tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post2232136531086613820..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: Scott's Links February 2012AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-62007749572689407962012-02-29T20:40:30.934-05:002012-02-29T20:40:30.934-05:00Scott, Really it's just two lines that I enjoy...Scott, Really it's just two lines that I enjoy.<br /><br />First, the dictator declares that there will be only three laws. 1. The driving age is 16. 2. Underwear will be worn on the outside. 3. All children under the age of 16... are now 16.<br /><br />And the second is when Woody says, "yay though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... no, make that run. Yes, run. Yay though I RUN through the valley of the shadow of death."AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-34844562802857178292012-02-29T20:39:05.686-05:002012-02-29T20:39:05.686-05:00Andrew -
How many clubs and passwords do we have...Andrew - <br /><br />How many clubs and passwords do we have around here?!<br /><br />It reminds me of this exchange from <i>Newsradio</i>:<br /><br />Dave: "Why does every solution to every problem around here involve some covert plan?"<br /><br />Joe: "It's a secret." :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-1920887123553268452012-02-29T20:37:39.706-05:002012-02-29T20:37:39.706-05:00A friend of mine told me about it so I checked it ...A friend of mine told me about it so I checked it out. I always give a new series at least 2 episodes before I give up. My reaction was: "Does it get funnier?"<br /><br />I seem to have a better batting average when it comes to recommending cult shows to my friends (like <i>Party Down</i> and <i>Black Books</i>; it never seems to work when they recommend stuff to me. I tried two episodes of <i>It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia</i> before I gave up but I might try again one day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-89607256102353888862012-02-29T20:37:23.590-05:002012-02-29T20:37:23.590-05:00T-Rav, We have a club for that -- Bombing Portland...T-Rav, We have a club for that -- Bombing Portland! :)<br /><br />The password is "die hippie scum!" ;)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-25308442826180390472012-02-29T20:20:58.697-05:002012-02-29T20:20:58.697-05:00Scott, I watched a couple episodes of Portlandia a...Scott, I watched a couple episodes of <i>Portlandia</i> a few weeks ago with some friends who were into it. They made me want to bomb the whole Pacific Northwest and call it a day. I guess maybe they're poking fun at themselves, but I just find it annoying.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-73056861736434161732012-02-29T19:36:18.951-05:002012-02-29T19:36:18.951-05:00Scott, I have both volumes of The Carl Stalling Pr...Scott, I have both volumes of <i>The Carl Stalling Project</i>. I wish they would have continued. I also have a few Raymond Scott albums. To say he was a demanding jazz composer would be like saying <i>Remembrance of Things Past</i> is a long book.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-91632212826125113092012-02-29T18:30:12.514-05:002012-02-29T18:30:12.514-05:00tryanmax -
Re: Kubrick - ditto!
Re: music - whi...tryanmax - <br /><br />Re: Kubrick - ditto!<br /><br />Re: music - while I'm a fan, I know nothing of how music is actually written or performed so I can't really get in-depth with it. I had trouble following the article.<br /><br />Re: rumors - I vaguely remember some stuff. Back then, I was much more in tune with the geek rumor mill than I am today. But I was always more interested in the behind the scenes stuff: what would the ships look like, etc.?<br /><br />Re: <i>Armageddon</i> - If you ever do become a half-rate actor, be sure to work with more scientifically-inclined directors! :-)<br /><br />Re: Woody - "The universe is expanding!"<br /><br />Re: <i>Firefly</i> - I got into the show a few years after the fact but I enjoy it very much. I'm constantly amazed at the efforts of the fans, whether it's charity events with the Browncoats or simply fan-made artwork and fiction.<br /><br />Re: <i>30 Rock</i> - Interesting take. Oddly, I couldn't make it through more than two episodes of <i>Portlandia</i>. I found the characters more annoying than funny. (And this is coming from someone who leans a little more to the left than anyone else on the blog!)<br /><br />Re: NC-17 - I've only seen one NC-17 film: David Cronenberg's <i>Crash</i>. Uh... interesting movie. <br /><br />Re: effects - it's amazing what filmmakers used to accomplish without CGI. I'm a fan of the old-school cloud tank stuff myself (the nebula in <i>Trek II</i> for example). I used to read tons about FX but it got boring to read about "texture mapping" and other CGI terms.<br /><br />Re: Hedy - No, there's no rule about being vapid but, yeah, it'd be cool to see something like that today.<br /><br />Re: scores - I, too, am a fan of Stalling and I have a couple of the Stalling compilation albums though the sound quality varies. I also recommend a CD titled <i>Cartoon Classics</i> which features a lot of the famous classical pieces featured in cartoons, WB and otherwise. I also like Raymond Scott's <i>Powerhouse</i> which was featured in many <i>Looney Tunes</i> shorts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-77113642648707573142012-02-29T18:18:40.325-05:002012-02-29T18:18:40.325-05:00Ed -
It's the only Trek soundtrack with a wa...Ed - <br /><br />It's the only <i>Trek</i> soundtrack with a warning like that! Again, the film is rated PG; you only hear it on the album. <br /><br />The song itself was written specifically for the film by Kirk Thatcher, associate producer, who also plays the punk on the bus. For the CD, they managed to get the original source which has survived all these years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-66810391493147314022012-02-29T18:15:51.039-05:002012-02-29T18:15:51.039-05:00Jed -
I've always found the Hedy story inter...Jed - <br /><br />I've always found the Hedy story interesting. It's certainly not something you read everyday. Now I just need to see one of her films one of these days.<br /><br />No comment about <i>Newsweek</i> but I'd love to see what Kubrick would do with the Internet. [sigh] Probably nothing. He enjoyed his privacy and his secrecy and I doubt he'd be blogging or anything like that.<br /><br />I'd love to get your take on <i>Match Point</i>. I enjoyed it and I know many people who saw the trailer and when Woody's name came up, they were like, "Wait, what?!"<br /><br />As for <i>30 Rock</i>, different strokes for different folks. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-45934064847050994642012-02-29T18:15:27.201-05:002012-02-29T18:15:27.201-05:00...continued.
film scores - I’d have to say, hand......continued.<br /><br /><b>film scores</b> - I’d have to say, hands down, my favorite musical scoring is the work of Carl Stalling. For those who don’t know, he’s the guy who put Bugs Bunny et al. to music. His orchestra also contributed to the SFX, as did voice artist Mel Blanc, revealing why the integration of sound in that era of <i>Looney Tunes</i> shorts is so seamless. Stalling drew from everything and was not shy about outright borrowing much of his material. Verily, he’s single-handedly responsible for establishing several musical clichés. (Ever wonder why sunrises are always set to <a href="www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCEzh3MwILY" rel="nofollow"><i>Morgenstemning</i></a>?) The genius lies in how he wove the various themes and styles together into a seamless but madcap tapestry perfect for the zany animated characters they helped bring to life.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-28997511543672879872012-02-29T18:14:41.365-05:002012-02-29T18:14:41.365-05:00I dunno how to respond, so I’ll just respond to ev...I dunno how to respond, so I’ll just respond to everything:<br /><br /><b>Kubrick</b> - Very cool, though I would expect nothing less.<br /><br /><b>physics</b> - I’ve always been fascinated by the way music seems to be the perfect convergence between art and science.<br /><br /><b>rumors</b> - I don’t remember any of these. I remember that at some point we all got excited that we would finally learn what the Clone Wars were. What a letdown!<br /><br /><b><i>Armageddon</i></b> - So all I have to do to get my dentistry paid for is to be a half-rate actor with a dubious screenwriting credit? I guess I’ll just keep paying the insurance company. <br /><br /><b>Woody Allen</b> - <i>"I'm sorry I took so long to finish." "It's okay I'm just starting to get some feeling back in my jaw."</i> Um, yeah. That’s all I’ve got.<br /><br /><b><i>Firefly</i></b> - Sad, but hard to argue against. I will say, <i>Firefly</i> and <i>Serenity</i> have left me with a sense of satisfaction that no other series or franchise ever has. <br /><br /><b><i>30 Rock</i></b> - The analysis is a bit strained, but I get it. I think <i>Rock</i> is a precursor to <i>Portlandia</i> in that both shows are basically liberals poking fun at themselves for their childish beliefs and attitudes. Each gives me some hope because part of growing up is recognizing that you have to. <br /><br /><b>NC-17</b> - Somehow I’ve seen <i>Pink Flamingos</i>. I don’t know why. I don’t know how. But some things cannot be washed away. And if I can get in on the link action, that article led me to another that I thought was interesting enough to share: <a href="http://www.nerve.com/entertainment/5-actors-siblings-we-secretly-like-better" rel="nofollow">Five Actors' Siblings We Secretly Like Better</a><br /><br /><b>not CGI</b> - I think the <i>LOTR</i> effects are the most impressive, but I learned something I didn’t previously know about <i>Dracula</i> that gives me a deeper appreciation for the movie. Seriously, if it weren’t for Keanu and Winona, that movie would be amazing! What a shame. <br /><br /><b>Hedy Lamarr</b> - Impressive! I wish there were more stars like her today. I don’t think there’s any rule that says actors must be vapid. But then again, I don’t hold a SAG card, so I really couldn’t say…tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-13603961276639578462012-02-29T18:12:18.456-05:002012-02-29T18:12:18.456-05:00Andrew -
I've only seen a few Robert Altman ...Andrew - <br /><br />I've only seen a few Robert Altman films (and I was probably too young to appreciate <i>MASH</i>) but when Shapiro did his overrated director's list (ugh), I felt he should've included Altman. I just can't connect to his stuff, though his films certainly feature some great performances in them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-53458366113720718502012-02-29T18:10:34.849-05:002012-02-29T18:10:34.849-05:00LawHawk -
The weird thing is even the hardcore J...LawHawk - <br /><br />The weird thing is even the hardcore Joss Whedon fans (Whedonites?) are looked at by other sci-fi fans as some bizarre cult. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-5490266923008044102012-02-29T18:09:36.521-05:002012-02-29T18:09:36.521-05:00T-Rav -
The Schwimmer episode you refer to is th...T-Rav - <br /><br />The Schwimmer episode you refer to is the same "Green Week" episode I mention in my blurb. And it's funny because it's all (probably) true.<br /><br />I like Fey but I agree about Morgan being tolerable in small doses only. If you want to sound like his character on the show, just add "Liz Lemon!" to the end of all your sentences. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-72435697354629832452012-02-29T18:08:15.634-05:002012-02-29T18:08:15.634-05:00Andrew -
I've seen it twice but for the life...Andrew - <br /><br />I've seen it twice but for the life of me, I can't remember a thing about <i>Bananas</i>. I don't get it! I know there's a trial scene at the end and that's about it. When it comes to his "earlier, funnier" films, my favorite is <i>Love and Death</i>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-9950111428931620392012-02-29T18:04:55.637-05:002012-02-29T18:04:55.637-05:00Scott, I can't image a Star Trek Soundtrack wi...Scott, I can't image a Star Trek Soundtrack with an explicit lyric warning? Lol!Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18122308626703654554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-82586945443564231122012-02-29T17:55:27.174-05:002012-02-29T17:55:27.174-05:00Scott - The Hedy book looks quite interesting. To ...Scott - The Hedy book looks quite interesting. To quote Garth: "Babelonian." lol<br />Kubrick - back in the day before Newsweek completely sucked.<br />Woody: I have a movie review of "Match Point" hanging around on the computer.<br />30 Rock - maybe, but the show is now and will always be 100% neglected by me.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-84403680876743891962012-02-29T17:51:28.341-05:002012-02-29T17:51:28.341-05:00You know who he reminds me of? Robert Altman. He...You know who he reminds me of? Robert Altman. He's another guy with a big reputation and a couple good ideas, but his execution has always left me underwhelmed. I feel like he thinks he's doing something scathing, but he's really just gently poking holes in very tired cliches.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-849930790722040762012-02-29T17:51:08.147-05:002012-02-29T17:51:08.147-05:00Loved the piece on Firefly. "Balkanization o...Loved the piece on <i>Firefly</i>. "Balkanization of nerds." Hilarious.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-30230923836109357822012-02-29T17:50:40.789-05:002012-02-29T17:50:40.789-05:00Interesting stuff, Scott!
I'm not a fan of 3...Interesting stuff, Scott! <br /><br />I'm not a fan of <i>30 Rock</i>, as I think Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan are best taken in small doses, but I think there is a case there. I remember one of the few episodes I watched, where David Schwimmer was playing a really hard-core green activist, and basically spent the whole time assaulting everyone who wasn't environmentally friendly enough to suit him. It was fairly funny.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-45978396106074379412012-02-29T17:50:13.253-05:002012-02-29T17:50:13.253-05:00Scott, The one film of his that I enjoyed (and do ...Scott, The one film of his that I enjoyed (and do enjoy) is <i>What's Up Tiger Lilly</i>. BUT there again, I think the joke is ultimately rather flat. In other words, it was a funny idea and worked mostly, but could have been so much better.<br /><br />I also enjoyed a couple lines in <i>Bananas</i>. But all the rest really left me flat.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-84101215171125618102012-02-29T17:19:04.391-05:002012-02-29T17:19:04.391-05:00I like Allen's stories and concepts though I a...I like Allen's stories and concepts though I admit I don't always find his characters engaging, more so in his melodramas than his comedies which are more accessible. I'll continue to see his films and I do think <i>Midnight in Paris</i> was his best movie in years, but that's mostly because of the novelty value and the nostalgia factor (and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpLEKjPud_k&feature=related" rel="nofollow">scenes</a> with Ernest Hemingway).<br /><br />However, I disliked the movie he did before that, <i>You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger</i>, which wasn't dramatic enough to be a drama but wasn't funny enough (or at all) to be a comedy. It came off as "Woody lite" or rather someone else's vision of what a typical Woody Allen movie is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-63193281198004935652012-02-29T15:50:22.116-05:002012-02-29T15:50:22.116-05:00Scott, I've disliked Affleck for a long time a...Scott, I've disliked Affleck for a long time and I doubt anything will change that. But that's neither here nor there.<br /><br />My problem with Allen is that I just never felt there's any substance to his work. There's nothing I haven't seen before. I don't find his stories or characters gripping. In effect, to me, he's just a generic director. He's had some ok moments, but nothing that makes me want to see his films. So I've never been sure why he gets all of this acclaim as a great director?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-42969588949905799982012-02-29T15:43:28.914-05:002012-02-29T15:43:28.914-05:00ScyFy and Andrew -
I don't like every single...ScyFy and Andrew - <br /><br />I don't like every single one of his films (<i>Whatever Works</i> is one of the worst movies I've ever seen and I'm perfectly happy having seen many of his films only once)...<br /><br />...but I'm a fan. I won't say it's because I'm Jewish and have my own neuroses but I wonder sometimes. :-) I started watching them in 2002 or so when I first started my Netflix subscription - I watched every film, for the most part in order, and yeah, there isn't tons of originality in terms of ideas or themes but there are gags and set pieces and other things which are totally original. I can also appreciate that he can go from drama to comedy and back, albeit not with 100% success.<br /><br />As for Affleck, I know he gets a bad wrap but he seems like a good guy. I appreciate that he's found success as a director now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-44097704467992164292012-02-29T15:33:58.899-05:002012-02-29T15:33:58.899-05:00Terry, Young Ben raises an excellent point! LOL!
...Terry, Young Ben raises an excellent point! LOL!<br /><br />I'm not a Woody Allen fan either. To me, his biggest sin is that he's just not very original. He's done almost nothing that made me say, "wow, I've never seen that before!"AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.com