On World Trade Center:


I think it's moving in that sense only because you were so close to it. I for one wasn't; for me, it was quite awful.

Not that it matters, but FCM collectively voted it as the worst of 2006.

I just got back from Cloverfield earlier, and that's a far more politically and socially profound film in light of 9/11. Fantastic film.

Stone's film looks like it were shot for TV (badly), and churns through soap opera kitsch like it were the in-thing (perhaps it is).

Capo, I agree with some of what you said about World Trade Center. Yes, it was heavy-handed and kitschy at times. However, I couldn't help being emotionally involved, perhaps because that day is still so vivid for me. If I were more removed from the events, perhaps I wouldn't have felt the way I did about it.

Looks like your not ganna get a reply.

I suspect it's because he's doing other things while watching them, and doesn't want to admit. Passive engagement as opposed to active consumption invalidates any serious criticism.

THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD 1/2
(First Vieiwng)

Some great performances all around. A beautifully directed historical story by Andrew Dominik that with the narration, seemed like something off of the history channel. However, the film I felt could have been cut down some or not been as slow (running time is at 160 minutes). Brad Pitt also does a great job as the paranoid, notorious figure of the day, Jesse James. Finally, I'm really glad Casey Affleck was able to breakthrough in this film. Hopefully this will help him jump out of the shadow of big brother Ben Affleck like Eli Manning just stepped out of big brother Peyton Manning's shadown on Sunday

I've been looking forward to seeing this movie. I believe it comes out tomorrow (wed.) on DVD right?

I got 3:10 TO YUMA on dvd today, if I get a chance to watch it tonight, I'll review it tomorrow.

No it came out today

I was going to make a masturbation joke, but no.....I can resist temptation....

STEEL (1997) - *1/2

(NOTE: Thanks to badmovies.org for the photos)

I fully understand why Warner Bros. terminated Steel's umbilical cord to Superman. With Tim Burton's SUPERMAN LIVES in development hell for years before its quiet expensive death, WB wanted to both produce another comic book movie, and to capitalize on Hollywood's then serious belief that NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal could be a movie star.

Yet in severing the character's mythos connection with the Blue Bomber, they undercut the biggest charm of Steel for me. As a kid stunned by the media circus that was the "Death of Superman" storyline, I just dug the idea of a regular Joe deeply inspired by the heroic self-sacrifice of the Last Son of Krypton.

Inspired enough at least to become a Man of Steel himself, much like a generation of Americans driven into public service by President Kennedy's assassination.

For D.C. Comics, Steel practically became their Iron Man, and has become a rare successful superhero who just happens to be black, and not simply a shallow racial token. Plus, he swings around a giant goddamn hammer. He's almost like Thor, but without the divinity issues that annoy pious American readers.

But what was a primitive if slick-designed suit look is now an idiotic-looking trick or treat Halloween costume, and its worn by someone who only helps re-enforce its genuine goofyness.

To prove my point, here's a cartoon version of Steel, who looks like a serious badass you wouldn't want to screw with.



Now compare that with the live-action translation with Shaq...



Wow. Yeah, he's got crooks shaking in their boots alright........from laughter.

While the freakishly tall O'Neal is a future Basketball Hall of Famer, he lacks the physical charisma or charm of say a Schwarzenegger to overcome his "rough" acting edges and be an intimidating presence. For such a monster of a roadblock on the hard courts, Shaq is sure a surprising action lightweight.

Nevermind we get a crappy series of lame gags involving Shaq's (real life) inability to shoot free-throws. This movie bricks is pure brick.

I'll give STEEL credit for not even bothering to try to pass off Shaq as intelligent, as the hero was in the comics. That would have flopped this side of SHAQ FU. While he has neither the brains or braun of John Henry Irons, I think my biggest problem with STEEL as a fan is just its approach as a black film.

Kenneth Johnson, the director of STEEL, had made his bones with V, the legendary mini-series about lizard aliens with sunglasses that was an allegory of Nazis and fascism. He later produced the decent TV cop show ALIEN NATION, which was a metaphor about immigrant minorities trying to assimilate into America.

His STEEL is a guy who comes back to his L.A. ghetto home after serving in the Army and suits up literally after finding out that violent gangs are using his weapons technology.

You may ask, so what? Well, this similar storyline was in the STEEL comics, but not in his native city. I'm sorry, but how can someone be heroic if they do the right thing if only because they have a personal stake invested somehow?

God knows I would have been more dramatically invested within those SPIDER-MAN pictures if his woman wasn't always held hostage by the villain. Can't heroes be heroes simply because its the right thing to do?

Maybe I shouldn't ask for much from what was intended to be a blaxploitation take on the simple-minded adventurism of Tim Burton's BATMAN, but STEEL is so cartoonishly inept and lame this side of Vanilla Ice, even kids hate this movie. I know I did.

Beyond wanting to capitalize on Shaq, the producers and filmmakers of STEEL should have asked people overseas who are fans of D.C. and Marvel Comics. Surely they don't relate to these Yankee heroes as fellow Americans, so what do they see in these supermen?

Why did I dig Steel even though I'm as black as Doogie Howser?

Better yet, why did a rich white Italian-American youth like Nicholas Coppola "borrow" his screen acting name from a wronged black superhero like Luke Cage?

It's not because he can slam dunk a basketball.

for a minute i thought Irishman posted this..

TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE
(First Viewing)

This was my first time being exposed to the cartoon and it wasn't as good as I was hoping. It was pretty campy in parts and the live action verstion just blows this out of the water.

That's sorta unfair, isn't it?

That's like Hercules beating up a crippled kid.

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON 1/2
(First Viewing)

Based on these Universal classic horror films that I've seen, I'd rank them as follows:

Tie) FRANKENSTEIN & THE INVISIBLE MAN
3) DRACULA
4) THE MUMMY
5) THE WOLF MAN
6) CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON

At its best, it was a Grade B drive-in flick. But its fun!!

I saw Black Lagoon on the big screen last year, with 3D glasses and everything. It was a heinous monstrosity of shitness, though I suppose it did have a certain charm in its soundtrack. Still, it's inexcusably bad.

Irish, how come you never answered my question, anyway?

GONE BABY GONE 1/2
(First Viewing)

Casey Affleck turns in another great performance and hopefully again will come out from the shadown of big brother Ben. Speaking of Matt Murdock, I must tip my hat to him in his directoral debut. This is basically the unofficial sequel to MYSTIC RIVER.

GANDHI
(First Viewing)

Ben Kingsley turns in the performance of a lifetime with his wonderful portral of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. And while the film is a little over three hours, it didn't so really and I think it worked well in both showing his struggle to breakaway from English rule while also trying to unify Muslims and Hindus in an independent India. My only real beef with the film was that the film opened up with the beginning, which I felt spoiled it a bit for me.

Ghandhi may have been THE single most "significant" person of the 20th century, and you're just learning about what happened to him from the beginning of the film??

Gandhi's overrated.

I developed a hatred for the movie, not because of its content, but because they used to play it on Indian TV every year on Gandhi's birth anniversary at a time when there was only one television channel available in the country and it was a government run one. Imagine having a day off at school and sitting at home to watch this movie every year

THE OMEN (1976)
(Second Viewing)

I really think this is one of those rare instances were I don't know if I enjoy the original or remake better. They are so closely told in terms of story (very few differences) but some things I think Gregory Peck did better and some things I think Liev Schreiber did better. However, I think I prefer Julia Stiles to Lee Remick.

Dude, as much as I dig Liev....

Peck's the FUCKING shit.

What, they didn't have any other good Bollywood flicks to play?

Besides, has India ever had a good leader that wasn't murdered?

QUIZ SHOW
(First Vieiwng)

I really wish Martin Scorsese would act more because for the very little air time he got in this he was amazing. I have also never heard of Rob Morrow who played Dick Goodwin. He did a terrific job but haven't heard from him since. However, my favorite performance was reserved for the man himself, John Turturro as Herbie Stempel. Just his accent and mannerisms were classic!

2 prime ministers were killed and another one's death is suspected to be a murder. But were they good leaders ?

Gone Baby Gone ***
I liked the movie, but I am always a little biased in favor of Casey Affleck. Those who liked Zodiac might like this, though this movie does conclude the story in a more definite way. BTW, this is directed by Ben Affleck and he does a good job. The supporting characters, Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman do a good job, but their roles are relatively small.

I just watched The Omen (1976) for the first time last Halloween. I wasn't completely blown away, maybe because it was a bit dated, but it is definitely a classic. I haven't seen the remake so I can't compare, but in the original the kid and the dog freaked me out.