A Simpsons Discussion (Part 1 of our 434 Part Series)

"I'm an Amendment To Be" video is supposed to be here. Stupid copyright laws.

Sorry non-Simpsons nerds and anti-tv folk. Yo, Jeff...time for you to start posting your rankings on your own blog.

The Day the Violence Died is a classic due to that School House Rock Parody - I especially love how right-wing it is. Pretty silly. I assumed it would be near the top of your list because there's a lot of history to it - Itchy & Scratchy history, cartoon/film history, etc. and also Kirk Douglas does a phenomenal job as Chester J. Lampwick. I think I remember watching this when it aired for the first time, but yeah, with me being near the age of 25, it's tough to say whether or not I remember the premier or the syndicated version. You're a lucky old man, John. I do remember live episodes from season 8, though - The Springfield Files, specifically.

Jeff and I used to disagree quite a bit on Bart Sells His Soul - with me liking it more than him. Even though we know I'm not very spiritual and I don't buy into souls, this episode is very sweet and heartfelt (like most of the great episodes this season). The B-story with Uncle Moe's Family Feedback is hilarious. "You drew the stink lines and everything." A nice pick, but I find better jokes and heartwarming moments in Home Sweet Homediddly...

It's pretty awesome that the three of us have the same picks at the two and three spots. Jeff and I have watched King-Size Homer so many times and it still makes us laugh uncontrollably. Our two favorite jokes from that ep. - Jimbo:"I heard that guy's ass has its own congressman." and Movie Theater Owner: "Sir, if you'd just quiet down, I'd be happy to treat you to a garbage bag full of popcorn." It's hard to believe that it took them seven seasons to use this storyline. Homer gaining weight to go on disability is just a perfect concept.

Lisa the Vegetarian also makes so much sense that it's surprising they didn't write it sooner. Homer/Lisa episodes are usually always phenomenal. No exception here; the "veggie-back ride" ending is very touching. And we also have another Beatle episode (too bad we never had the chance to see a John Lennon episode). "Come to Homer's BBBQ - the extra B is for BYOBB."

Lisa the Iconoclast - like the Day the Violence Died - is also memorable for its history. John Swartzwelder wrote a lot of great episodes that developed the world of The Simpsons. Homer as town crier - ye-yeah!

Raging Abe Simpson has some beautiful animation; a very cinematic episode.

I'd be interested to hear why Summer of 4 ft. 2 is at the bottom of your list, John. I was probably too hard on the Treehouse of Horror episode, but I hate the first act so much. That Paul Anka jingle has one of the worst melodies I've ever heard. The computer animation looks really cool in the third act, but otherwise the episode is pretty forgettable. This is the also the first bad TOH ep.

Team Homer is another one that we've seen a million times. I expected it to be a bit higher on your list. I love it more for its jokes than its story, though. "The all ighty ollar. Ha ha ha, I get it."

Last thing that I want to praise...Stop the Planet of the Apes, I want to Get Off! Brilliant. All right...that video needs to be posted as well...

What do you think, gents?

Bored To Death

I'm not too familiar with mumblecore; if I do a run-down of the "list of mumblecore films" on Wikipedia, I've only seen two (Greenberg and Cyrus). I've wanted to see Tiny Furniture for the past year or so, but the disc currently sits in my "saved" queue, and who knows when Netflix will ever get it.

Anyway...I really don't prefer this genre, but I don't hate it either and will mostly be willing to check it out.

I read an old(ish) post of John's saying that he was really excited to see Cold Weather because of the mumblecore/noir connection. I do think it was a nice blend, and the mystery aspect of the script really helps this movie out and will probably help the genre in the long run. There are some really nice tension scenes in this film. At times, you almost don't know what to expect. When Doug leaves the restaurant to grab the get-away car while Gail plans to steal to briefcase, I almost expected Doug to be too late bringing the car around. I kinda expected him to show up and find her in danger or hurt.

But I wonder now if mumblecore is also supposed to be very grounded and realistic. Was it ever possible for anyone in the movie to be hurt? Maybe not. Maybe Gail was always supposed to get out safely.

This movie reminded me of both the HBO series Bored to Death (hence my title) and of David Lynch. Doug, like Johnathan Ames (the character) fantasizes about being a detective; the difference, of course, is that Doug actually has more of a background in the field. And I thought Gail/Trieste Dunn looked familiar - she was actually in an episode of BTD. Doug wants to play out the fantasy of being a Sherlock Holmes-esque detective because it's a dream of his and also because he is kinda bored.

And with Lynch, this is a little bit up his alley because it involves dangerous happenings in a small town. While Portland's not exactly a small town, there are definite small-town vibes in this movie and then you mix-in potential kidnapping/missing persons, fake identities, erotica, etc.

But I definitely agree with Ben when he writes, "In the end COLD WEATHER is a movie about Doug and Gail's relationship. The mystery /thriller aspect is actually the subplot disguised as the main plot." That's why you have the film ending the way it does. The mystery provides the opportunity for brother and sister to bond again. I enjoyed the scenes with Doug and Gail - especially when they are staking out Jim Warden's place and she tells him about the last guy she dated. And the post-getaway when they're listening to the mix tapes. That relationship works well in the film, but I also feel as if there isn't enough there.

I know it wasn't, but this movie feels like it was based on a novel. And in the novel, there are so many more details and scenes that fully give the Doug/Gail relationship its due. I'm not suggesting that Katz should've beaten that drum to death, but I feel like the story/message overall lacks focus, or, more accurately, doesn't reach its full potential. And I know we're going to be different and rate some films higher than others, but John, I don't yet understand why you liked Cold Weather more than Drive. I feel like then years from now we'll still be talking about Drive, but very little will be said of Cold Weather. Who wants to go out their way to prove me wrong?

I did not have a problem with the pacing; the slow build-up worked quite well, actually. All of a sudden we're hit with a potential kidnapping - nice. And with the scenes where Doug forgets to grab the tobacco, I enjoyed that as well; the movie has quite a few comical moments thanks to Doug. Cris Lankenau does a nice job with the subtle humor.

But so overall I definitely enjoyed Cold Weather, but like with Greenberg and Cyrus, when it was over I mostly reacted with a "meh." But feel free to tell me why I'm wrong, guys.

John, early guess for your top episode of The Simpsons season 7: The Day the Violence Died. Not sure why, just going with it. Can't wait to see the list.

You're right on the performances in Jane Eyre - they don't vastly improve the film or anything. Again, I'm probably still too nice to a lot of movies (not that Jane Eyre was bad, in my mind). I hope to write more on Meek's Cutoff, so maybe I will in the next week or so. Glad to hear your thoughts on both Rope and Wings of Desire - definitely agree.

I watched Born Yesterday today - found it to be very charming and humorous...and like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, patriotic. "Let the eagle soar..."

Bring On the Lucie

Summer People got me sick; I have a cold. No one told me there would be side-effects to the "Play Spin the Bottle with the Band" sweepstakes. Worth it, though. Especially since Summer People and Hotchacha were both a hell of a lot of fun to watch. And I was also treated to a John Owen cameo. Nice to see John, Brandon, and the band again.

But because I'm home sick, this will give me the opportunity to watch Cold Weather, which I think I'll do in a little bit. Then maybe a post on it tonight or tomorrow night, but don't hold me to that.

Eagerly awaiting both the Melancholia and Take Shelter events. Yeah, I have to say next Thursday would work a lot better for us, but Jeff and I will see what we can do for Monday. Until then, it will be tough to avoid the majority of Ben's post on the former.

SPOILERS BELOW(but none in the opening statements of each paragraph)

John, I also saw Jane Eyre recently but didn't hate it as much as you did. I did like it, but there's definitely something missing. I'm not sure if you read the novel - probably not. I haven't read it and so that probably helped toward giving me a mostly favorable impression. Jeff told me about a scene in the book that wasn't in the film; he said that Rochester's wife sneaks into Jane's room one night and begins to tear at her wedding dress. Cool and spooky - had that scene been added, I feel like it would've really helped the story. At times it plays like a haunted house film, but never fully commits. Maybe that would've involved changing the story too much. I don't really dig on gothic romanticism or Victorian Lit., but I actually liked the story. It was familiar, sure, but I gotta say that I liked it. Probably I'm not opinionated enough, yet...because if I take certain issue with a film, it shouldn't be considered good. I don't know. A shout-out to Michael Fassbender as Rochester. He had a nice intensity, and at times seemed a little mad. I like everything I've seen him in so far.

I also watched Meek's Cutoff. The reason why I haven't posted on it was because I haven't gotten around to that or around to reading your guys' thoughts. Another favorable review, though. I think at this point, I definitely put it above Jane Eyre. Of course I can't talk about it without addressing the ending: I loved it and I wished I had seen it with everyone so that I could've heard the groans in the theater. Probably would've made me really love it. I don't know - expect it in my top ten rankings, or maybe I will just write something longer here soon.

Still watching the Hitchcock films I hadn't seen before. I watched Rope and it's become an instant favorite of mine. Like Dial 'M' for Murder, it's very much a play and I'm a big dialogue guy, so there's a lot of love here. John Dall's performance as Brandon was a fascinating one. The film also produces a lovely debate that never lost my attention.

Wings of Desire - very well done. Time to get my City of Angels on and start playing Goo Goo Dolls again. But back to being serious, Wim Wenders - fantastic job. And Peter Faulk playing himself - hell yeah. A great movie.

Watched some Bogie - To Have and To Have Not and The Caine Mutiny. With the former, I now fully understand why Brandon is such a big Hawks fan; very effective storytelling and flawless direction. With the latter, it was great to see Bogart playing something of a villain. Although, the ending does allow you to garner some sympathy for him. Jeff and I talked about that last scene, and we differed a bit. I think I'm in favor of it because I also felt bad for Capt. Queeg when he was too afraid to take charge during the storm. You do need a competent leader in that situation, but clearly the guy isn't a real villain, he just has a lot of fear and insecurity. Also, Robert Francis was way too stiff for this movie; sure he may have looked the part as Ensign Keith, but I loathed the performance.

Watched the Welsh/English film Submarine. I guess we would categorize this as mumblecore, so it's probably not every one's cup of tea. A year ago when it was released in the UK, I had heard good things and people were saying it was one of the best comedies. For that reason, my anticipation was at about a 7 out of 10 and I put it on my queue. I did this without seeing any clips or trailers. I did, however, catch the trailer the day before I watched it. The trailer definitely filled me with some regret; essentially it looked like a UK version of a Wes Anderson/Noah Baumbach film. Unlike John and Brandon, who each hate one of the two, I love both of those guys....but I didn't want to see a simple rip-off. I also feared it would be too cute and obvious. After having watched it, I feel indifferent; it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...but there are definitely moments where it tries too hard to be cute/funny. It does have some pleasant moments, though, and sometimes it reminded me of simpler days of young love and childhood. It isn't without its charms, but mostly thumbs neither up nor down.

Oh, and John, Attack the Block is coming to Netflix on October 25th. Maybe that doesn't help you. I have it on the top of my queue and have heard nothing but good reviews...which makes me think I won't like it. But it sounds damn interesting.

Television...

Breaking Bad(ass) - SPOILERS

One hell of a finale. Thank you, Vince Gilligan. Gus' death was done very well; loved every second of it...especially the decision to have him walk out initially unscathed, and then jut that fantastic pan (I could watch it over and over). Agree with everything John and Jeff said; love John's comments on Hector's bell. It just makes the scene so iconic. And is the show setting us up for one last show-down: Jesse vs. Walt? Wow, really nice find on that photo comparison, John.

More AMC - I'm not sure if I'll watch season 2 of The Walking Dead. I mean, I probably will eventually, but there are better shows out there that are higher up on my priority list. Hell On Wheels looks intriguing...but I'm still not completely sold. Thus far AMC hasn't steered me wrong (note: didn't catch The Killing).

I need to watch episode two of Boardwalk Empire (the premier was great).  Same with Dexter. Mostly I really liked that premier....SPOILERS...except for the storyline of Quinn proposing to Deb. Makes me want to punch myself. Bring back Doakes! Bring back Doakes!

I've only seen the first season of Bored to Death. I wasn't crazy about it, but I do want to see season 2 now that it's on Netflix.

ABC Family's The Lying Game

Only kidding. I caught my Dad watching this show a few weeks ago. Okay, "caught" is the wrong word; that would suggest that he was doing it in clandestine. This was not the case. For shame, Dad. For shame.

The Simpsons Episode Rankings: Season 7

Am I crazy for saying that I like season 7 more than season 6? Maybe to some, but I feel pretty confident in that stance right now. And that isn't to say that season 7 is necessarily funnier, but the overall "feel" of 7 is just more enjoyable. When Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein took over as showrunners, they said that they wanted to bring the show back to the family (essentially giving us episodes that felt more like season 3 than a continuation of 6), and in my opinion they succeeded. Look no further than the top episode on my list - it's both hilarious & heartfelt, and one of the best family-centric episodes in the show's entire history.

Having said all that, like season 6, there are episodes on this list that I'm not particularly fond of. These episodes are nowhere near as bad as the new episodes of the show or even anything resembling episodes from the eleventh season. But still, I can't say that I love each and every episode this season, and it's really just the bottom three that I'm referring to.

1. Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily

2. King-Size Homer

3. Lisa the Vegetarian

4. Team Homer

5. Lisa the Iconoclast

6. Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield

7. Marge Be Not Proud

8. Bart Sells His Soul

9. Summer of 4 ft. 2

10. A Fish Called Selma

11. Raging Abe Simpson and his Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish'

12. Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part 2

13. Bart the Fink

14. Homerpalooza

15. Radioactive Man

16. Mother Simpson

17. The Day the Violence Died

18. 22 Short Films About Springfield

19. The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular

20. Two Bad Neighbors

21. Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming

22. Homer the Smithers

23. Much Apu About Nothing

24. Bart on the Road

25. Treehouse of Horror VI

*John, I considered commenting on each individual episode, but then I thought it would probably be better to get a mini-discussion going on the major differences in our lists or just what we liked or hated about certain episodes. Something like that. Also, Jeff and I definitely want to see Take Shelter so hopefully we can work that out someway.

Defending Paris

John, Jeff and I talked about how I'm probably a bigger fan of Midnight In Paris; we both enjoyed it, but I'll be the one with it in my top ten at the end of the year...he probably won't (he thinks he's too good for it). But I also know that he wrote about the movie on here a fortnight or so before I joined, so obviously you're going to poke at him about it. That and he kinda looks like Woody.

But really, when you think about it, Owen Wilson's character in MIP is a lot like John Wayne's character in Stagecoach...just kidding. I know you'll never be on board.

None of Woody's current films will ever be as good as what he did in the 70s and 80s, but like Jeff said a few months back - if he's able to write something that's amusing and interesting, it's always a blast for us.

But you can bash on the Harry Potter movie franchise all you want. I like to pretend to be a bigger nerd than I really am (I'd only really defend the books). Even if I were paid, I don't know that I'd watch any of those movies again. Well, okay, I will accept money...let's never take that off the table.

As you know, I completely agree that Walt is unlikable now. It's also just crazy that he's being left behind on his own show as well (Jesse, Mike, and Gus seem to be having all the fun). That last episode was awesome; can't wait for the next. Also it's cool to see Bryan Cranston in something like Drive as a reminder of how much he transforms while playing Walt. It's brilliant acting by him - he's a completely different person.

It used to be true of me that I never missed an episode of The Colbert Report or The Daily Show. I've been to live tapings for both shows - I think I've done Colbert 3 or 4 times. It was a dream of mine to be a writer on that show while I was at college, so it does sadden me to report that I haven't been watching either show in a while. I just don't feel as if there is time for me to catch them anymore (which is not exactly true), but also I am trying to remove myself from politics lately. Obama has disappointed me to the point that I've decided I won't be voting next November. But I'll probably try to catch a few episodes here and there.

Ben, agreed about Weeds. Leaving Agrestic and dumping Conrad hurt the show a lot and the writing hasn't been as strong since 3. I was pleasantly surprised with season 6, but now we're back to crap. I'll probably finish the season at some point, though. Glad that we'll be able to talk about Boardwalk. I haven't seen Treme but I've heard really good things.

I know the Emmys are a joke, but it's damn silly to put HBO/AMC/Showtime shows in the same category as crappy ABC and CBS shows - I'm looking at you, Modern Family. My apologies if anyone on here watches that show - there are worse things out there, but still.

With NBC, I can't wait for more 30 Rock. Too bad we have to wait until mid-season for new episodes. I'm also hoping Parks and Recreation will get a little funnier now that it seems to have found a larger audience. We need more Ben Schwartz/ Jean-Ralphio and Aziz scenes. The Office hasn't been relevant for me since the writer's strike. How the mighty hath fallen - I've been re-watching season 3 (when the show was brilliant). Steve Carell was hilarious, Andy Bernard was better off as a douchey Cornell grad with anger problems, and the Jim/Pam stuff seemed so real at times that you forgot you were watching actors on a show.

Brandon, like Ben, I hope to donate to the Kickstarter project after I get my next paycheck. Again, hope the tour is going well. And, had you gone out on tour without giving us a bathroom story, I would've been disappointed. So thanks for that hilarious facebook post a week ago or so.

I stayed home sick today and considered watching Cold Weather on the Reed Hasting's NWI but I watched Shadow of a Doubt instead. I remain a nincompoop for now but I still might catch it. Give me time.

I think I said that I had more to say on Drive. I guess I just don't. Not until someone else posts...

Drive

Well, someone else will have to be the dissenting voice...

Drive was f*cking awesome - there's really no other appropriate way for me to put it. It's the reason why I go to the movies. Like Jeff, I might be inclined to call it a masterpiece because I didn't walk away from the theater with any regrets or any feelings that I would change something about it. There's no wasted time here. It is what it is and it can't be duplicated. Well, people might try and duplicate it, but they'll fail miserably if they do.

The style, the music, the script, the direction all worked wonderfully together. Without this movie, I'd probably never give the soundtrack any consideration, but it fits perfectly and even makes an already very cool film that much cooler.

Lisa posted that apt/amusing someecard on facebook. Really, though, I think I have a crush on everyone in this film - even Ron Perlman's ugly self. As Jeff said, the chemistry between Gosling and Mulligan is perfect - they say so much just from staring at each other. Cranston, Brooks, Oscar Issac, Christina Hendricks, Perlman, Kaden Leos - hats off.

The camera movement was silky smooth and I agree with Jeff that Refn upped his game for this one (though I've only also seen Bronson, which I really enjoyed). I'm glad he wrote the thing about Gosling recruiting him for this project - just goes to show how this one was completely rescued. I guess the shitty action film that featured Hugh Jackman was turned into Real Steel. Refn also just handled the tension perfectly and the tension was aided by the degree of violence in the film. Brooks and Perlman are dangerous people who want hesitate to stab you multiple times in the throat.  Brandon noted how some of the reviews were critical of the violence, and really, people should know what they're getting into before seeing this...as it's pretty graphic; I had my wisdom teeth removed earlier in the day and luckily I wasn't feeling nauseous at the time.

We've talked about violence in film quite a bit on these blogs, so maybe this film will help to continue that conversation a bit - but I definitely saw no problems with how it was handled. The driver's attitude throughout the film seemed very nonchalant and fearless - Refn matched that fearlessness with each decision and I love it.

The pacing is also brilliantly done - as John said, even when the movie feels very slow, Gosling and Mulligan's facial expressions keep the film moving. The silent scenes are just as enjoyable for me as the car chases and everything else. And I wish I had counted the seconds in which Gosling sat in the car with his stab wound at the end. You were waiting for that blink and each second that he didn't was a bit mesmerizing.

Who is the audience for this movie? Not that I really care, but I did expect this film to do better in the box office - it seems to offer a little bit of something for everyone. I wouldn't be shocked to hear a negative review of the film, but I'd really have to be convinced that there's nothing redeemable about it. But word-of-mouth is traveling quickly - it's too violent and it isn't The Fast and the Furious. More to love.

This first post is pretty gushy - sorry. I have more to say, but right now I'm feeling feverish (Gosling fever, perhaps?) and I need to lie down. Let me think about things a bit more, because I know there's still quite a bit to discuss. I can't wait for everyone else to see it, and hopefully that happens soon.

No TV and No Beer Make Homer Go...something something.

With Brandon soaking up the rays in Atlanta, there's no one to stop us from letting our love for television shine! I do hope the tour is going well.

Careful, folks - some spoilers ahead.


The Simpsons

John, we've finished season 7, but I might wait a few weeks before posting to give you a chance to watch more. I hope you're enjoying it, though; this truly is a great season. But, if you are watching the episodes in order, the season does fizzle out a bit after A Fish Called Selma...not too much but a little, in my opinion.

Breaking Bad

The fourth season has really picked up during the past few weeks and I'm enjoying the second half much more than the first (the opposite of season 3, really). Bryan Cranston is one hell of an actor and I love the guy - but I gotta admit that Walter White is currently one of my least favorite characters. I can't believe I see him in the same light as Skyler, Marie, and Hank. It's not something I'm happy about...believe me. Prediction (though probably an obvious one): Hank will be dead by the end of the season.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

I've just finished the 8th season and overall it was very enjoyable. It did lack focus throughout; the arc wasn't as present as in the previous seasons. It was supposed to be the "Larry returns to New York" season, but he didn't go there until the sixth episode or so. Even when he got to NYC, there was no real arc. That's not too much of a complaint, though. I haven't been throughly pleased with a season since the fourth. Seasons 5-7 made me laugh, but the episodes got more and more ridiculous and I was pretty critical of them as I watched. Season 8 was along the same lines, but I've learned to let go of that criticism and just sit back  and let the show entertain me - no matter how ridiculous the story got. I thought the finale was hilarious, and hopefully Larry gives us a season 9. I'm not ready for it to end.

Weeds


I believe I'm on episode six or seven of the seventh season. I didn't necessarily choose to stop watching, it just worked out that way. My opinion on the season so far isn't very favorable. It isn't as bad as season five, but it's definitely worse than six. Bringing Heylia back was a great decision and definitely gave the season a much needed shot in the arm. But Nancy still sleeps with a lot of randos (sigh) and Andy has been mostly pushed to the background. I'm losing interest and I think I heard a rumor that this would be last season. If so, it'd probably be the right call. I just hope the finale is memorable because I still believe the series deserves as much.

Boardwalk Empire

Season 2 premiers on September 25th; if you're unfamiliar with this show, do yourself a favor and watch it (google "project free tv"). Season 1 was phenomenal; this is definitely one of the best shows on television, if not the best. Great cast - especially the three Michaels - Pitt, Shannon, and Stuhlbarg, great writing, and a great visual style. No spoilers, just go out and see it. If you have, let's talk.

Dexter

The sixth season starts on October 2nd. My expectations aren't too high as the previous season was mostly boring. It's cool that Mos Def and Colin Hanks have been added to the cast, but yeah, I'm not sure what we'll get from this upcoming season. Season 1 was one of the greatest television experiences of my life; season 2 was pretty damn good; season 3 stunk; season 4 was fantastic and emotional; and again, five was "meh." Here's hoping I'm pleasantly surprised.

The State


I just got the complete series in an auction on ebay. I was too young to watch the show when it was on, but maybe some of you Gen-Xers were fans. I'm a big fan of Wet Hot American Summer and that prompted me to check this out on Netflix a year or two ago. Not every sketch hits the mark, but there's a lot of great stuff - "Teens and 'dults don't mix."

I feel like I'm missing something...hmm...

Lastly, I guess it's only right that we're all seeing Drive separately since Brandon was the first one to post on it and he wouldn't be able to watch it with us. It definitely would've been nice if we all got to see it together (Jason and Lisa included, but obviously it's a hell of a lot tougher for you two to catch movies with us). So again, at least now no one has to worry about missing out on the group viewing.

Movie Round-up

I haven't posted in a while, but I have been watching a lot of moooovies. Like many of you, I'm really excited for Drive and can't wait for that CR5FC event; I can confirm that Binghamton Regal will start showing it this Friday, but because Jeff only has class on Tuesday and Thursday, we probably won't go until next week...but let's make it happen, gang!

Below this line is a list of films I've recently watched...

Miller's Crossing

I've wanted to watch this one for a long time. Brandon and Jeff's "top ten gangster films" discussion prompted me to move it to the top of my queue a few weeks back. Great performances from everyone (I especially loved J.E. Freeman as "The Dane"); the direction and script were exactly what I would expect from the Coen's - brilliant.

The Vanishing

Watched the '88 original. Jeff told me about this one a year ago or so. In fact, I believe he spoiled the ending for me, but because he spoiled it so long ago, I mostly forgot. Anyway, I was really impressed with this one - especially the story. I also had an idea for the last shot of the film, but it could easily be considered corny. (SPOILERS AHEAD) Given Saskia's dream of two lights traveling through the darkness, I thought it would've been cool to have a shot of Saskia and Rex in their respective graves, each holding up a lighter. But in order for that to be possible, Saskia would've had to been buried a day earlier instead of three years earlier. Oh well, still an interesting one that I would recommend.

Europa

I really like Von Trier...as a director/writer. I don't necessarily need to like him as a person, but I'll admit that I don't mind him at all in that department; the man is nothing more than a goofball. This film is a fine example of why I feel the way I do about his filmmaking abilities. The style was inspired and very cool.


Notorious

The Hitchcock film...not the Biggie bio-pic (sorry, guys). I've also wanted to watch this one for a long time. Hitchcock, Grant, and Bergman is a winning trio for me. I'm working on a top-ten Hitchcock list, but it probably won't be posted for another month or so. I'm trying to catch a lot of the ones I've missed. I really enjoyed this one, though, and I'll probably save my comments for that aforementioned future post.

Glengarry Glen Ross

Gotta love Alec Baldwin and gotta love this Mamet script - a lot of cursing and a lot of ego. Yes!

Rio Bravo

This was my first John Wayne film. I know, I know. But I haven't been living under a rock, so I've always been familiar with Wayne and the type of characters he played. Honestly, I've avoided him for a long time because I never saw him as a good actor and he just seemed like a douchey human being to me. Having said that, I found him to be very likable in this one. But what surprised me a little more was that he got the girl in the end. Sure, I regret being dismissive of him, but goddamn, the man is not very attractive.

Saboteur

Once again, another Hitchcock film I hadn't seen. More thoughts to come with the Hitchcock list. But I will say that I loved it.

White Heat

A post of firsts - yes, I'm very ashamed to admit that this was my first Cagney film. Now I know what I've been missing. Cagney completely blew me away...as you'd expect. Absolutely phenomenal; it's tough to take your eyes off of him as he just commands every scene he's in. His performance as Cody Jarrett was also pretty terrifying. I'd never shoot your ma in the back, Cody. I swear. Also, I've already made plans to see everything else he's in.

Meek's Cutoff just came to Netflix; it's at the top of my queue. Same deal with Jane Eyre.

John, we love season 7 of The Simpsons - definitely one of our favorites with a lot of great episodes/storylines. We're on the fourth disc (I believe we only have three or four episodes left). Hopefully you're ready to do some ranking soon.

Just When You Thought It Was Safe...To Stop Posting On DBAOTD

I'm really wishing I lived in the house from the movie right now. I've got a wisdom tooth that is bugging the hell out of me.

Ha, my bad for stealing your thunder, John. Right before I posted I thought about how I probably wrote too much, but given that we were all mostly in agreement, someone's thunder was going to be stolen.

Jesse and Mike vs. the Tooth Faeries would definitely be another hit for AMC - they should look into it. Not only would they be gangsters, but they'd also take on ghostbusting jobs as well.

At one point while we were watching the movie, I believe it was the dinner scene, I began wonder what the movie would be like as a screwball comedy. It would've been great if the faeries started playing pranks on Charles Widmore and the other guests. Someone's laces should've been tied together or something.

Oh, and speaking of Widmore, I'm happy to see that you're a Lost fan, John. We should discuss that soon, if you're up for it. I think I need to release some pent-up anger over that final season.

I became a fan of Guy Pearce after watching Memento. So I really see Joey Pantoliano as the consummate smarmy jerk. I've got a feeling that you loathe that movie, but I'd like to be proven wrong.

Jeff, definitely agree about the film lacking identity and feeling uneven. Great point.

Anyone who has seen Ernest Scared Stupid knows what an absolute frightfest it is...and I'm not even talking about the acting.

I wanted to hear a horror fan's thoughts on the movie, and that's exactly what I got with Jason's post. Thanks. And with his upcoming post in mind, I wanted to ask the question - if a movie like this isn't scary, does it suck? - in that first post. And this really brings me to one of my beefs with horror films - they're one note. They're either scary or they're not with very little else to offer.

I can understand Jason's frustration, though. Given the trailer and the fact that del Toro was involved, we were led to believe that this one was going to be both scary and very well-done. So I went in with that mindset, and I also expected to be entertained. I was probably too nice to it because I guess I was entertained by it - but it's definitely a movie with a ton of faults. But yeah, I am the last person who should give recommendations on horror (see Ernest Scared Stupid). Maybe I liked it more because it didn't scare me. Very lame, I know.

Again, didn't want to touch the cliches, but now that Jason has brought them up, I will say that I mostly agree. The genre allows for millions of questions/points like those, but I am glad that you listed movies you've seen that do the opposite. That's good to hear. If I ever wrote a horror screenplay, I would do everything I could to avoid these cliches and stupid decisions. Someone needs to put a Llewelyn Moss-type in one of these movies.

One thing I will say that Jeff, John, and I talked about was that del Toro claims that by making Guy Pearce's character financially-tethered to the house, it made it tougher on him to just get up and leave. I sort of understand this as money is a major concern for all of us. But right, your daughter's life should be worth more to you than a mansion house.

Glad we agree about having less face-time with the faeries. We needed more shadows.

Won't Be Afraid of the Dark

It's quite possible that I won't be able to post at all tomorrow, so I figure I would submit this tonight. I imagine Jason is at the theater now and wouldn't even be able to read this until he got back anyway. If you're doing a later showing, obviously ignore this for now. And John and Jeff, don't feel as if you have to respond to my post in your first posts. We've got time to debate. So here goes...

John, it was great to finally meet you; can't wait for the next CR5FC event...which is The Immortals, right? Ben, had you gone with us, you would've understood that inside joke. Sorry, just the facts, my friend.

On Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, I can understand why Guillermo del Toro was pissed about getting an "R" rating; I'd be pissed, too. As a result, the people who would've been terrified by this movie (ages 8-16) won't get to see it unless their parents or a sibling who is also old enough to buy cigs and porn takes them.

Ben and Lisa, you should see it. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. You can trust me - I am very much a wimp when it comes to this stuff (Ernest Scared Stupid freaked me out as a kid) and I slept very peacefully in an apartment by myself Thursday night. Lights off and everything.

I'll be interested to hear what our resident horror experts, Jason and Brandon, think about it...but then I'd also like to hear from someone who was scared by it...so I could pick on them. Stupid, scared little kids. Kidding, kids.

There was a moment when I sat in the theater and wondered whether or not I was now too old to be afraid of a movie. But I think I really just chalk it up to the movie being more appropriate for a younger audience. Had I seen this movie at the age of thirteen, I probably would've bankrupted my parents with the electric bill.

So the "scary movie" wasn't scary - doesn't that make it bad or unsuccessful? No, I enjoyed it and thought it was entertaining. I also think it's best to see it in the theater. This movie is great if there are speakers behind you; it definitely gave the movie more atmosphere and life...makes you feel as if you're being watched or something.

Simultaneously, I'm trying not to get hung up on a lot of the horror movie cliches that were also in this one. The only review I did glance at before seeing the movie was one in which the reviewer couldn't seem to get over the fact that Sally's father, Alex, didn't decide to leave the house sooner (though del Toro does have a pretty good response for me). I know I can't fixate on that because without that stupid decision and many other stupid decisions, the movie would only be twenty minutes long. Stupidity is a catalyst for conflict, especially in horror. In that sense, I can understand why many people laugh throughout these kinds of movies. Sometimes they can be pretty damn silly. There were a couple of moments when Jeff, John, and I exchanged smirks. The whispering that made the trailer and website kind of spooky wasn't really effective in the film, I have to say. Sometimes what was whispered was downright laughable.

Other criticisms - I really am tired of characters like Alex, but what are you going to do? Granted, if I had a daughter and she told me that little creatures climbed into her room and were trying to take her, I'd probably be dismissive, too. Films like these are supposed to be based in our world, so of course Alex is going to ignore her and up her dosage of Adderall instead. Okay, fine...but still.

And while I'd rather watch this movie than many of the others in the horror genre, I still sat in my chair and thought to myself, "It would be nice to watch a horror movie that was completely devoid of these cliches. To have more story going on and to have characters who didn't say the things you knew they were going to say." Someday. But the movie is enjoyable because, as del Toro tells us, it's of the same mold as many of the older haunted house movies that children might come across while channel surfing late at night. It very much has a vintage kind of feel to it. I didn't see the original made-for-tv version.


The movie is effective in making you dislike Pearce's character (an actor I like) and making you like Katie Holmes' character (an actress I dislike). But hell, she was attractive and even likeable in this. Bailee Madison was great - a cute kid who did a really nice job. I felt that the house had a nice design and was a great-looking haunted house. The door on the basement was pretty cool as was the look of the basement itself. I also liked the folklore aspect of the story and maybe felt that that part should've been played up more. But I don't think the movie necessarily needed to be too much longer.

Since I'm still holding out hope that Ben and Lisa will see it (and since Brandon is out on tour and his opportunities are limited), I'd like to point out that below this sentence is my SPOILERS section.

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I liked the opening scene as it was definitely the creepiest part of the movie. It got my anticipation up and even put me a little on edge, I admit. Since they got an R anyway, they probably should have just shown Blackwood hammering through the maid's skull. But you guys know me and it's probably best that I didn't witness something like that. Ha.

But yeah, after that...the...movie...slowed...down...a little...too...much.

What do you guys think - did we see too much of the creatures? Part of me feels that we did and that that made them less terrifying. I was content with the design and computerization of them, though. I guess I'm old-fashioned in only wanting to see my monsters until the very end.

One thing that I mentioned to Jeff and John was that I was a little shocked by the ending. I did not expect Kim to die. I figured that the movie would most likely end with them leaving the house and showing that someone else had moved in. But yeah, didn't expect her to die. A part of me likes that she did, but yeah, that also sucks; she didn't deserve it. Funny how the guys like Alex, who are assholes throughout the entire ordeal, usually live. I think I was mainly shocked because of the idea that they wanted a PG-13 rating. How many PG-13 movies can you think of in which an innocent main character dies? I'm not saying I agree with the MPAA, but that was a little strange and unexpected. Also, after she was taken down the hole, I half-expected a rescue scene. Maybe that would've been cheesy and stupid, but I think it would've been cool to see what was down there. Maybe a paradise full of happy full-toothed children as John suggested.

But her death does work because it gives us a nice ending in which Kim's whispers can now be heard with the rest of the creatures. A nice little nugget to leave us with.

Another scene that I thought was well-done was when Harris (the gardener) was attacked. Pretty cool in a slightly gruesome (based on my standards) sort of way.

But I've said a lot and I should probably leave some room for everyone else to talk about it. Again, I don't necessarily want this early post to influence what anyone else writes about it tomorrow. If we say similar stuff, so be it.