[Kai]

Summarizes Hollywood better than I ever could.

I haven't been to see a summer movie since Star Trek this spring; Brooker makes it clear why.

[Jon Hallam]

Kai, on Aug 5 2009, 04:14 PM, said:

Summarizes Hollywood better than I ever could.

I haven't been to see a summer movie since Star Trek this spring; Brooker makes it clear why.

Fantastic, cheers for that, I'm a bit behind with my Brooker, I'm still reading Screen Burn.

[rob]

I gotta say, he could have set up a better cast for the 3D mosquito. I think I'm glad that I haven't seen any of the Die Hard stuff.

The last movie I saw in a theater was Ratatouille. Before that it was Mars Attacks. I've simply had no desire to see anything else that's been released. It's not just the total-suck movies either. The whole movie going experience is now complete crap. What kind of escapism can you get from going to corrugated tin building that's been divided into cubicles smaller than the one I've got at work with bunch of obnoxious little fucks who all seem to think that they are comedians.

[Kai]

rob, on Aug 7 2009, 02:19 AM, said:

I gotta say, he could have set up a better cast for the 3D mosquito. I think I'm glad that I haven't seen any of the Die Hard stuff.

The last movie I saw in a theater was Ratatouille. Before that it was Mars Attacks. I've simply had no desire to see anything else that's been released. It's not just the total-suck movies either. The whole movie going experience is now complete crap. What kind of escapism can you get from going to corrugated tin building that's been divided into cubicles smaller than the one I've got at work with bunch of obnoxious little fucks who all seem to think that they are comedians.

Indeed. (You saw Mars Attacks in a theatre?! I think you're eligible to participate in a class-action lawsuit...) But don't stop there, you're on the verge of a first-order grouchy old man extended rant (GOMER?) One worthy of a gold-plated statuette in the form of this guy ->

What kills me is the number of formerly great old theatres that have been subdivided into simp(leton comp)lexes - I suppose it's better than being turned into branches of pharmacy chains or similar (the fate of some old neighbourhood cinemas here) or simply torn down, but... I know they all plead economics, but if you're going to only screen content which limits your core demographic to non-driving/unable-to-rent-Blockbuster teens, you're chasing a shrinking pie slice.

Like some other readers, I think Brooker deserves a Pulitzer for this single line about the first Transformers movie:

Quote

It was like being pinned to the ground while an angry dishwasher shat in your face for two hours.

[rob]

Kai, on Aug 7 2009, 12:15 PM, said:

Indeed. (You saw Mars Attacks in a theatre?! I think you're eligible to participate in a class-action lawsuit...) But don't stop there, you're on the verge of a first-order grouchy old man extended rant (GOMER?) One worthy of a gold-plated statuette in the form of this guy ->

But, I don't have a lawn. I actually did like Mars Attacks. Taken purely as a parody of Independence Day, it was pretty good. Besides, the plot pivoted on Slim Whitman. Slim Whitman is one of only about 4 albums that were in our house in my early childhood. The other three were The Nutcracker Suite, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, and Johnny Cash.

Quote

What kills me is the number of formerly great old theatres that have been subdivided into simp(leton comp)lexes - I suppose it's better than being turned into branches of pharmacy chains or similar (the fate of some old neighbourhood cinemas here) or simply torn down, but... I know they all plead economics, but if you're going to only screen content which limits your core demographic to non-driving/unable-to-rent-Blockbuster teens, you're chasing a shrinking pie slice.

Agreed on every point. It's also a perfect parallel with what's happening in the music industry. It's like most other industries today too. We have developed this bizarre mentality that if you're not a blockbuster, you're not a success. Nothing can just be a reasonable sustainable business venture that might give some actual enjoyment to people.

Now, everyone get off the lawn I don't have.

[Kai]

rob, on Aug 7 2009, 10:15 AM, said:

I actually did like Mars Attacks. Taken purely as a parody of Independence Day, it was pretty good.

Good point.

And it's one of two movies in which Pierce Brosnan utterly trashes his cultivated image of James Bond suavity, the other being Mamma Mia! (obligatory exclamation point), where he sings ABBA opposite Meryl Streep. (I haven't actually seen that, but the critic Anthony Lane's description of it and Brosnan in particular is priceless.) And seeing Sarah Jessica Parker as well as him with her head grafted onto a chihuahua (IIRC) almost makes up for the insufferable Sex in the City series. (Best parody of that I ever saw was on MadTV, Michael McDonald as SJP as Carrie Bradshaw.)

Independence Day made me cringe on multiple levels, not the least being the hackable Alien Operating System conceit. (Though I suppose we have the Star Trek franchise to blame ultimately for the spectre of space geeks learning OS's and interfaces in alien scripts in less time than it takes to eat an ice cream.)

[jahloon]

Kai, on Aug 8 2009, 05:22 AM, said:

Independence Day made me cringe on multiple levels, not the least being the hackable Alien Operating System conceit. (Though I suppose we have the Star Trek franchise to blame ultimately for the spectre of space geeks learning OS's and interfaces in alien scripts in less time than it takes to eat an ice cream.)

Saw it after a long day sight-seeing in Washington. See the real thing - see it blown to bits.

But seriously, in the Cinema, (Reston, VA) when the President was marching out to his plane to shoot down aliens, a large part of the audience were stood up on their seats, whooping and cheering and waving their fists in the air, it was a scary insight into the mindset of the Merkins.

[Kai]

jahloon, on Aug 8 2009, 03:56 AM, said:

Kai, on Aug 8 2009, 05:22 AM, said:

Independence Day made me cringe on multiple levels, not the least being the hackable Alien Operating System conceit. (Though I suppose we have the Star Trek franchise to blame ultimately for the spectre of space geeks learning OS's and interfaces in alien scripts in less time than it takes to eat an ice cream.)

Saw it after a long day sight-seeing in Washington. See the real thing - see it blown to bits.

But seriously, in the Cinema, (Reston, VA) when the President was marching out to his plane to shoot down aliens, a large part of the audience were stood up on their seats, whooping and cheering and waving their fists in the air, it was a scary insight into the mindset of the Merkins.

Now you know why I refer to those cinema bunkers as simplexes.