Friday Afternoon Videos: Buster Keaton

2 comments January 30th, 2009

In advance of my review for the new DVD set, MAKE ‘EM LAUGH: THE FUNNY BUSINESS OF AMERICA, here’s a montage of stunts, gags and great moments from the films of Buster Keaton. Prepare to be wowed.

Wait a minute! ZACK AND MIRI is about WHAT???

6 comments January 30th, 2009

According to Cinematical, mega-retailer Wal-Mart has urged Kevin Smith to remove the word “porno” from the DVD case of his movie, ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO, and Smith has agreed.

Sure, this keeps innocent young eyes from glimpsing the word “porno” in the title of an R-rated film, but as the article says, it raises another issue — “What happens when one of the unsuspecting few buy it and then get the rude awakening of a movie alllll about sex and porn?”

Thoughts?

A bit of excellent movie writing

6 comments January 29th, 2009

From Anthony Lane’s review of TAKEN in The New Yorker…

The first sentence…

 ”The conundrum posed by TAKEN is as old as cinema itself. Do stars degrade themselves when they take a role in trash, or does their very presence redeem the folly, turning up something that glitters amid the dross?”

And this choice bit…

“Pausing only to borrow a private jet from his ex’s slimy husband, Mills (Liam Neeson) flies to Paris, where he proceeds to work his way, without mercy, through a personal alphabet of undesirable aliens. This being a brisk affair, of little more than ninety minutes, he gets only as far as Albanians and Arabs, but, if I were an innocent Bermudan, let alone a Belgian, I would be starting to get nervous about a sequel.”

Read the whole thing here.

Your WATCHMEN post of the day

3 comments January 29th, 2009

I haven’t posted anything about WATCHMEN lately, so here’s the video that’s been making the rounds of the Internet: A fake newscast celebrating the 10th anniversary of WATCHMEN’s godlike super hero, Dr. Manhattan.

 

As if I needed another reason to be excited about this movie, this clip does the job. Also, I paged through a copy of the new book WATCHMEN: THE FILM COMPANION and had to stop after a few pages so as not to spoil any surprises. But what I saw looked good — very good.

Good news for you A-TEAM fans out there

6 comments January 28th, 2009

Apparently the movie is back in green light territory. Joe Carnahan, who directed the so-so SMOKING ACES and the excellent NARC, will be sitting in the director’s chair, with brothers Ridley and Tony Scott and original A-TEAM producer Stephen J. Cannell handling producing duties.

Here’s a bit from the Hollywood Reporter report…

Carnahan seems like an ideal candidate for  A-TEAM which told the adventures of a group of US Army Special Forces who are on the run for a crime they didn’t commit. The team included Hannibal, the leader whose favorite line was “I love it when plan comes together; Face, a ladies man; Howling Mad Murdock, an unstable pilot; and B.A. Baracus, the surly muscle (B.A. stands for “Bad Attitude”). 

And here, in case you’ve forgotten the glory that is THE A-TEAM, here’s the opening from the TV show.

 

Sidenote: I once interviewed Mr. T over the phone, and he was hilarious. The guy never stopped chuckling or cracking jokes for the entire interview.

Children of the …

Add comment January 28th, 2009

Anothe great post over at Turner Classic Movies’ Movie Morlocks page: Rhsmith examines the timeless film phenonmenon of ultra-creepy children, then goes on to discuss how kids — innocent, cute as a button kids — can be pretty creepy in real life, too.

Bad special effects. Bad, bad special effects!

3 comments January 28th, 2009

Yesterday, I posted a link to the list of the best 50 special effects shots of all time, courtesy of the Den of Geeks. Today, here’s a link to the other side of the coin — the “Top 24 Worst Special Effects of All Time” from the same site.

Once again, they’re good choices — including shots from SUPERMAN and JAWS. If you’ve seen the movies dozens of times (like me), you’ll know exactly which shots they’re talking about.

Truly special effects

Add comment January 27th, 2009

Here’s an interesting list from the film fiends over at The Den of Geek — the Top 50 Movie Special Effects of All Time. There are three things I like about this list:

1. It doesn’t limit itself to the usual suspects. Sure, JURASSIC PARK, STAR WARS and the parting of the Red Sea from THE TEN COMMANDMENTS are there, but so are moments from ALIEN RESURRECTION, JUST IMAGINE and BRAZIL.

2. The descriptions explain why the effects are special and don’t just resort to the usual “wow! that’s cool!” type of internet analysis.

3. Best of all, there are video clips from each and every one.

“… Or horrible things can happen!”

Add comment January 27th, 2009

Here’s a very imaginative public service announcement from Sweden that pays tribute to 1950s monster movies (in general) and Ed Wood’s 1955 film BRIDE OF THE MONSTER (in particular).

Why can’t we get commercials like this in America?

Could BENJAMIN be the big loser?

2 comments January 27th, 2009

A columnist over at Defamer lays out a scenario where the biggest nominee of the year, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, could lose all 13 Oscars it’s up for. As he points out, THE COLOR PURPLE and THE TURNING POINT both went 0 for 11, and GANGS OF NEW YORK went 0 for 10.

Still, in BUTTON’s case, it seems highly unlikely. Brad Pitt probably won’t get the Best Actor statue, and there’s a good chance SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE could ride its wave of acclaim to a Best Picture Oscar and a Best Director award for Danny Boyle, but I’d be astonished if BUTTON didn’t pick up some makeup and effects awards. BUTTON isn’t a great movie, but the effects and makeup are pretty amazing.