The Avengers

13 Sunday May 2012

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Pop Culture Addict Film Fan Update
Last year I saw 75 movies in the theater. In 2012, I thought I might reach a neat 100. I’m not counting cable, on-demand or DVDs, just in-theater. I will count seeing movies more than once (such as Margaret) and I will count movies I’ve seen before (I don’t think I’ve seen an oldie yet but for example, I will see Blade Runner again). So, here’s the update: I will count from 12:15am January 1 to the present. I have seen 33 movies in the theater over the past 19 weeks. I figured I should start keeping track. When people ask me how often I go to the movies, I estimate once a week. I figure film festivals make up for those weeks I do other things or just take a week off.
The Avengers
I love all things Joss Whedon. I saw the movie Buffy the Vampire Slayer and wanted it to be better but there were bemusement-worthy elements. I didn’t know enough about the struggle to know Joss Whedon’s vision of the the movie was compromised. But I watched the TV show of Buffy from the first episode and faithfully followed it. I’ve re-watched the DVDs and listened to all the commentaries (for Buffy and Angel). I watched Firefly with hope and slight confusion, as episodes were played out of order and was disappointed by its cancellation. But we know Joss got the last laugh with his huge success with the movie version of the show Serenity. I watch Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog several times a year – often when I fly because it’s a good length and I keep it handy for ready viewing). I think my point is made. I will watch anything he touches. So despite only having mild enthusiasm for The Avengers as a concept based on the middling and wandering Iron Man 2 and Hulk movies I can’t really remember (for the record, I do enjoy the old series with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno), I had hope for the movie because JW had his hands all over it. He wrote it and directed it. I was very pleasantly entertained by his finesse. The Avengers each get a solid story so as a viewer, I developed a relationship with each person and had feelings about whether or not they obtained happiness. I enjoyed how the group came together as the movie progressed and shared the screen with joy. It wasn’t like Iron Man 2 (I didn’t see the other related movies so I can’t comment.) where my mind wandered as more people with powers came on screen. I heard that Captain America was a watchable movie so I will check it out. I was interested in Thor but didn’t get around to it. Avengers is making a ton of money worldwide so there will definitely be another one and I know I can look forward to JW having pet projects greenlit.
First Position
When I went to see Pina, the trailer for First Position played and I could tell I would probably like this movie. It’s a documentary about young ballet dancers. It follows six in particular along their preparation for a ballet competition called Youth America Grand Prix where the scholarships and jobs are awarded. The first-time filmmaker Bess Kargman studied ballet for many years before changing paths. She gave a heartfelt into to the movie and said things I’ve also read in interviews. She picked out interesting characters and cast them for diversity and entertainment. She did a great job with that. All of the kids are fascinating and for the most part incredible dancers. It did make me think of So You Think You Can Dance and Spellbound. So if you’re familiar with either or both and like them, you will find First Position rewarding to watch. It is very crowd-pleasing.
Four Nights of a Dreamer
This Robert Bresson movie is from 1971 but it is relevant to know that he started making movies in the 1930′s and kept working until his death in 1999. He is a very visual filmmaker informed by his painting background. People know him from different movies. For me, his Trial of Joan of Arc and Pickpocket are the most familiar works. I had not seen Four Nights of a Dreamer before but I had heard that it had a strong following. First off, it was nice to enjoy it on a big screen with a full audience and envision what it was like when it first came out in 1971. It is very arty. It is based on a short story by Dostoevsky called White Nights. I have not read this story but I learned that it influenced a movie I liked called Two Lovers starring Joaquin Phoenix before his (fake) breakdown and Gwyneth Paltrow giving a nicely layered performance. Four Nights of a Dreamer is also layered. Visually it is very pleasant to watch. Paris is pretty, the actors are pretty. There is a love story. Then there is contemplation, inward and outward. I’m told Bresson is influential on the Nouvelle plague (New Wave) and all other modern French and other cinema. I was trying to figure out where this movie fell. It has expressionism and new wave elements but it also has a familiar feeling while being modern.
Kristin Cashore’s Graceling is a YA fantasy novel highly recommended to me by like-minded YA fans after we were enamored by The Hunger Games trilogy. Graceling is the first book in another great YA trilogy. Fire the second book, while not sequential, it is set in the same universe and possibly even stronger than Graceling. I have been awaiting the third book, Bitterblue, with great anticipation as all Kristin Cashore fans. She even wrote about the great pressure she felt to produce a book that satisfied the great demand. Bitterblue is the first time I pre-ordered an e-book and started reading it shortly after midnight on the day of its release. I have to re-read it because I read it with great intensity and speed the first time and want to experience it again without the adrenaline and anticipation at a more leisurely pace. Great job, Kristin Cashore. She already created a memorable universe with gripping characters and back stories. Bitterblue has enough background for new readers to enjoy the book on its own and also continues the saga in a logical, wondrous and satisfying way for diehard fans. She also calls back to the other two books in ways that make sense and provide some sort of closure. I can’t wait to read it again. I did re-read Graceling right before Bitterblue came out so I was super-prepared as Graceling ends with Bitterblue beginning her queendom. Next I want to re-read Fire.
I was gobsmacked by A Study in Pink (based on A Study in Scarlet), the first episode of the updated Sherlock Holmes on PBS called Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are delightful and ingenious in their portrayal of these well-established characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. Moving the story to the present is a fun twist and Steven Moffat who injects his genius into the rebooted Doctor Who, does a great job in making the show fun to watch. Sherlock Season 2 has already aired in the UK so it is available on DVD. But us Americans can watch it as it airs on PBS, Sunday nights. The first installment of season 2 is fantastic, just fantastic. It is entitled A Scandal in Belgravia based on A Scandal in Bohemia. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created fascinating characters that inspired fans to develop them further. But the source material is already great. Sherlock’s brother Mycroft was a high-ranking government worker and this still works in 2012. Arlene Adler’s character was drawn as a rival worthy of Holmes and in the updated version, she is exquisitely played by Lara Pulver. I can’t wait for tonight’s episode entitled The Hounds of Baskerville based on The Hound of Baskervilles.
Coming Soon
The trailers that get my blood going currently are all things Prometheus and Lawless. Tom Hardy is having a prolific year. I don’t know how he’ll be as Bane. But I am looking forward to seeing him at the end of the summer in Lawless. Prometheus, forget it, my fellow Pop Culture Addicts are already calling it as THE best movie of the summer. I can’t wait!

Fringe: Letters of Transit Original Air Date 4/20/12

21 Saturday Apr 2012

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I know I don’t typically blog about specific episodes of shows because I am not able to be timely about it. Also, I like to read what other people write (more on that). However, I was so blown away by the most recent episode of Fringe – Letters of Transit, I felt compelled to say something more than my couple of tweets. They finally called back to that episode when Peter is pushed forward into the future in the Season 3  Episode 22 Season Finale: The Day We Died. The year was 2026. I need to re-watch it now. This episode was top-notch from beginning to end. I loved how Desmond/Henry Ian Cusick’s character was written – his motivation for being in the resistance, his sacrifice, the potential for bringing him back into the story. My favorite aspect of Fringe Season 4 is Seth Gabel/Agent Lincoln Lee. I prefer this version to the recently deceased Alternate Agent Lee but I like him too. I think the showrunners (JJ Abrams, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman) and writers do as well. They smartly brought on Seth Gabel as a regular player and I like it. I also like jaunty Alternate Olivia Dunham and computer-brained Alternate Astrid. I also like how they were able to bring back Alternate Agent Broyles after his self-sacrifice previously. So, you get the idea that I don’t have any complaints about Fringe. But like any show, some episodes are better than others, some eps contribute more to the mythology. This last episode was incredible. When the future Fringe agents/Resistance fighters found Walter and said there were two others, at first I thought they were Olivia and Peter but then realized they were going to be Astrid and Lincoln. I was confused by ambered William Belly Bell. I guess he was there too but the other person besides Astrid was Peter. Kudos to the Fringe team for a stellar episode that left me salivating for more. Instead, I will settle for re-watching it and also going back to The Day We Died. Together, they make a movie with a huge cliffhanger.

Pop Movies

Monsieur Lahzar
I’ll be honest, I saw Monsieur Lahzar because it fit my criteria: it was at the right time, the right length, the right location and last but not least, it looked decent. There are many perks to being members to different movie clubs and one of them in the city is that you typically have free passes or at least get discounted tickets to movies at all times. So Monsieur Lahzar fit the bill the other day and it was a very watchable movie. The story is set in the present in a public school in Quebec. I don’t know the system in Canada but the kids are around 11 years old so let’s say they’re 5th or 6th graders. The movie opens with them discovering their teacher has hung herself in the classroom. You can imagine the trauma. Monsieur Lahzar is an Algerian immigrant who offers to substitute for the class. The viewer learns quickly that he is a refugee seeking political asylum. Due to his own tragic story, he is moved to step in as the teacher for these kids. The kids are very endearing and are good actors. They process this tragedy on and off screen with each other. They find Monsieur Lazhar old- fashioned, foreign and empathetic. Yes, ultimately, they grow mutually fond of each other but it is not precious. The movie seemed very literary somehow. I guess I felt like I was going through chapters of the story and becoming more intrigued by the characters. I almost forgot to say that despite the serious nature of this movie, I was completely reminded of School of Rock starring Jack Black as the Monsieur Lahzar character.

A Simple Life
Andy Lau is a superstar in HK and Mainland China and let’s face it, all of Asia. He is akin to say… Tom Cruise. He can open a movie, he can get funding for a movie, he can ask all of his celebrity friends to stop by and do a cameo for his movie. He does action and drama. For me, he stands out for Infernal Affairs – the HK movie famous for being remade in The Departed but is actually the better movie, God of Gamblers – a wacky but memorable movie by Stephen Chow and most recently Detective Dee released wide. So I was interested when A Simple Life starring Andy Lau opened wide. It wasn’t in a festival, it wasn’t a one-off, it actually opened in a regular theater. The movie is very quiet and pensive. It is about Andy Lau’s character finding himself accepting that the nanny/maid who has worked for his family for 60 years is now declining in health and wants to retire. The movie looks at the relationship between them and depicts a matter of fact life in a senior home. At first glance, it is a depressing institution possibly being run by scam artists. No, the boss is actually an ex-actor friend of the movie producer played by Andy Lau. We get an unflinching look at what old age looks like – how a lady was once glamorous but now she is at the mercy of her absentee son as her daughter dutifully and lovingly shows up for her and a headmaster at a school remembers the rules but is actually more interested in a snow globe. The main character of Ah Tao played sharply and devotedly by Deannie Yip is an excellent cook who took care of employer and family with an ever-present awareness of the employee-employer relationship but familial love. The movie is slow but interesting. I was uncertain about some of the camera moves – a couple of shaky moments, the odd slo-mo/freeze frame and angle but overall, it was nicely done. However, I was ready for escapism from dwelling on my own mortality and how to avoid needing false teeth. I will keep flossing and rinsing with fluoride.

Lunchtime reading: TV blogs I read

Tom and Lorenzo

Briefly, when I have time and need a break, I go to Entertainment Weekly, What’s Alan Watching at Hitfix and Watch With Kristin on E! online. I also go to Tuned in at Time Magazine, Monkeys as Critics at Hitfix. While I was reading Mo Ryan at Huffington Post, I learned about her favorite TV review site Tom and Lorenzo. Wow, this is my favorite new TV blog. They have a unique section called Mad Style. This column examines each episode of Mad Men from a style point of view. The picture to picture observations that point out themes and wonderful choices by the costume designer and her department are a welcome addition to my weekly troll. I can’t recommend them highly enough. They are entertaining, they are honest and they enjoy watching and writing about TV. I can appreciate those attributes!

Winter is Coming – Game of Thrones Fan Site

I discovered Winter is Coming last year during the first season of the addictive Game of Thrones. I am grateful for their weekly round-up of their favorite Game of Throne episode reviews. It is my go-to spot for all things Game of Thrones related.

Cabin in the Woods

15 Sunday Apr 2012

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My goal after this post is to write shorter posts more frequently. But in the meantime, I have a slew of movies to review/comment on here.

Cabin in the Woods

I will pretty much watch anything that has anything to do with Buffy/Angel/Firefly alum cast or crew. So I had high hopes for the Joss Whedon/Drew Goddard penned (JW&DG), produced (JW) and directed (DG) The Cabin in the Woods. It was satisfying although not mind-blowing. Seeing Amy Acker, Tom Lenk and Fran Kranz was fun. Having seen Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness and Evil Dead the Musical, I recognized and appreciated the big homage to Sam Raimi and company. The story was reminiscent of Angel and Lev Grossman’s second Magicians book The Magician King. There was a bit of Dollhouse too. The effects were good. The dialogue was sharp. Oh, there was also a big nod to the Scooby Gang in Scooby Doo and as referenced in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Fun, fun, fun.

Damsels in Distress

Whit Stillman created something special in Metropolitan and he does it again with Damsels in Distress. Smart writing. This is the most blatant satire he has made. It begins immediately by informing the viewer that the movie is a farce and it then proceeds to become even more and more farcical. I was laughing a lot. Greta Gerwig is great. She delivers the dialogue with such pretentious sincerity, she evokes laughter and sympathy. As a Pop Culture Addict, I had fun recognizing faces from The O.C., Gossip Girl, The Office and Arrested Development. The music and dancing are charming and for me could have been a slightly bigger presence. But in the end, it is enough.

21 Jump Street

Having seen the show, this was the Mad Magazine version of it. It was a barrel of laughs. It was smart and stupid. I was pleasantly surprised by the comedic timing of Channing Tatum and the nice chemistry between him and Jonah Hill. The viewing experience was enhanced by being in a full-house on opening night. We were all appreciative of the acknowledgment that the audience was being included in the inside jokes.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Chef Jiro is known for having obtained two Michelin stars for his subway sushi joint. Granted, a meal costs $400 and as they point out in the movie, it may only take 20 minutes. The documentary shows some of Jiro’s inspired, creative thinking as he became this star sushi chef. To see how his sons followed in his footsteps is fascinating. The fandom is both amusing and infectious even though it is vicarious. I went for sushi immediately following the movie at Ushiwakamaru.

John Carter

John Carter is actually a very watchable movie. I was interested enough to go back to the source material by Edgar Rice Burroughs, A Princess of Mars written in 1917. It is really cool to imagine Edgar Rice Burroughs creating this sci-fi series in 1917. It is very interesting to watch the movie and see the direct influences on Star Wars and Avatar. Andrew Stanton did a fine job directing. Perhaps the budget might have been pulled back. Hollywood predicts he will never get a chance to helm a live action feature again because the money this movie has lost. Taylor Kitsch also did a fine job. I loved him in Friday Night Lights as Tim Riggins and was glad to see him shine in a different kind of role.

Let the Bullets Fly

This was the most popular movie in China last year. It surpassed the box office of Titanic. As the title suggests, there is quite a lot of bullets flying. On one level, it is an allegory about the endless corruption of power in politics. On another level, it is a movie about two warring gangs. One side is a family of bandits led by the charismatic Wen Jiang who also co-wrote and directed the movie, who enter a town governed by a ruthless gangster played with glee by Chow Yun Fat. It is violent and over-the-top in a John Woo meets Steven Chow Kung-fu Hustle kind of way. For me, some of the humor is too juvenile and some of the violence is too harsh. But the overall product is entertaining.

New Directors/New Films
Romance Joe
This contemporary Korean movie is a thought-provoking, Lost-fan-worthy story within a story within a story about the power of narrative. I keep recommending this movie to people.

The Raid
This was probably one of, if not the most violent movies I’ve ever seen. It is way over-the-top in a video game way. The stuntwork is super impressive. The actors who are also stuntmen and the stuntmen who also act make this movie something different that ends up being something unique. The violence is not for the sensitive or young and impressionable. People were walking out left and right because they did not believe the introduction that prepared the audience for an extremely violent movie. The story is fine but it really is the incredible action direction and execution that kept me riveted as brutal as it was.

Beasts of the Southern Wild

The closing night of the ND/NF festival was a surprise film not disclosed until we were seated in the theater. It turned out to be Beasts of the Southern Wild which has gotten good buzz from Sundance. The lead actor is a six year old girl, Quvenzhané Wallis, who blew me away. She gives an award-winning performance as an occupant of an off-the-grid settlement in the southern Louisiana around the time of Hurricane Katrina. It is a fairytale and has many unbelievable elements. But as soon as I accepted the fairytale nature of the story, I was charmed and touched by the story. It is worth seeing to be blown away by the powerhouse performance by the little girl.

50 Years of the New York Film Festival
Last Tango in Paris
Marlon Brando is mesmerizing. Maria Schneider holds her own. Bernardo Bertolucci creates stunning images. Alec Baldwin and James Toback did a very interesting Q&A afterwards for their documentary. There was a retired movie executive in the audience who told the story of how when she was involved with The Godfather, she introduced Marlon Brando to Bertolucci. Really cool.

Police Story

Yes the hokiness of the 1980′s and goofy Asian/HK sense of humor stand out but it is all outshined by the amazing athleticism of Jackie Chan. He is well-known now for his enjoyment of creative fight choreography. So watching the set pieces was even more enjoyable being aware of this. I’ve seen Police Story on a big screen before and I have to say it is the preferable way to watch the incredible stuntwork. The outtakes of Jackie Chan movies are often worth the price of the movie itself. I will always remember the outtake from Police Story 2 where Maggie Cheung is bleeding from a cut on her forehead. The outtakes in Police Story do not disappoint. We see crazy stunts and appreciate that Jackie Chan wants to entertain the audience and challenge himself at the same time.

Works of Asghar Farhadi
About Elly

A Separation was one of my favorite films of last year. I saw it at the NYFF and recommended it to everyone when it opened wide. It turns out the young Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi is relatively prolific. The Film Society had a retrospective of his works recently. I went to see About Elly because the word was this was another strong work by him. I really liked seeing a contemporary Iranian story. It is about a group of college friends taking a break from the hubbub of living in Tehran by going to the beach for a few days. They take an acquaintance Elly along with them to set up with their good friend a recently divorced man. Then Elly disappears and then as everyone stresses out, secrets come out. The story is very easy and engaging. The only part of the story that I found heavy-handed was the pivotal moment that leads to the mystery. I understand why it happened but something about it was a bit jarring for me. Otherwise, I found the acting very believable and the story relatable. A character says, It is better to end bitterly than to be endlessly bitter. The way this relates to the story becomes clearer by the end.

Just another good old movie

Ruggles of Red Gap

Film Forum showed this 1935 movie recently. It is definitely one of those classics that I missed out on. It stars Charles Laughton as an English valet who gets lost in poker to a nouveau riche American couple who live out west in Washington State in 1908. There are statements of classicism, gender and race made in a clever, entertaining way. Charles Laughton was a big theater actor and director who only directed one movie, Night of the Hunter. What a legacy. Anyone who sees that movie is subsequently haunted by Robert Mitchum’s booming voice. The director Leo McCarey also has an impressive comedic pedigree. I am so glad I got to see this movie in the theater. Apparently, it was so popular, it spawned a TV series. I might seek this out but I might be better off just watching the movie again. It’s that good.

From archive: January 29, 2012

08 Sunday Apr 2012

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Haywire

I have a funny story about Haywire. I see most of Steven Soderbergh’s movies even the most experimental and obscure such as Bubble. That was an odd movie that I kind of liked. It’s about a factory workers played by non-actors who get caught up in jealousy, murder, theft. But it is very slow and stylized. Anyway, I had heard about a “spy movie” by Steven Soderbergh. This was over a year ago – maybe last September so 14-15 months ago. I heard Haywire was opening in Manhattan. A fellow Pop Culture Addict and I decided to see it. For some reason, it was not being advertised. Then I saw it was listed in Times Square. We got our tickets and sat in anticipation. The theater was very sparsely populated. The opening credits started and it seemed to have the air of some sort of espionage movie but really cheesy – like circa 1982. And it was set in India. We read all of the credits, knowing that Soderbergh often assumes pseudonyms to avoid trouble with unions and to allow control over all aspects of the movie. But none of his usual names were popping up, especially his own. And where was Ewan McGregor and Michael Fassbender? Surely they featured in the opening credits. So after the credits finished and the movie started, we had to accept that we were in the wrong movie! We went to customer service and explained that this Haywire was not the Haywire we wanted to see. We exchanged our tickets and saw Easy A instead. We found it to be a perfectly likable homage to the oeuvre of John Hughes. By the way, I can’t even find reference to that Indian movie I almost sat through. But I feel like it is safe to say, our lives are fine without seeing it.Needless to say, when we heard Haywire was finally being released, we had to see it. It was cool to get tickets to a showing featuring a conversation with Steven Soderbergh and MMA fighter and star of Haywire, Gina Carano. She is quite a figure in person. Striking and an impressive athlete. The actual movie is pretty entertaining. It is a stripped down story about being betrayed and fighting for your life. The fight between Michael Fassbender and Gina Carano is fun to watch. Some people seem to find the fighting redundant and even exploitative. Gina Carano is a great athlete who I could not take my eyes off of. Is it a great movie? No. But it’s a good movie.

We Need to Talk About Kevin

I did not read the book. It seemed too dark of a subject matter to read. I was on the fence about the movie but it was actually presented in a way that was thoughtful but not harsh. It was more evocative of feelings presenting images and events out of time to show the viewer the mother’s experience trying to bond with and raising her son who seems out of step with the world. It was reminiscent to me of how Guy Van Sant approached a similar subject in Elefant, his movie addressing the events of the Columbine shooting. Both are very dreamlike and suggest ideas without lingering. In We Need to Talk About Kevin, Tilda Swinton plays her torment and depression well. The kids are all hard to connect to as their character, at different ages, is supposed to be. The main kid actor, Ezra Miller, did a quick Q&A afterwards and it was nice to seem him light and happy after watching this heavy movie. There were some elements of the movie that didn’t seem believable – like how ostracized the mother was in the community. The actor said he had not read the book because it is told from the point of view of the mother and he thought he might read it afterwards but decided not to. I also do not feel a need to read the book.

Hot Pepper, Air Conditioner & the Farewell Speech, a play by Chelfitsch Theater Company

I had seen this avant garde Japanese theater company Chelfitsch perform a couple of years ago but didn’t really remember much about them except feeling like it was interesting and a bit weird. This time around, I found their repetitive gestures to make a lot more sense. It was dance-like. I saw how it was carefully choreographed and they were conveying ideas, not lines per se. I have to say, I truly enjoyed the performance and highly recommend them. They address modern day Japan hearkening back to Kabuki theater but truly modernizing it and making it something contemporary.

NY Jewish Film Festival

I have to say, I missed one of the movies I had tickets to because I was under the weather but I heard it was worth seeing – Deaf Jam. I only saw a handful. I loved the silent movie, Breaking Home Ties, for its historical value. It was accompanied by piano and violin and it was very dramatic but it captured the immigrant experience very well in a time capsule sort of way. I also enjoyed the more modern Mabul and short Howl. Mabul is a family story as the young son prepares for his bar mitzvah and as the older autistic son returns home unexpectedly. The Polish movie, Daas, was more of a real film festival movie in that it was abstract and arty. It was challenging and not along the escapist lines. But I found it interesting in a historical way. Oddly, it made me think of Martha Marcy May Marlene because even though it was set in the late 1700s, it was in part from the point of view of a man who had left a cult. It was a strange movie though. Interesting, but strange. My fellow Pop Culture Addict found it too challenging to get into.

Albert Brooks & Drive Redux

I wanted to hear Albert Brooks speak so I went to this showing of Drive even though I’d already seen it. The first time I saw it, I already anticipated it was going to be an arty, stylistic movie based on the fact that it was by the director of Bronson (captivating Tom Hardy but less captivating story). So I found Drive’s slow pace to be fine. There was quite a lot of brutality. I guess it was to show Ryan Gosling’s character and the characters he associated with. My second impression was the same. This time, knowing what was going to happen, it seemed to go at a quicker pace. Albert Brooks was very entertaining. I liked how open he was. He spoke of how he is playing Paul Rudd’s father in a movie and how strange it is to him because his own child is only 13.

Norwegian Wood

I read Norwegian Wood by Marukami a while back. I wasn’t as caught up with it as The Wind Up Bird Chronicle but I think I found it fine. I am gearing up to read 1Q84 this year. Anyway, I was curious to see a Marukami story in film form even though it was made by a non-Japanese. I liked how director Anh Hung Tran’s Scent of Green Papaya looked but I guess in retrospect, he might have laid it on a little thick with the sentimentality. So, I figured Norwegian Wood would like beautiful at any rate. Overall, I found the story lacking a bit. It was not very Japanese. Also, I wonder if maybe the source material is lacking or just not that appealing. I might have read it in a Marukami high and just thought I liked it. So the movie was very pretty to look at, the story was just okay.

The Adventures of TinTin

I had just seen Raiders of the Lost Ark (more on that later) and TinTin reminded me of the fun action sequences in that. It is a very old-fashioned adventure story. I really enjoyed it.

New Year’s Eve

I see all sorts of movies and freely admit some are of lesser quality than others and I can still enjoy them. But New Year’s Eve is one that I just can’t get myself to watch. Instead, on New Year’s Eve, I did a marathon. First I saw Pina in 3D. I found it really inspiring and moving. I didn’t know much about German choreographer Pina before seeing the movie and as I watched it, I developed an admiration and respect for her visionary thinking. Then I saw an old black and white movie Laura from 1944 directed by Otto Preminger. I had never seen it before but I typically enjoy watching old movies on big screens with an audience. I didn’t even recognize a young Vincent Price playing the dim, good-looking guy. It was a fun experience. Then to top things off, I went to my first movie of 2012. I saw a 12:15am showing of the 4k digital print of Raiders of the Lost Ark. It was a fantastic way to kick off the new year. I’ve seen the movie numerous times but I still enjoyed it immensely. Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones is a classic role that never stops being entertaining. The action sequences are top-notch and it’s fun to see the product of tow greats, Steven Spielberg, as director, and George Lucas, as writer and producer, working together.

The Hunger Games

07 Saturday Apr 2012

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As an avid fan of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy, I greatly anticipated the opening of The Hunger Games movie. March 23, 2012 was highlighted in my brain as a day I would be sitting in a movie theater with fellow fans, taking in the movie. I saw it once on opening night with fellow Pop Culture Addicts who are fellow THG fans and then I saw it again by myself, still opening weekend, to take it in again and re-evaluate my impressions. Some time has passed but I had very passionate reactions to changes from the book and depictions of certain story elements. While my blog was in flux, I took down notes and had various exchanges of opinions with fellow PCAs. So here is an edited version of just my side of the conversations (there are spoilers):

I liked the cast especially Jennifer Lawrence. I thought things picked up once in the arena. I think a talented action director like Spielberg would have done better justice to all aspects. The costumes were not impressive and the futurism was lacking compared to what is evoked in the book. I think it was okay but a missed opportunity given the rich source material. Lionsgate seemed to misspend their money! They are making so much on the movie and they didn’t really invest in the look of it.

I liked it the best out of the group of PCAs I went with. I was trying to view the movie as a separate entity from the book but it was hard to do. I get they had to trim it down but I think they could have conveyed key points with one line or a look. I knew they were cutting out the Avox explanation but it needed to be there to convey the despicable nature of those running the Capitol and the repercussions of defying the Capitol. And it was very vague about Katniss’ father and Gale’s father dying in a mine explosion, leaving them without income thus leading to them hunting illegally in the woods. This is a crucial plot point. I missed seeing something cool about the food. I could not believe what they dressed Peeta in. So ugly! And he’s the male lead? I wanted to like it despite its flaws. I guess I do.

I get it about the young fans of HG and was ok with PG13 rating. But even when I read it I thought it was effective because it was stark. Kids read it. The point of the story is about wartime trauma. I was re-reading an article and the budget was $90 million! So they had money to spend. Plus it already made $70 mill with another $130 projected. It isn’t just about the money. It could have been low-budget and independent but done in a way that did better justice to the amazing source material I am so devoted to!

I saw it again today by myself at the Ziegfeld. I wanted to optimize the experience. Great sound, digital projection and no one around me to distract me. I still found the Capitol tacky and think it could’ve been flamboyant with some style. And I think the Districts would have some vestige of being in the future even if they are destitute. But the cast is still good and I was able to appreciate the actual depiction of the games more and not get distracted and hung up on the changes from the book. It is definitely simplified. The evil is more insidious and psychological in the book and more on the surface in the movie.

Did you see THG made $155 million opening weekend? It’s only going to keep making more. Yes, the lead was excellent and she sold the show. I still think there would be inklings here and there that the story is set 500 years (or something like that) in the future even in destitute District 12 (and 11). I admit I am already planning my 3rd viewing.

It made more than $200 million including international sales opening weekend

Here are my burning thoughts about The Hunger Games movie:

I found it severely lacking that District 12 had zero remnants of being advanced compared to 2012. I understand that District 12 is destitute and never recovered from the war but I still think there would have been a way to depict poverty with a futuristic twist. Even Idiocracy did a better job with that element and that was a satire.

The Capitol supposed to be tasteless I suppose but I wished for flamboyance without supreme, irredeemable tacky ugliness. Nobody has any taste whatsoever in the future? Those costumes were so awful. The vapidity of the Capitol could have been conveyed in a deeper way. It was so on-the-surface. There’s a way to show the citizens of the Capitol as being ignorant without being totally loserish. Effie was acceptable. Her look worked for me. She merited her own look. The formal wear for the Tributes was atrocious. At least make them outrageous. People criticize Bjork but she is original. Katniss and Peeta on the chariot looked fine and her red dress worked. But the other dress was terrible and not the simple yellow dress described in book. Peeta was dressed horribly! He needs lapels. Next movie, please dress him in jackets with lapels. These details took away much of my ability to appreciate the depiction of the Capitol sensibilities. The second viewing, I was able to say the actual games were fine. I liked how we saw Haymitch work for sponsors for Katniss but I missed the connection they build during the game. I also thought Seneca Crane’s role was developed nicely. However, I could not get over how ugly the control room looked and how the crew were dressed and coiffed so poorly. Supposedly $90 million is an impossibly low budget. El Mariachi was made for $2000 and it blew my mind. It’s not all about money. Jennifer Lawrence only earned $500,000 for her role as Katniss. She was the standout in the movie. I knew she would be good because she basically played a realistic version of Katniss in Winter’s Bone. I highly recommend Winter’s Bone. I haven’t read the book but I heard it is good.

For me in the book the food was so evocative. Katniss is so impressed by the food, not just the abundance and richness but the high quality and uniqueness of it. Martha Stewart and her kitchen could have risen to this challenge – easily. It wouldn’t take much to convey the specialness of the food. Katniss talks about mini versions of vegetables -these exist! The current farm to table restaurant trend is to incorporate micro herbs and vegetables. They sell them at Union Square Farmer’s Market. Produce I can get my hands on every week THG couldn’t get for their $90 million shoot?

So let me wrap up my Hunger Games impressions. The book is about the horrors of war and PTSD especially as they affect children. In the book, the descriptions of violent acts are vivid and explicit. I accept how Gary Ross chose to depict the fighting but I don’t think it was the strongest way to go. I think director with more sensibility for action sequences would have been better. I think more time could have been given to be true to the book and to give more weight to the awfulness of it. This is what made me think Steven Spielberg would have been good. He did a great job in Minority Report and A.I. among others. A fellow PCA chose Katherine Bigelow (The Hurt Locker, Point Break) as the better director. It was also very lacking that the muttations at the end were faceless. In the book, the idea of seeing the faces of dead Tributes on the mutts is psychological warfare the Capitol wages on Katniss. But this is not even an issue. And while I’m complaining, I missed Madge! The most effective sequences were the Reaping when Katniss volunteers to take the place of Primrose and loss of Rue. They also did well with little screen time with Gale. But in their effort to de-emphasize the love triangle and really nullify any relationship between Peeta and Katniss, they cut out necessary elements. Yes, in the book, Peeta does love Katniss and Katniss is too inexperienced and too pre-occupied with more important things like feeding her family to recognize any feelings for Gale other than as her friend. But she definitely develops strong feelings for both and they are barely conveyed. The relationship between her and Peeta is complicated and this is lost/omitted. Their feelings for each other, as they evolve, fuel their strategies throughout the books so they are relevant to the story and should not be minimized/eliminated.

I do still want to see the movie one more time in the Ziegfeld but it is hard to justify the time when I have other pop culture fish to fry. I will see how things go.

From archive: March 3, 2012: Wanderlust

07 Saturday Apr 2012

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I recently had to reboot my blog. So I will add older entries periodically. I am starting with the most recent entry from March 3, 2012.

Wanderlust

I like Paul Rudd in comedies. He’s good at it. I recall he went down a serious route for a time and I missed him being silly and ridiculous. He did a bunch of Neil LaBute plays/movies and he was in that play Three Days of Rain on Broadway most notable for starring Julia Roberts. While I am a fan, she did not quite translate to stage. Bradley Cooper was strong in it and Paul Rudd was fine but again, I missed his sparkle. I’m not sure when he came back to us but he owns it and can do comedies for the rest of his life and I’d be happy watching them. Role Models was a nice surprise. When I saw the trailer, I had a feeling it would be good and I was not disappointed. After seeing Role Models, I re-watched Wet, Hot American Summer and got into the absurdity of David Wain and The State. Wanderlust has a trusted comedic pedigree. I suspected it would be funny and entertaining but also silly and broad but successful in its stupid humor. I would say Role Models spoke to me more but Wanderlust works. It’s fun to watch and Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston are likable. The story is not complicated but it entertains and feels warm and fuzzy by the end. Also check out Childrens Hospital and Party Down for more State-related goodness and absurdity. I am still watching Grey’s Anatomy but can’t help think of Childrens Hospital now when I watch it. Also, whenever there are Party Down reruns on Starz, I feel compelled to watch them to enrich my appreciation for the show. So layered.

Chronicle

Chronicle works on many levels. It is creative, to-the-point and makes a lasting impression. The darkness was a surprise and may be a turn-off to some. I do like feeling uplifted at the end of movies and this one is not of that ilk. Then again, those with superpowers often have darkness in their back stories. The teen, sci-fi elements were appealing and delivered in terms of being an interesting story with interesting characters but also touching on the struggles of adolescence and what we want to see in a sci-fi movie.

This Means War

The sole reason I saw This Means War was to support the charismatic Tom Hardy. He shined in the movie – very charming, attractive and impressively athletic in every scene. I have been advised to see RockNRolla for Tom Hardy’s performance. I also thought he lit up the scene in Inception. I am a big fan of Warrior and heartily recommend it to everyone. It is such an underrated movie. I watched a bit of an old Tom Hardy series and did not feel as enchanted… what was it called…The Take. It was just okay. Same with Bronson. I appreciated his performance but the movie was not for me. So, Reese Witherspoon is cute and sweet per usual and Chris Pine is fine. But the movie is ludicrous. These two spies fall for the same woman and utilize CIA resources to spy on each other and her as they try to woo her. The action sequences are fairly entertaining. Very Charlie’s Angels as one might expect since both were directed by McG. I don’t know how I’ll feel about him as Bane particularly as he wears a mask and I could not understand what he was saying in the Batman teaser. We’ll see.

Film Comment Selects

Margaret

I saw Kenneth Lonergan’s Margaret for the third time recently. It still holds up. He is a writer that captures familial relationships so elegantly with warts and all. Also, Margaret is something of a love letter to New York, more specifically the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It is refreshing to see Anna Paquin pre-Sookie. I am a True Blood fan (I was converted when season 2 started). But, she is so identified as Sookie Stackhouse now. Having seen her young self in Margaret several times has reminded me of her range and talent. She was not at the event but Kenneth Lonergan, Matthew Broderick and many other actors and related figures were present. It was very interesting to hear Lonergan speak about the film. He did not want to talk about the reported editing conflicts surrounding it and instead focused on the actual movie. It was sweet how he introduced Matthew Broderick as his “very best friend.” They went to high school together. I did not know that. I did see Broderick in Lonergan’s play The Starry Messenger and enjoyed the experience. Anyway, the movie holds up to multiple viewings and people seemed to enjoy the event. My first exposure to Kenneth Lonergan was seeing This Is Our Youth starring Mark Ruffalo and I thought that I saw the first run. I learned that the first run starred Josh Hamilton who was present at the Margaret screening and was a supporting player in the movie.

Silent House 2011 English version

The trailer for Silent House creeped me out to no end. The idea of strangers residing in your house and chasing you around when you discover them is super creepy especially the way the movie is filmed. The Silent House I saw is a remake of a movie from 2010 made in Uruguay. It was made with one take. So there is technical aspect to the remake that interested the filmmakers who were present and said the movie is composed of 9 or 10 segments. First, I should comment that the movie was just as creepy as the trailer. Elizabeth Olsen sells the fear and paranoia like nobody\’s business. I actually jumped in my seat. The story plays on primal fears. I had various theories formulating throughout the movie. There are surprises and I think for me it would’ve been creepier if it went a different way but it resolves effectively.

NY Korean Film Festival

I only saw two of the seven movies featured in this festival but I was glad I made it down to BAM for one night at least.

Late Autumn

Late Autumn (Manchu) is a remake of a Korean movie from 1963 which I have not seen. This movie surprised me by being really good. The premise sounded suspiciously cheesy but I was impressed by the performance of Wei Tang. Very subtle and captivating. The main Korean actor was fine. His role was less refined but he has an interesting look and it was believable that these two, one a woman out on furlough from prison, the other a male escort, meeting on a bus, might make a genuine connection.

Hindsight

Hindsight (Poo-reun so-geum) has a potentially good premise – an ex-gangster takes a cooking class in a seaside town and meets a cute, young woman who seems to have her own secrets. The movie was watchable. It reminded me of This Means War in that it was ludicrous but I kept watching it. The action scenes were well-choreographed although the scenarios were unbelievable. The lead, Song Kang-ho, is well-known and highly visible in Korean cinema and did a good job with an odd role. Seeing this movie had more value to me as providing a glimpse into what a box office hit in Korea looks like rather than enriching my appreciation for Korean cinema. But I have no problem with popcorn movies. Sometimes you don\’t want to think too hard and be entertained.

Pop TV

Top Chef Season 9

Yay, Paul won! He must be the most likable, gentlemanly, talented, appealing cheftestant ever, at least to me. There are so many adorable Paul moments – every time he cried, when he helped the women ice pick for ingredients, when he took responsibility for overcooked food cooked by his sous chef saying he trained him. And his food looked delectable every single time. Congrats, Paul! No one in the history of Top Chef has deserved the win more!

The Mortified Sessions

Just wanted to recommend this highly entertaining and unusual interview show. Host David Nadelberg sits down with celebrities with their shoeboxes filled with pictures, writings and other life artifacts and goes through them with them. It is intimate, unique and entertaining.

Pop Books

Though it may not seem like it, I am slowly and steadily reading new books. So, I thought I’d mention the most recent ones I got through.

Most literary: The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht

It took me a while to get into the groove of this debut novel by Obreht but once I did, I quickly recognized her talent. Pretty impressive for a 25 year old who is not a native English speaker. She ultimately weaves the past and present together coherently and touchingly as she remembers her close relationship with her recently departed grandfather and the fables he used to tell her.

The funniest: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

Even Mindy Kaling knows the reader of her book is going to make some sort of comparison to Bossypants by Tina Fey. The first big break was when Mindy Kaling’s play Matt and Ben was in the Fringe Festival. Matt and Ben became the toast of the festival and led to Mindy Kaling being hired to write on The Office. Mindy Kaling is a clear, funny and self-aware writer. Her collection of essays about her background and journey to becoming a successful comedic writer and actress is entertaining, touching and goes down really easy. Even Mindy says her book should only take the reader a couple of days to get through and if one is still reading it after a month, then she questions this.

Most satisfying sci-fi, (pre) dsystopic YA I’ve finished reading: Tempest by Julie Cross

I’ve always been a fan of YA and I enjoy sci-fi. With the advent of YA dystopic novels like The Hunger Games, I’ve been caught in the wave with other like-minded readers. I read a review of Tempest and after reading a sample, I went ahead and voraciously read through the entire book. It is about a 19-year old college student who can time-travel. He inadvertently sends himself back in time to stop a murder from happening. I think it is going to be made into a movie. I don’t know if it will successfully capture the internal monologue of the lead character. Maybe it will depend on casting or visuals. Anyway, I look forward to the movie and sequel to the book.

Most interactive YA novel I haven’t finished yet: Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral

This YA novel is an app for iOS (available through iTunes). The story is basic. It is a teen love story and mystery. It starts with the disappearance of the teen girl lead who is a piano prodigy. The love story between the teens unfolds through pictures, music and videos. There are also instant messaging conversations. I am “reading” this mostly for the novelty of the experience. I am taking my time because I want to listen to all of the music and watch all of the videos and there are ample links to follow. I will try to give a yay or nay when I finish the experience.

Best dystopic sci-fi YA I am still reading: Pure by Juliana Baggott

I read a review for Pure and again read the sample and as soon as I read the 15 going on 16-year old female protagonist had a doll’s head for a hand as an after-effect of the apocalyptic events the DC area, I was sold. I had to know what her fate would be. I am still in the middle of this one and will probably finish soon because I am riveted.

Pop Theater

The Wooster Group: Early Plays

I am such a fan of The Wooster Group. I always come away from a Wooster Group performance feeling like I saw something innovative and heartfelt. This was the first time I felt less than satisfied. Early Plays is based on Eugene O’Neill’s Glencairn Plays all based on sailor-life in I don’t know when, early. The plays were written in 1914-1918. I missed the multi-media experience the Wooster Group always infuses into their productions. This one was more straight-forward and as a result reminded me of high school English. The plays were interesting as a slice of life of life as a sailor at a certain time and place. I was interested but I was not mesmerized or perplexed as Wooster Group performances typically affect me. I’m still glad I went because I want to support this imaginative, hard-working, talented, innovative theater company. But for me, this was not the most compelling work by them.

THG

03 Tuesday Apr 2012

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Sorry for the delay. I have beaucoup à dire about The Hunger Games. I’ve been keeping notes. But I want to have enough time to write it down coherently. In short, I saw it twice opening weekend. I loved the cast, especially Jennifer Lawrence, and thought the actual games worked well. I had many problems with the production value regarding the look, the costumes, the make up, the design, the food even. I have much to say about the food. So please be patient while I figure out the new look for my blog. I had to upgrade. My older posts are safe and sound but not easily accessed. I will pick and choose later what makes sense to make available. Honestly, I use my blog as my movie memory. So as long as I have access to older entries, I feel okay. I want you guys to have access because I put a lot of time into them. But I will have to see what is practical. More to come!