Rambo III

Monday, August 11, 2008

It's been interesting to watch how this series went from a smaller action movie with a heavy dramatic slant, to basically becoming the epitome of 80's action movie excess. That's not necessarily a bad thing, just an observation. Rambo III is so far removed from the tone of the first film that Rambo takes on the entire Russian army, Troutman joins in for the action, and they even trade one liners and shit. Oh, and Rambo uses a tank to play chicken with a helicopter. Even the nonsensical title (there never was a Rambo II) just seems to perfectly encapsulate how a major studio insults the audience's intelligence in favor of creating a brand. Like it's not a film, it's a product.

It's a little boring in the first half, and definitely a stupid, soulless movie, but I'd be a liar if I didn't say the second half is fun. There's still some sort of pretense of seriousness/relevance, what with Rambo teaming up with the rebels in Afghanistan to fight the Russians (oops! I don't think Rambo meant to pave the way for the Taliban to come into power), but that all takes a back seat to the action.

I've never been a huge Stallone fan, he just doesn't have the track record that Schwarzenegger or Willis have, but having now recently seen all the Rambo movies, I'll give him credit for making a series without a bad entry. I mean, that's more than Van Damme accomplished. Still, his body of work (in action movies) as a whole maybe ties with early Steven Seagal.

This isn't as good as parts 1 or 2, but I still kinda liked it, as an action aficionado. Worth your time if you like this shit.

Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto

Sunday, August 10, 2008

I really need to make "Samurai Movie" a tag on this blog, but I'm too lazy to go through and add it. (Update 7/2/09: No longer too lazy!) I heard good things about this one, and it starred Toshiro Mifune, so I went for it. It's the first entry in a trilogy, I believe loosely based on the real life of a famous swordsman, and it's good enough that I'll probably check the others out some time, though not so much that I'm in any rush to do so. The movie looks good (the colors are especially nice) and is entertaining enough, but isn't on the level of the Kurosawa samurai films I've seen. A little more satisfying than Samurai Rebellion was for me, but not a great movie like I was hoping for.

Showdown in Little Tokyo

Saturday, August 9, 2008

I guess maybe I detoured a little too far from my K2K this weekend, but shit happens. I watched Showdown in Little Tokyo because it was directed by Mark Fucking Lester, director of a lot of B-movies that seem like they should be terrible, except they are actually kind of incredibly entertaining. He did Commando, Class of 1984 and Roller Boogie. I had heard this might be another good one.

It's not, at least not quite. There are defintely some moments, a lot of odd details wedged in to seperate this from other generic, low budget action movies. There's just not enough of that, so instead of feeling like an oddball comedy disguised as a generic action movie (like Commando) it just seems like a generic action movie with a few nice touches. What a shame.

Halloween

Saturday, August 9, 2008

A few weeks back I was shopping online for gifts for Shenan and I came across a shot glass with the Halloween logo on it. I ordered it for her, thinking "She'll love this." Then, 5 minutes later I thought "Screw her, I'll love it even more," and I claimed it for myself.

Once it came in, I knew I had to sit down, watch Halloween and sip booze out of my new shot glass. Good fucking times.

Pineapple Express

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Sadly, this isn't the single greatest movie ever made, and only turned out to be really good. Siiiiiiiiiiiigh. Oh well. I guess that title stays with Maid in Manhattan.

Seriously though, I dug this one a lot, but not on the level of Superbad or 40 Year Old Virgin, as I was expecting. I hate when I get myself too excited, because it can add a tinge of disappointment to something that otherwise rocked.

This mines somewhat similar material as Hot Fuzz, but with added pot humor. I was curious to see how David Gordon Green, who is more of an art-house director, would handle this mainstream material. As it turns out, pretty well. He not only knows how to sell the humor of the movie (I could have guessed that, his movies are pretty funny), but he can actually direct a respectable action scene. All the shoot-em-up shit is good, but even better is an early fight scene between 3 guys who don't know how to fight, which really builds a wonderful comic momentum. That this movie and George Washington are in the same man's filmography is pretty awesome.

Trauma

Friday, August 8, 2008

This might be Dario Argento's most unfairly underrated movie. There's really a lot to love here, with a lot of great sequences of violence, suspense and high style that rival some of his best work. It also happens to have some pretty atrocious acting, some weird technical mistakes and the worst plot twist ever. So it misses the mark of being a great movie, but there's so much to love here that I still think it ranks with his better work. There's a sequence where a little kid sneaks into the killer's house that's one of the most exciting things Argento has ever filmed. And all sorts of other cool touches, like the butterfly POV shots, or the killer's particularly unsettling means of dispatching their victims. Definitely a must-watch for fans of this type of stuff.

Step Up 2 The Streets

Friday, August 8, 2008

Is this telling me that it's the sequel to Step Up, and that the subtitle is The Streets? Or is it saying that The Streets are something I have to Step Up 2 (to)? I love it.

I had been looking forward to this for a long time, since it pretty much looked like the spiritual sequel to You Got Served, a favorite so-bad-it's-good-yet-conversely-so-good-it's-awesome movie of mine. In a lot of ways, Step Up 2 The Streets is a better movie, but maybe in ways that make it less fun.

Thing is here, the filmmaking is competant, the cast is better, there aren't as many unintentional laughs. Which, you know, means that the movie feels more run of the mill and bland.

However, the dancing is way more fucking awesome, and that's something. The final dance in the rain probably tops You Got Served's big rain-dance sequence. And I got to say, I kind of love this crazy, highly stylized shit. Like the dance floor with trampolines on it. Or the way the dance crew all faces the camera and not the audience watching them. It's great shit.

So I'm mixed here. I think the biggest complaint is that the final dance, while amazing, is just a dance and not a dance off. I really wanted to see them go toe-to-toe with some other dance crew, but the plot doesn't really go in that direction. Makes it all seem less dramatic.

Fitzcarraldo

Wednesday, August 8, 2008

This is kind of like a quirky, more likable version of Herzog's Aquirre: The Wrath of God. I don't think it's quite as captivating or brilliant insane as that film, but it's pretty good, and treats you to the amazing sight of a large boat being dragged up a mountain.

Prince of Darkness

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

I used to think that this was a good but lesser John Carpenter film, but I've seen it 3 or 4 times now and I like it more with each viewing. My friend Patrick is of the opinion that, with remakes of Carpenter films seemingly in high demand (Assault on Precinct 13, The Fog, Halloween) that they should remake this one, as it's the only one that could really benefit. I see what he means: it's got a lot of great ideas, but also some serous flaws that could use ironing out. Repeat viewings have enhanced my appreciation of it, so if they never get around to remaking it, I'll be happy with the original. It's got the great Carpenter visual style, a lot of good ideas, and a few nice subversive touches. It's no Halloween or The Thing but maybe I'm now ranking it at about In the Mouth of Madness level.

Persepolis

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Alternately funny and terrifying animated movie about growing up in Iran. Some of the dramatic impact is muted from having too brisk of a pace, but otherwise it's entertaining and visually wonderful.

Rambo: First Blood Part 2

Monday, August 4, 2008

If I thought First Blood was more like the new Rambo than I remembered, then Rambo: First Blood Part 2 aka Second Blood is practically the same movie. And much like that movie, it's dramatic shortcomings (and perhaps a confused message) are redeemed by some good action. The action in the new Rambo is better than in the old original Rambo (meaning this one, not First Blood... god I love these confusing titles) but this one is more fun, with a certain indelible 80's-ness and earnest corniness that certainly adds a lot.

Okay, so if we're ranking these, then First Blood is a better movie, but Rambo: Follow-up Blood is more fun. So, um, I guess it's a tie?

Murmur of the Heart

Monday  August 4, 2008

My first shot at a Louis Malle film, and it was a pretty good one. It's a coming of age story that goes to some strange, disturbing places, but has a light touch and sense of humor about it.

Cool Hand Luke

Sunday, August 3, 2008

This one was certainly a long time coming. I think it's supposed a story of what happens when a man refuses to conform to the society he lives in, but after reading Roger Ebert's write up for his Great Movies column, it's hard not to se it as the story of an extreme masochist. Either way, it's a very entertaining movie.

Gremlins

Friday, August 1, 2008

This is a pretty sweet movie, but the sequel is even better. It's one of those rare sequels, like Escape From L.A., that seems to exist more to parody the original, or perhaps mock the idea of sequels in general. I think it might be closer to Joe Dante's actual sensibilities, whereas the first one has a much clearer Spielberg influence.

The Prestige

Thursday, July 31, 2008

I'm pretty fucking busy the next few weeks at work, so I will likely be falling behind on this due to tiredness and whatnot. And I'll probably keep my posts brief.

Christopher Nolan has improved greatly as a director since Memento, and his last two have been great. I'm not sure if I like The Prestige or The Dark Knight more, although I suspect this one will hold up better for me.

I've never thought of myself as a Hugh Jackman fan, although with this, X2 and The Fountain, he's done 3 movies I love. So maybe I like him more than I realize.