We must not fight each other.  Synechdoche is the real threat.

I enjoyed it a great deal.

I go into a movie fully invested for 8 minutes.  Those first 8 minutes the movie can do no wrong, it can be whatever it wants, do whatever it can.  I make absolutely no judgments for 8 minutes.  After that it's gotta start doing something or else my mood will sour, and it becomes increasingly hard to win me over.  Now, this is a much wider net than it may seem.  I'm not saying story beats need to perfectly be laid out, or that a fat dude has to fall off a chair, or all the cars have to explode.  But it has to give me an idea for the ride Im in for, intro characters that do something of note, or pique my curiosity in some way.  People vary in their opinions of Inglorious Basterds, but the first 8 minutes worked for me.  Sleeping Beauty (the new one with the chick from Sucker Punch) is a pretty slow paced movie comprised mostly of one'ers, but something drew me in.  Compare that to a movie like Enter the Void which completely face rapes you with its credits for 2 minutes, before going on (an admittedly well done) DMT trip for 8 minutes.  We're at 24 minutes in before anything actually happens, and all the badass jib shots and neon psychedelia couldn't save it for me.

A great example of the 8 minute rule?  Officer and a Gentleman.  By the time the title comes up you have the main characters back story, his motivation, and an idea of where we're heading.

In 2003, I was working on the 3rd season of The Bachelor.  We shared offices with Warner Brothers Animation (I know...I know, I don't get it either) when they were working on both the Teen Titans toon and Llony Toons:Back in Action, directed by Joe Dante.  Joe i
Must be a very trusting guy because he never locked his office, so when a certain Assistant Editor got tired of watching whore pledge their love, I would poke around.  One day I found a pencil sketch on an animation storyboard of the Iron Giant in the bugs bunny pose (eating a clockwork carrot) leaning up against the classic WB logo.  I photocopied it and framed it.  I had it all the way up until my ex girlfriend moved out and it "mysteriously" disappeared.

I will always check out anything by Jedi Pastor. You're a welcome addition sir,

Fassbender was also in Jonah Hex (gah!) and Fish Tank, a fairly disturbing british indie which is still on netflix streaming, I believe.  If you're a new parent (looking at YOU, Phi) you'll probably spend the rest of the day clutching your infant.

"Resentment is like drinking poison and expecting your enemy to die."  - Nelson Mandela

and Brian will appreciate this one, as I said this quote verbatim to my son hours after he was born.

"Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you've got to be kind."  - Kurt Vonnegut (God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater)

and this is the letter that Bras father wrote after the birth of Bras first son, from Daytripper #10 (that's right bitches, comic book quotes).  Written in real life by Fabio Moon.

"Dear Son,
You're holding this letter now because this is the most important day of your life. You're about to have your first child. This means that the life you've built with such effort, that you've conquered, that you've earned, has finally reached the point where it no longer belongs to you. This baby is the new master of your life. He is the sole reason for your existence. You'll surrender your life to him, give him your heart and soul because you want him to be strong, to be brave enough to make all his decisions without you. So when he finally grows older, he won't need you. That's because one day you know you won't be there for him anymore. Only when you accept that you'll die can you let go and make the best out of life. And that's the big secret, that's the miracle. Your life is out of your hands now, just like mine has been since the day you were born. I'm writing this letter to congratulate you and admit that you don't need me anymore."

Are you talking about in a cinematic context or just in general?  GIve me one other parameter to guide the conversation.

I quit it since Topher Grace did it.  That's the sort of thing that if it's been done, I suddenly have no interest.

THis should spawn a whole separate discussion of creating work that plays to your strengths and resources.  Truly talented people are able to pull it off BECAUSE of their limitations, not in spite of.

Honestly, I think Return of the King was my favorite chunk of this.

I've said things in private, but let me partially echo Mike's sentiment.  This thing lives and dies (no pun intended) by performance, and I truly feel like the performance Teague gives anchors it.  Watching it again, I feel like the best description I can give of the music is that it feels so organic that it practically leaks out of Max, as opposed to him performing it.  I may be in the minority, but the first song for Gary floored me, and I think its the best song by far.  I was engaged the whole time, it packed a deep emotional punch, and had just the right amount of humor.  I liked it even better the second time.