TV And Films

The shows and movies I like (or don’t).

MiddleEarth mania, week one: The Fellowship of the Ring

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Saturday Prairie and I started our three-week string of Lord of the Rings movie watching with the Cinerama‘s showing of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition.

We started by wandering down to Westlake Center to get lunch at the Indian shop in the food court, then spent some time window shopping and trying to avoid the holiday shopping crowds. We wandered up to the Cinerama to see if there was a line a little over an hour before the show, and (no big surprise, really) one was already forming, so we hopped in and spent the next hour or so chatting and watching people line up. Thankfully it was a sunny day without too much wind — I doubt I can expect that for the next two weekends, but the wait wasn’t all that bad this weekend, and we ended up fairly close to the front of the line. After about an hour, we made it in, found great seats (dead center, about six rows back), and waited for the movie to start.

One of the things I really appreciated about this was that they didn’t waste any time. The Cinerama is already a nicer experience than many other theaters, in that they don’t have the obnoxious advertising slides projected on the screen before the show. Not only was that the case this time, but when the movie started, it started right in — no “pre-show entertainment” (commercials), not even any trailers — just a short AMC Theaters splash reel, and then we went right into the movie.

The film itself was, of course, excellent. I hadn’t watched it in about a year, since Prairie and I watched it on DVD just before going out to see The Two Towers in the theatre. Just being able to see this version of the film in the theater is such a treat. The entire audience was great, too. One of the things I noticed and liked a lot was how many families showed up for this, some with kids who couldn’t have been more than 8 or 9, and how involved they all were. Well-behaved, no fussing or whining (pretty impressive for a 3+ hour event), and even when things on screen were scary (the cave troll and the Balrog, for instance), they were obviously fun-scared, not nightmare-scared.

I do have to admit, though — while I was originally a little disappointed that I couldn’t get tickets for the full LotR marathon, after sitting in the theater through one film, I think I’m glad. I’m not sure my butt could handle 9-10 hours in a theater seat!

NetFlix Freak (nee Fanatic)

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There used to be a handy little application for managing your NetFlix queue called Netflix Fanatic. Unfortunately, it stopped being available a while ago, apparently after the author’s employer claimed that the app had been developed on company time and equipment.

However, now comes NetFlix Freak — all the goodness of NetFlix Fanatic, and then some.

  • Drag and drop to rearrange movies in your queue
  • Select two movies in your queue and swap their positions
  • Shuffle your rental queue
  • Fast searching of the Netflix DVD catalog
  • Add multiple movies to your queue in one action
  • Add new movies at the beginning of your queue, the end, or shuffle your queue automatically after new movies are added
  • Keep track of who rented which movie in your household
  • Import your entire rental history (not just the last 90 days)

…and much more.

Roy Disney resigns from Disney

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Wow. Okay, so it’s been fairly obvious that Disney isn’t what it once was (how many recent Disney movies can you think of that were really worthwhile that weren’t Pixar productions with the Disney logo stamped on them?), but this is still a fairly amazing development. Roy Disney himself has left the Walt Disney company, and includes a call for Michael Eisner’s resignation or retirement in his letter of resignation.

It is with deep sadness and regret that I send you this letter of resignation from the Walt Disney Company, both as Chairman of the Feature Animation Division and as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.

You well know that you and I have had serious differences of opinion about the direction and style of management in the company in recent years. For whatever reason, you have driven a wedge between me and those I work with even to the extent of requiring some of my associates to report my conversations and activities to you. I find this intolerable.

…I believe your conduct has resulted from my clear and unambiguous statements to you and the Board of Directors that after 19 years at the helm you are no longer the best person to run the Walt Disney Company. You had a very successful first 10-plus years at the company in partnership with Frank Wells, for which I salute you. But since Frank’s untimely death in 1994, the company has lost its focus, its creative energy, and its heritage.

[…]

In conclusion, Michael, it is my sincere belief that it is you who should be leaving and not me. Accordingly, I once again call for your resignation or retirement. The Walt Disney Company deserves fresh, energetic leadership at this challenging time in its history just as it did in 1984 when I headed a restructuring which resulted in your recruitment to the Company.

I have and will always have an enormous allegiance and respect for this Company, founded by my uncle, Walt, and father, Roy, and to our faithful employees and loyal stockholders. I don’t know if you and other directors can comprehend how painful it is for me and the extended Disney family to arrive at this decision.

(via aeire)

First LotR:TRotK review…almost

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A reporter from the New Zealand Herald got to see an advance screening of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and has posted — well, it’s not really a review…

The Return of the King is … sorry about this, but we’re not allowed to tell you what we think of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King until next Tuesday.

[…]

So we can’t actually say whether it was the single most amazing cinema experience of our recent memory or not.

Neither can we say in which bits we may or may not have got more than a little weepy, or whether we were emotionally affected at all. And we certainly couldn’t even hint at which film is clearly the best in Peter Jackson’s trilogy now that we’ve seen all three.

We probably need a second look at The Return of the King to decide for sure. Or maybe a third or a fourth…

Something tells me they liked it. ;)

In the meantime, it’s three weeks until LotR:TRotK opens here. Next weekend, I’ll be seeing the Extended Edition of LotR:TFotR at the Cinerama. The next weekend, it’ll be the Extended Edition of LotR:TTT. And finally, the weekend after that, LotR:TRotK.

My precious…

Bad Santa

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I first heard about Bad Santa thanks to Pops about a week ago, and it immediately sounded like something that would be right up my alley.

Roger Ebert’s review has just solidified that. This movie will be seen by me, quite possibly tomorrow. Here’s some random choice snippets from Ebert…

Santa is a depressed, alcoholic safecracker. The kid is not one of your cute movie kids, but an intense and needy stalker; think of Thomas the Tank Engine as a member of the Addams Family. … “Bad Santa” is a demented, twisted, unreasonably funny work of comic kamikaze style, starring Billy Bob Thornton as Santa in a performance that’s defiantly uncouth. … You expect a happy ending, but the ending is happy in the same sense that a man’s doctors tell him he lost his legs but they were able to save his shoes. … There are certain unwritten parameters governing mainstream American movies, and “Bad Santa” violates all of them. … I didn’t like this movie merely because it was weird and different; I liked it because it makes no compromises and takes no prisoners. And because it is funny. … When Billy Bob Thornton got the script, he must have read it and decided it would be career suicide. Then he put the script to his head and pulled the trigger. … What I can’t picture is, who will attend this movie? Anybody? Movies like this are a test of taste. If you understand why “Kill Bill” is a good movie and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is not, and “Bad Santa” is a good movie and “The Cat in the Hat” is not, then you have freed yourself from the belief that a movie’s quality is determined by its subject matter. You instinctively understand that a movie is not about what it is about, but about how it is about it. You qualify for “Bad Santa.”

(via Nate)

Troy

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Troy

Another film I’m really looking forward to seeing — Troy.

Throughout time, men have waged war. Some for power, some for glory, some for honor — and some for love.

In ancient Greece, the passion of two of history’s most legendary lovers, Paris, Prince of Troy (ORLANDO BLOOM) and Helen (DIANE KRUGER), Queen of Sparta, ignites a war that will devastate a civilization. When Paris steals Helen away from her husband, King Menelaus (BRENDAN GLEESON), it is an insult that cannot be suffered. Familial pride dictates that an affront to Menelaus is an affront to his brother Agamemnon (BRIAN COX), powerful King of the Myceneans, who soon unites all the massive tribes of Greece to steal Helen back from Troy in defense of his brother’s honor.

In truth, Agamemnon’s pursuit of honor is corrupted by his overwhelming greed — he needs control of Troy to ensure the supremacy of his already vast empire. The walled city, under the leadership of King Prium (PETER O’TOOLE) and defended by mighty Prince Hector (ERIC BANA), is a citadel that no army has been able to breach. One man alone stands as the key to victory or defeat over Troy — Achilles (BRAD PITT), believed to be the greatest warrior alive.

Arrogant, rebellious and seemingly invincible, Achilles has no allegiance to anyone or anything, save his own glory. It is his insatiable hunger for eternal renown that leads him to attack the gates of Troy under Agamemnon’s banner — but it will be love that ultimately decides his fate.

Two worlds will go to war for honor and power. Thousands will fall in pursuit of glory. And for love, a nation will burn to the ground.

The trailer can be downloaded from Apple’s trailer site, and is worth watching just for the shot of thousands of triremes covering the ocean.

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Special Extended Edition)

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One of the many reasons I didn’t post much last week (along with training for my new job, which had my schedule bouncing all over the place — when you’re used to getting up between 9:30 and 10:00 am every day, 6:30am is really early) was that I picked up the newly-released Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Special Extended DVD Edition).

First off, and most simply, if you’re a fan of the series, there’s no question about it. This is a must-buy DVD (as is, incidentally, the extended edition of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring). Feel free to stop reading this and just go buy it.

I haven’t even gotten into any of the special features (and there are a ton to get through) yet. All I’ve done so far is watch the new cut of the film itself, and the new cut is incredible. Around 40 minutes has been added to the movie, bringing the total run time up to a whopping 223 minutes — almost four full hours. Lest this sound like overkill, rest assured that the pacing of the movie doesn’t suffer in any way, and it only helps expand and enhance the full story. The insertions are scattered throughout the film, from quick cuts here and there that expand already-existing scenes, to entire sequences that had to be cut from the theatrical version. Every major character (and most of the minor characters) have additional bits added which do wonders for fleshing all of them out. What may be the two biggest additions (for me, at least) were a flashback sequence between Boromir, Faramir and their father Denethor which helps to flesh out their backstory (and explain why Faramir doesn’t come across as “perfect” in the films as he does in the books); and in a nod to the excising of Tom Bombadil from LotR:TFotR, the inclusion of Old Man Willow!

As was the case with LotR:TFotR, the extended edition of LotR:TTT is a far superior film (not that the theatrical release was bad at all — this version is just better). Much as I understand why they couldn’t release movies of this length to the theaters, it’s really a pity. I’m just glad that there will be limited releases of the extended versions of LotR:TFotR and LotR:TTT at the Seattle Cinerama just before LotR:TRotK is released (and that I’ve already got my tickets)!

For those of you that already have the set:

  1. Pop in Disc 1 (part one of the movie).
  2. Go to the last page of the Scene Selections.
  3. Go down to the last scene on Disc 1 (“Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit”).
  4. Press down once more, to highlight a hidden Ring.
  5. Press play.

Gollum on MTV

Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex

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Brodie: Lois could never have Superman’s baby. Do you think her fallopian tubes could handle the sperm? I guarantee he blows a load like a shotgun right through her back. What about her womb? Do you think it’s strong enough to carry his child?

T.S.: Sure, why not?

Brodie Bruce: He’s an alien for Christ sake! His Kryptonian biological makeup is enhanced by Earth’s yellow sun. If Lois gets a tan, the kid could kick right through her stomach. Only someone like Wonder Woman has a strong enough uterus to carry his kid. The only way he could bang regular chicks is with a kryptonite condom. That would kill him.

— Brodie Bruce and T.S. Quint in Kevin Smith’s Mallrats

Covering the same basic field as the above quote, but in a more scientific, if not serious manner, Larry Niven’s classic speculative 1971 piece Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex.

Either Superman has gone completely schizo and believes himself to be Clark Kent; or he knows what he’s doing, but no longer gives a damn. Thirty-one years is a long time. For Superman it has been even longer. He has X-ray vision; he knows just what he’s missing. (*One should not think of Superman as a Peeping Tom. A biological ability must be used. As a child Superman may never have known that things had surfaces, until he learned to suppress his X-ray vision. If millions of people tend shamelessly to wear clothing with no lead in the weave, that is hardly Superman’s fault.*)

The problem is this. Electroencephalograms taken of men and women during sexual intercourse show that orgasm resembles “a kind of pleasurable epileptic attack.” One loses control over one’s muscles.

Superman has been known to leave his fingerprints in steel and in hardened concrete, accidentally. What would he do to the woman in his arms during what amounts to an epileptic fit?

(via Boing Boing)

Trailers: Harry Potter, Peter Pan

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Quick notice of a couple trailers worth checking out (at least, in my world they’re worth checking out):

Sirius Black

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban: On the insanely unlikely chance you don’t know, this is the third film in the Harry Potter series, adapted from the book of the same name. First impressions: Michael Gambon as Dumbledore seems to both look and sound right (a good thing, I was a little worried about the switch in actors). What’s up with Draco’s new hairstyle? I’m not sure if I like it or not. Gary Oldman looks great as Sirius Black. Our first glimpse of the Dementors, and they look nicely creepy. Overall, I’m looking forward to it — each sucessive book has been getting darker, and it appears that they’re not afraid to let the movies do the same.

Mermaid

Peter Pan: I’d not even heard of this one, until I found it linked from the Harry Potter fan site The Leaky Cauldron (Cpt. Hook is played by Jason Isaccs, who played Lucius Malfoy in HPatCoS). This one looks quite interesting — it appears that the people making it are aiming to do their best to capture J.M. Barrie’s book on film as closely as possible. Wendy isn’t “classically” cute, but I think she looks perfect — like a real girl. Isaacs looks like he’s having a blast as Cpt. Hook, and the mermaids look downright creepy! There are two trailers available on the website, I’d suggest grabbing the one listed as “Trailer #1” first — while the “New Trailer!” shows more of the story, the quality is much worse, and the first trailer gives a much better idea of the look of the film.