boss_kitty

Screen #132

Little Miss Sunshine.

Watched with Beth on DVD last night.  Her choice initially, I wasn't averse but not too enthused either really, dunno why, the ambiguous ("not for everyone") type praise it was getting maybe plus it won 2 Oscars which would give me a bit of a chip against it.

Anyway it's a road movie, and it's fantastic, warm funny and quite savage in its critique of elements of 21st century US life.  All the idiosynchratic charecters are beautifully brought to life (its a great cast, the little kid [Abigail Breslin] is fantastic so much better than kid actors usually are, Alan Arkin [deserved the Best Supp Actor Oscar {it also won best screenplay}] as the antisocial Grandpa, Steve Carell as Frank, and Paul Dano as mostly mute Dwayne are particular standouts, but no-one lets the side down).

I have no criticisms, it even drops right in on the filmic gold (for me) running time of 90-100 minutes.  A must see, you will laugh...a lot and maybe cry too, but not in an overdose of pathos.  Terrific surprise.

Can't...think

Have foamed about the wonderful Gordon McIntyre and his main band Ballboy before, but found his "new" band (well they played Nottm last summer) on MySpace, they're called Money Can't Buy Music (band site here [not updated very often but you can download the 2 tracks], MySpace page here), and they have 2 tracks there for you to sample.  Sounding pretty fucking shwift there in a Ballboy kinda way (well his voice is pretty distinctive).  I really like the sound, he's great and Maja's voice seems to compliment Gordon's really well.  Wish I'd caught them in Notts last year now.

Screen #131

Beetlejuice.

Saw this on Sunday (we taped it), the first time I've seen the whole film...After 19 years of trying.

I like Tim Burton's films, and I suppose this was his big breakthrough (or I remember it as such).  It's good actually, considerably less schmaltz than he currently uses (cf Corpse Bride).  Michael Keaton is suitably repellent in the title role, if underused (maybe that's a good thing here as it could've descended into gross-out-ville).  Winona is great in her early trade mark not-so-rebellious Goth (i.e. Goth then) persona,  Geena Davis and one of the Baldwins are sweet enough as the naff recently deceased-s and it all ends nicely enough.  Soundtrack's good too ("six foot, seven foot, EIGHT FOOT BUNCH").

Still here?  Recommended.

Screen #130

The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3-D.

While sweating out the pox watched this with daughter Rhi on Friday after school.  I've already given 'nuff praise to Robert Rodriguez on this blog, and repeated myself on others too.

Unfortunately here he carries on from Spy Kids 3-D in terms of the technology and blandness of storyline.  I thought one of his kids (at least two of whom appear as extras here) had written the story as it really is a 2-D plot.  The kids seem to have been picked for their gymnastic abilities rather than acting (always a tough ask anyway) and it just lumbers along to a predictable conclusion.

It seems to have been made as an extended tech demo for Rodriguez and his Troublemaker studios, and seeing as I'm not looking for cut price Special FX, I wasn't interested.

Rhi quite enjoyed some plot points (the Train of Thought, Stream of Consciousness and Passage of Time elements of the tangent world) but seemed bored on the whole.  It was nice to snuggle and watch a film together though.

Interesting coincidence of tangent universes with this and Donnie Darko that I watched earlier that day (alone), although this doesn't have any cerebral merit I was a bit spooked by the fact there's alt universes in both films.  Well maybe that's just me being ill I dunno.

As a film on it's merits though - avoid.  Oh and 3-D way sucks, move on.

Screen #129

Donnie Darko.

First saw this movie a couple of years back (pre-blog) have had it on cheapo DVD without watching it until I fell foul of man-flu late last week.  So decided to watch it.

Enjoyed it again, the movie has a slightly elegaic feel backed up by a solid 80s soundtrack (including Tears for Fears who I hate, but work well in context).  Can't see what all the fuss about the storyline being complicated was all about as it's a fairly straightforward time travelling thing really (well as straightforward as time travel could be).  There is a messianic feel to Donnie as he travels back to die, closing the wormhole to the tangent universe and saving the lives of his loved ones and the current "active" world at the end.  And as such it has a hugely sad, but happy ending.

The Swayze/gym teacher sub-plot is a bit obvious I thought, but I was crotchety with fever so maybe let that slide.

Otherwise a pretty sweet film.

Youtubery 28

OK also found through MySpace the "different" genius of DJ Scotch Egg.  Saw him at the Old Angel, Nottm. supporting Noxagt, didn't know who he was (listed him as Idisynchratic Japanese Guy) and wasn't sure if his excellence was skill or luck, but he blew me away before blowing his electrics.  Bottom line is he makes skill Game Boy-based hardcore dance music, and is fucking great fun.  His website is here, and MySpace here but below see a clip demonstrating the madness of him live (with Super Mario break in't middle).

Youtubery 27

Sorry, not been posting, been ego-tripping on MySpace (I'm here if you're interested), but anyway via a convoluted series of things found this video of The Stupids (Ipswich's finest by miles) doing Skid Row and Slumber Party Massacre.  They were great, Tommy Stupid is now a Drum 'n' Bass purveyor, shame (see here for Tom's MySpace, if you like mellow D 'n' B).  Damn, I loved the Stupids, controversial as this may be Jesus Meets the Stupids is one of my favourite albums.

Screen #126 & 128

Spy Kids and Spy Kids 2.

Watched these with Rhi over this week, kids films are hard to rate because their audience has such different needs and expectations from mine.  Sequels suck also.  But hey, these are Robert Rodriguez movies, and I love he (see me waxing on about his early movies on Mark's blog in the pre-Kitty era [second para under "Saturday"]).

OK these are somewhat typical of RR movies, in that the enthusiasm he brings wins over some poor story-lining and telling, and like all RR DVDs the extras are really worth it.  The "Ten Minute Film School" is reprised and is again really interesting, and Rodriguez does come across as an enthusiast, with a human touch who loves using technology (unique??).

Anyway, the second film is waaaaay better than the first (which is still OK [or "good" according to Rhi, the sequel being "excellent" despite her being full of cold]), the kids are older and act better, so there are less cringe-y bits.  Both movies are comic books come to life as the 9 and 12 year old children of spies become the world's best spies themselves.  Part of Rodriguez's background as a comic book creator shows here in the freedom of imagination he brings, and also it could be argued, in the slightness (or at least one-dimensionality) of the plot.

Both films are just fine for a rainy afternoon/evening with the kids (not morning though, oh no), with, as I say, the second one being actually a pretty good movie end of.  They really balls-ed up with the third franchise film though which I watched ages ago, but don't seem to have reviewed, maybe it was pre-blogging?  That loss of direction is a real shame though, Spy Kids 3-D went techno mad and (gulp) 3-D - a definite signpost to clunker-ville, and sullied the series - avoid that one.

Rodriguez went on to his most successful movie IMO (not self-scripted and storyboarded either, is there a connection?) Sin City after these, and his visual flair and enthusiasm really worked marvelously with Frank Miller's tales (not that I like that comic, but the film's really fine).  I'm repeating myself now, so I'll stop.

Anyway, really good for kids these, and maybe the second one holds up regardless, either way good enough films from some one I really respect and rate.  Sold.

Screen #127

Yabu No Naka No Kuroneko.

Had forgotten adding this to the rental list so was kinda surprised when it dropped thru the letterbox.  It's a 1968 Japanese horror film which got some Hammer-type flesh based hype on it's release.

Won't go into the story other than to say it's a pseudo vampire/werecat/rape revenge/restless spirits after you movie.  A pigeon hole of one then.  In fact it's not really that non-mainstream, you could really imagine it turning up on Tales of the Unexpected or Hammer House of Horror.

It's an OK watch, does drag a little despite being only 1½ hours long, and would maybe be better on a TV show such as the above.  There were some Edward D. Wood Jr.-type moments when samurai were walking through the bamboo grove with the "beautiful geisha", the thought that it should be night-time, is hilariously difficult to maintain as you can plainly see its a sunny day, the lighting flicks back and forth between gloom and glare.  At least it gives the pupils a work out.  Also some of the acting is over-the-top.

All that said, it is an engaging story and the doomed love aspect is nicely put forward.  The traditional dance the mother performs while her daughter slays and lays is an effective juxtaposition too.

OK so hard to sum up.  Not a film to avoid, but maybe not really worth seeking out at the end of the day.  It's alright.

Always Room...

Should've posted a rip my heart out post yesterday, but was busy living my own quiet version of hell.  Been listening to Liars a lot lately, so as a Happy Valentine to you all (if belated) here's them doing "There's Always Room on the Broom" featuring some broom love.  It's off of their second album "They Were Wrong So We Drowned" btw, I'd buy it if I knew what was good for me (cheers M for the lend).