreams in a powerful way.
The characters are deep and identifiable.
Despite being well made and rich in many ways, some important things don't hit quite right. There's not really anything that draws this movie to me. It's not really entertaining or sheds light on anything new. But remains w/ me w/ the characters.
Haiku Summary
Two men with women
in comas bond. One crazy.
He dies. She wakes. End.
NEXT: "The Last Dragon" (1985)
It's hard to say what this movie is about, but it's well made and mostly pleasant to watch. It's very powerful and uses people's longings and dreams in a powerful way.
The characters are deep and identifiable.
Despite being well made and rich in many ways, some important things don't hit quite right. There's not really anything that draws this movie to me. It's not really entertaining or sheds light on anything new. But remains w/ me w/ the characters.
Haiku Summary
Two men with women
in comas bond. One crazy.
He dies. She wakes. End.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
The Omega Man (1971) - 1.5/5
The Omega Man (1971)
NEXT: "I Am Legend" (2007)
Wow, I cd have sworn Charlton Heston cd act. This shows 1971 production in the purest light.
Watching this movie explains why no one has ever said "Oh, you gotta see The Omega Man."
I have to give it a bit of slack b/c of the time since it was made, but man, not the greatest film.
Haiku Summary
Smart zombies want to
kill the last man on earth. He
finds cure, but dies. Cheese.
NEXT: "I Am Legend" (2007)
Wow, I cd have sworn Charlton Heston cd act. This shows 1971 production in the purest light.
Watching this movie explains why no one has ever said "Oh, you gotta see The Omega Man."
I have to give it a bit of slack b/c of the time since it was made, but man, not the greatest film.
Haiku Summary
Smart zombies want to
kill the last man on earth. He
finds cure, but dies. Cheese.
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