What Movies Have You Seen Lately?

Quote: Evenbob

The actors point is, being paid 5 or 10 or 15
mil for what is to them a walk in the park,
is totally worth it. It doesn't take months,
it doesn't involve any real work, and each
session is a couple hours. For millions of
dollars. Only in America.

I remember reading somewhere that for one of the Shrek sequels, Cameron Diaz made $35,000 a minute for the time she spent recording her voice.

Quote: ams288

I remember reading somewhere that for one of the Shrek sequels, Cameron Diaz made $35,000 a minute for the time she spent recording her voice.

Even no-name voice over professionals make $5,000+ an hour for television commercials. It's good work if you can do it steady. The problem is that the work is not that steady without some juice.

Finally saw the new Star Wars. Somehow, the biggest spoiler remained a secret until I saw the movie.

Even if you didn't know didily squat about the series, I think the movie could probably stand on its own. Star Wars may be George Lucas baby, but JJ Abrams is a better director IMO.

Saw Sing Street. The plot revolves around 15 year old Conor, who comes of age in mid-1980's Ireland. The economy is depressed, his un- and under employed parents marriage is on the rocks, and things have gotten so bad that they have to send him to a lower priced school; a catholic church run school for boys known as "Synge Street". The place is rough... think prison planet "Fury" from Alien 3, complete with skin headed, boot stompers with thick Irish accents. Chain smokers everywhere, including teachers and students, big bottles of beer consumed outside of the school, violence on the yard and cafeteria... it's like Friday night on the Strip.

On a whim, Conor decides to start a band (remember that this is shortly after the birth of MTV, when they still showed music videos) to impress a pretty girl who waits on the stoop of the house for girls across the street from the school. Of course drama ensues as conflict arises over individualism, domestic problems, and the authoritarian administrator at the school. But through it all, Conor and his bandmates find hope in their music... and producing home music videos.

If you are of a certain age: specifically 35 - 49 (Post-Baby Boom "Generation X"), you may really enjoy the 80's flashback soundtrack to this film. A-Ha, Wham!, The Cure... It's probably the soundtrack to your life. However, if these band names and MTV mean nothing to you, it will be hard to appreciate the heart and soul of this film. You may still enjoy it for what it is, a coming of age story complete with dreams of fame and happiness despite dire surroundings. Think "Stand By Me" for 60's, or "Almost Famous" for the 70's. Lead actor, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, does an impressive job in a role that requires a wide range. If he had a better name, he could be a contender for the "Next John Cusack" award.

On the downside, I had a hard time following the dialogue. it is filled with Irish accents and cultural terminology. Members of the clergy are overly portrayed as abusive, and feeble. Foul language and drug use are pervasive. A sex toy gets screen time. This film is not for kids, which is too bad, because teen girls will find Mr. Walsh-Peelo attractive in a "British Invasion" kind of way.

I give the film four brown shoes out of five.

In high school, who didn't want to be in a band and make music videos?:

I've come to the conclusion that movies make enough money to justify any kind of crap ... Vampires of the United Klan will recoup its expenses and might become a hit so it becomes 'film it' If it becomes a hit; get the writer started on Vampires of the Dis-united Klan sequel. Empty headed nitwits whose life is composed of motorcycles and vampires will spend enough money, no matter how bad the movie is.

Some people have car problems, and some people have CAR PROBLEMS. I don't think I saw this when it first came out, but I watched a little of it last night.



Spoiler: turns out to be an Uber driver

Quote: rxwine

Spoiler: turns out to be an Uber driver

Nice 70's hair on the actors. Really stupid
ripoff of Duel, which there were a bunch of.
Christine is the only good devil car movie.

Why do people running away from cars always run down the middle of the street? There are lots of places people, or motorcycles can go that cars can't. Perhaps standing behind a large tree, or a boulder, would be good places to hide?

Quote: Ayecarumba

Why do people running away from cars always run down the middle of the street?

Dramatic license.

But it may not be as impossible as it seems. When the Air Canada Gimli Glider incident happened, two boys who were riding their bikes at the converted air strip found the 767 bearing down upon them. Instead of riding off to the side of the runway, they tried to outrun the plane in the middle of it.

They succeeded largely because 1) the pilots were doing all they could to make the plane stop and 2) the plane ran into a divider, also smack in the middle of the runway, which did much to stop it.

I finally saw "The Da Vinci Code"

It's probably worth seeing, although I had a lot of problems with it, partly because I know people and how so many will want to believe the premise of the story is true.

The improbability of the premise is exceeded by the sheer impossibility that two [later 3] insufferable klutzes could pull off all those narrow escapes. There are many, many plot holes. 'Hated it' reviews at IMDB are good. And if you are unable to guess what the surprise ending was going to be by the halfway point or so of the movie, just hang it up and check in to the impaired brain division of your local nursing home!

Some of what it theorizes is total BS, like what the 'holy grail really was', and it was necessary to create dubious multiple secret societies. Other things are interesting to learn. Of the latter, in particular it has to be correct that Da Vinci was up to something with the way one of the disciples is depicted in his 'last supper'. I had never given it much thought, nor studied the painting to begin with, but the effeminate nature of the depiction of 'the beloved disciple' is quite striking once you focus on it. I have to believe it is quite possible Da Vinci bought in to the idea that one of the disciples was Mary Magdalene - and that he believed this had been suppressed. Perhaps alternativley Da Vinci thought the disciple was what is now called a transgendered person; that he did not intend to portray the disciple as so effeminate seems the least likely possibility.

The movie only deserves a short review, but lastly ...