1 Reply by Jet

(121 replies, posted in Episodes)

Doctor Submarine wrote:

I think All Is Lost works so well because Redford has no backstory. He could be a serial killer, or he could be the President. But when you're alone and your boat starts sinking in the middle of nowhere, none of that matters.

That's exactly my sentiment, Trey saying how daring the film was to be so scant with detail and backstory, I couldn't think of any other way, outside of

All is Lost Spoiler Show
just letting Redford die at the end
that could've made it any more "daring". Love the movie, can't wait for the blu-ray, but I put it in the same category as Winter's Bone. I love it but I need to watch funny cat videos for about 30 minutes after so my soul can heal.

EDIT by mod to hide spoiler until the rest of you see All Is Lost which you should smile

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2 Reply by Jet

(121 replies, posted in Episodes)

Trey wrote:

What Bullock's character is is sad and the movie is about letting go of the past and rebirth and moving on etc.    I still maintain it's not literally about "overcoming depression" which takes a long time and usually requires pharmaceuticals. smile

True, the more I think about it, Gravity shares a lot with Pixar's Up, where Carl's inability to let go of his past (as you guys mentioned was symbolized by his house) prevented him from moving forward in his life, and only after letting go of his past and with that the loss of his wife can he finally be reborn. It wasn't supposed to be read literally overcoming depression but it was more of a piss-poor job on my part not making the point that in the case of both Carl and Ryan Stone, it's seems that it's easier for both of them to hold onto the pain of the past (and in Stone's case to die as well). It's when they both let go are then able to move on. And while I don't participate in or endorse the use of pharmaceuticals, if your into the practice, please use responsibly!  tongue

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3 Reply by Jet

(121 replies, posted in Episodes)

Trey wrote:

Well, I would then recommend All Is Lost to you, but as I recall it's already one of your faves.  smile

I don't exactly disagree with you about the need for that Gravity backstory, but I don't hate it. 

I am, however, amazed and impressed that All Is Lost dared to give us no back story whatsoever and run with a main character about whom we don't know a damn thing except that his boat is busted.    In this day and age, that's a daring choice to have made.

I think there's two parties we have to thank for giving us this movie, 1. Robert Redford (cause he carries this film) and 2. Lionsgate- cause who as long as you have a film ready to be distributed, they seem like they'll take a shot on putting it in theaters. And since they've had the distribution rights to the Twilight franchise and The Hunger Games franchise, that hasn't stopped them from taking risks on distributing films like All is Lost and The Cabin in the Woods. Also, I'm excited to see more from the writer, J.C. Chandor, who only has one other writing credit (2011's Margin Call).

Would you have liked the film even more if you found out Redford's character was some kind of reprobate or criminal by the end of the film or is it more daring that his character's ambiguity endures through the whole movie?

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4 Reply by Jet

(121 replies, posted in Episodes)

Jet wrote:

And I'm about to get all snooty here, but do you think that the tale of one individual in the vacuum of space, all alone could be symbolism for Bullock's character and how some of those who experience severe depression view their world when suffering through it?

dorkman wrote:

As we discuss during the ep, I think seeing this as a metaphor for depression is too narrow -- it's a story about overcoming tragedy. Depression can be part of that but depression can also hit for no reason at all. If anything it's about overcoming grief.


Yes, I think your right there, I think I should've prefaced it that specifically in the context of Bullock's character, the depression metaphor (even how narrow it may be) could suffice as it seems that her character battled it in some form. However, overcoming tragedy seems to be the film's true story, as there are people who suffer loss and don't battle depression. I just find it interesting thinking of how the impact of the events in the film that Bullock's character endures effect her going forward after the credits roll as depression is something that is truly never cured.

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5 Reply by Jet

(121 replies, posted in Episodes)

And I'm staying tuned to blu-ray.com, waiting for that Saving Mr. Banks release date. I got my screener copy and I'm already preparing for the evisceration that'll be known as the Saving Mr. Banks commentary.

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6 Reply by Jet

(121 replies, posted in Episodes)

Doctor Submarine wrote:

I'm starting to come to terms with Gravity and my love/hate relationship with it. First, I think it's a brilliant piece of cinema. As a work of art in that medium, it's undoubtedly one of the best ever produced. Second, I don't think it's a great movie. I think that using the vast, endless expanse of space to tell a super personal story about one character is interesting, but a mistake. I would have loved to see a more universal, almost existential story using that framework. But that's pretty much just All Is Lost.

So, yeah. Gravity isn't all that great as a story. But the way that it uses its art form to tell its story is just phenomenal. I don't know if that makes any sense, but whatever.

So, could you say that Gravity is Caurón's version of a Kubrick film? Yes, the story of Gravity isn't original, but I think what it relies on is immersing you in the experience of how hopelessly small the expanse of space can make you feel, especially when your all alone. I also just re-listened to The Shining commentary and both films seemed to emphasize the visceral nature of fear (The Shining) and hopelessness/depression (Gravity) in a similar manner and the story seemed to take a back seat.

And I'm about to get all snooty here, but do you think that the tale of one individual in the vacuum of space, all alone could be symbolism for Bullock's character and how some of those who experience severe depression view their world when suffering through it? I recently lost my father to an auto-immune disease at age 49, and grief counselors say after loss, people who tend go fall into depressive episodes close themselves off from the world and view their situations as ones that no one else can relate to. Leaving them trapped in their misery all alone, existing but not living. It's only after persevering through her feeling of loss, does Bullock's character realize not only that all is not lost but that she has control of her destiny. Coming to this realization gives her hope, and after confronting her depression and self-doubt does she conquer it through saving her life. (Moves hipster glasses around pretentiously)

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7 Reply by Jet

(209 replies, posted in Off Topic)

When it comes to The Lone Ranger, I feel that in today's cinema, Westerns just don't draw the way sci-fi or fantasy does now. I don't think there was a true way to make this film a monetary success in today's movie industry. I think this movie should've followed the path the movie Dredd did, where playing the film more seriously like in 2012's Dredd as opposed to the Stallone incarnation could have lead to a more critically successful film. I'm unsure as to what changes could have turned it into the blockbuster the studio thought it could've been, that's why I'm not a movie exec. I'm also not convinced Hammer can be a lead, but to me he wasn't what was the main reason for its failure.

Anyway, here's my Top 5 (haven't yet seen: Blue is the Warmest Colour, Her, and The Wolf of Wall Street)
1. Gravity
2. Prisoners
3. American Hustle & Act of Killing (tie)
4. All Is Lost
5. Dallas Buyers Club
Honorable Mention: Side Effects, Oblivion, Blackfish, Inside Llewyn Davis, The To-Do List, This is the End

Top 5 Worst:
1. Movie 43
2. After Earth & The Mortal Instruments (tie)
3. Elysium
4. Jack the Giant Slayer & Warm Bodies (Nicholas Hoult your terrible)
5. The Lone Ranger

Next Top 5 Worst (yeah its that kinda year)
6. Star Trek Into Darkness
7. Kick Ass 2
8. Identity Thief
9. The Host
10. Disney's Planes
Dishonorable Mention: Paranoia

However, this year I think gave us a lot of interesting possible WAYDM Candidates, some of which I'd be interested in are for good or bad:
1. The World's End
2. Pacific Rim
3. Elysium
4. Hunger Games: Catching Fire
5. Man of Steel
6. World War Z
7. Monsters University
8. The Purge

Lastly, I think this would be more fitting for the Are Video Games Art? thread, but if we could include them, I'd put the story told in "The Last of Us" in my Top 5. The script Neil Druckmann penned for this PS3 exclusive game follows a number of zombie/apocalyptic tropes and subverts some along the way. With the occasional comedic relief to lighten the mood, the game carries a sense of dread that is inescapable, with every death along the way (infected or not) having weight to it as if you feel the impact of taking every life. You can tell that Druckmann is well versed in the art of screenwriting, as setups are paid off largely through the narrative. The story of weaved between the two main characters and the complex relationship shared between them only begins to engrossing you the longer you play, learning the nuances of characters and watching them grow closer only leads to a greater potential sense of loss. What makes the game phenomenal is the fact they can convey so much emotion so subtly without much/if an dialogue during some scenes. It's a game where you could argue that the cutscenes are better than the gameplay itself.I'm not going to spoil any part of the game for anyone who hasn't had the benefits of experiencing The Last of Us, but to say the beginning & ending of the game left me speechless, would be an understatement. I've read some video game articles claiming TLoU has given video games, "The citizen Kane moment in gaming", I wouldn't go that far but if you have a PS3 (or a generous friend who'd allow you to borrow theirs) and about 13-15 hours to dedicate to this story, it's an experience that will stick with you long after you've put the controller down.

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8 Reply by Jet

(364 replies, posted in Episodes)

I third the motion for a trailer intermission. When The World's End hits blu-ray, I think we need a Hot Fuzz/ The World's End double feature. Having seen Kick-Ass 2, and being underwhelmed by it, I popped in my copy of Super with Rainn Wilson and I realized that in ways, Super is superior to the original Kick-Ass and I'd like to hear the group of Teague/Eddie/Dorkman/Trey who did the Kick-Ass commentary to conduct a Super commentary.

However, with less than 2 weeks until October, I wonder what Halloween double-features may be coming. We've had found-footage, zombie, etc. There are a few features id love to see this October.

- Vampire Double-Feature: Let Me In (or Let the Right One In) and either Interview with a Vampire or The Lost Boys

- Hitchcock Double-Feature: Anything would suffice, but I have a soft-spot for Vertigo, would love to have that one covered

- Black & White Double-Feature: Kind of explains itself, like the original Blob

- Foreign Horror Double Feature: There are plenty of contenders here including H-G Clouzot's 1955 french horror/thriller Les Diaboliques, which was credited in inspiring Hitchcock to write Psycho. You could include the J-Horror in this category like the original Ring, Grudge, or The Eye. And although not considered a horror film, the 1965 Italian film The 10th Victim would be a great film analysis. It follows the path of The Most Dangerous Game but proceeds movies like The Running Man, it's like The Hunger Games meets The Amazing Race. And the satire in how they spoof advertising in media and how media can easily desensitize its viewers to violence. Plus with the Hunger Games sequel coming out in November (which I'd enjoy a commentary on as well) it'd be well timed to release a 10th Victim commentary.

Spanish Horror Double-Feature: You could include these films in the Foreign Horror category but Spanish filmmakers have recently produced a number of films that could warrant a commentary. The original Rec (which was remade as Quarantine in the US), The Devil's Backbone, and The Orphanage are just a couple id love to hear the guys talk about.

Oh, I can't forget, I'd love the guys to redo a Zombieland commentary so as Trey said during the Shaun of the Dead commentary "We gonna re-record that one, so I can fuck that dog the way it should be fucked!". Because I'm glad someone else shares the same hatred for that movie as I do.

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9 Reply by Jet

(70 replies, posted in Off Topic)

I guess I should clarify my Eddie Murphy comment. Yes, I'm a fan of movies Murphy has been in like Beverly Hills Cop and Best Defense, however I personally cannot separate the Eddie Murphy I adored in Best Defense from the Eddie Murphy in Norbit or Pluto Nash. Sometimes my brain can't separate those details when I turn on my television. When I watch a Lakers game, I can't look at Kobe Bryant and bask in his great skill at playing the game of basketball, I only see a guy who I believe got away with alleged-rape twice due to witness tampering & intimidation. Not saying Eddie is a rapist, although you may disagree if you sat through all of Norbit. Unfortunately, I have trouble separating those facts, one day I'll be able to watch BHC the way I could before some of the aforementioned piiles of s*** he laid later in this career but unfortunately today isn't that day.

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10 Reply by Jet

(2,068 replies, posted in Off Topic)

Just finished watching Killer Joe. Classic gothic noire with plenty of white trash mixed in. Not many movies can leave you feeling so uncomfortable yet unable to look way like this one did. Spend 2 hours basking in the glow of Matthew McConaughey and Emile Hersh. Gonna follow it up with "Super" & "Let the Right One In", two more uplifting films. After that I'll blast some My Chemical Romance while I cut myself.

Actually, I would like to see what the guys think of LTROI or the American version "Let Me In". Double feature for October, we can wash the taste of twilight out of our mouths with "LTROI or LMI" and pair it of with something like Nosferatu (1922) or The Lonely Boys or 30 Days of Night. The guys have had zombie double-features & found-footage double features, how about a vampire one? Then maybe we can get to the bottom as to why Teague doesn't quite get about the vampire mythos.

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11 Reply by Jet

(70 replies, posted in Off Topic)

Wow, decisions..decisions. Like most, this thread isn't capable of holding the plethora of terrible films that get the green light. I could include any film with Eddie Murphy, the Joel Schumacher Batman films, any of the Friedberg & Seltzer movies, along with retarded science-fiction films like Apollo 18 & that supposed Alien prequel (fuck you Ridley Scott!).

However, for me the cardinal sin in film-making is shear laziness & incompetence and the piece of shit film that was the worst film experience of my life is Movie 43. An anthology comedy movie that is completely devoid of any semblance of humor in it. The film's biggest crime it commits is not that it's relies entirely on offensive (and racist) gross-out humor, but that it does it with a cast of A & B list across that hacks like Friedberg & Seltzer could only dream of employing. While F&S have Carmen Electra, Drake Bell, and Kevin Sorbo; Movie 43 has Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Naomi Watts, Kieran Culkin, Kate Winslet, Gerard Butler, Kristen Bell, Chloe Moretz, Richard Gere, Elizabeth Banks, and Patrick Warburton, just to name a few.

Movie 43 is a movie whose humor can't supersede the mentality of a 4th grade boy and even with all those talent actors, they created a film that will make a 10 year-old boy cringe more than laugh. Like Teague said during the Apollo 18 commentary; "You (Apollo 18) tried to shit on my face and you shit on my neck...you can't even do that right."
And this movie has wasted enough o

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12 Reply by Jet

(23 replies, posted in Episodes)

I saw District 9 was on IFC this afternoon, so after going back and listening to episode you guys did with District 9, I'm going to try to salvage that magic bean argument about the black fluid.

Trey, could it be possible that the black fluid is not "fuel" in the way we think of it but it is a pure version or some derivative of prawn DNA? The movie established to us that the weapons can only be activated by prawn DNA, so couldn't this apply to other forms of prawn technology such as a spacecraft? Christopher states that it took 20 years to collect that much liquid (which he could've harvested from dead prawns secretly over his incarceration).

This could also explains why after being infected by this liquid that, when injured his body begins to repair itself, it doesn't recognize this foreign DNA. Which could explain the transformation beginning with his left arm and why the transformation seems to not have a streamlined time cycle (since it only seems to noticeably changes after an injury that begins to heal).?

Just throwing it out there.

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