Agreed.

Though oddly enough, my next favorite Holmes series (not yet having seen the new film) is the one produced by the Soviets during the 70s.

Atmospherically, it is most similar to the Brett version. The Dr Watson bears a physical resemblance to the first, younger one from the Brett series. Holmes is played by a guy who looks a lot like Basil Rathbone, but plays it with considerably more wry humor.

When I first saw these, I was put a bit off-kilter by some of the details, such as Russian-style windows on the buildings and some other small details (typical Aspie reaction, perhaps) but on re-viewing I am able to overlook these and enjoy the rest of the atmosphere, which I think they do a good job creating. Their Hound of the Baskervilles is particularly good.



............

Last night I saw UP. The sound at my seat wasn't working, but I didn't need it to enjoy the film. Beautiful.

Give 'em Hell Malone.



Sort of a parody of 1940's and 1950's private eye movies, along the lines of the Philip Marlowe mold. Opens with a big shoot-em-up and has some odd to pitiful characters. The worst is probably Matchstick: a pyromaniac who was channeling Heath Ledger's Joker. Irritating to watch. Rather a twist toward the end, but not a must see.

Funniest scene:

Checking in to a motel while on the run. Malone with his female client.

Malone: We need a room.
Client: With two beds.
Clerk: Two beds? You mean she's not a...
Malone: Why don't you ask her. Are you?
Client (to Malone): What does you cheek say?
Malone: My cheek?
Client: *Slap!*

The Hurt Locker



Not a bad movie, but I don't think it deserved all of the fuss made over it. The portrayal of the troops was OK, save for a scene or two, as was the difference between time in the field and at home. They didn't think much of senior officers, which from what I hear isn't uncommon, especially in regular units. The terrorists got rough handling, they are really much worse.

++++

Zombieland



A virus has broken out in the US and has turned just about everyone into zombies. The first character is a neurotic shut in who is a survivor, then meets his complete opposite. They team up in the quest for a zombie free place and a box of Twinkies. Its gory in spots but rather funny, in the Evil Dead series sort of funny. A few classic cliches which are probably deliberate and they do some things I certainly wouldn't have done (like jumping out of a car because it is covered with zombies when hitting the brakes would have gotten rid of the zombies and you'd still have had the car) but its worth watching once, just not with kids.

Titanic

3/4

On again last night. Really a fine and beautiful film.

The music is excellent, and I like the love story.

I ding it 1/4 star only because of the inaccurate and gratuitous class-related stuff like the steerage passengers being locked downstairs, and the segregated church service.

and the sky

Thanks Dargon, That's pretty funny.

The Goodbye Girl



Moving and sweet. Maybe some people should watch it before they get into a relationship, or get married.

Right now "Chapter Two" is on, which is an autobiographical picture about Simon's marriage to Marsha Mason, starring.... Marsha Mason.

I like these. And my other reaction is wow, I can now appreciate Neil Simon romantic comedies. The humor and the sadness both.

Chapter Two



Nice insight into relationships. A few too many dramatic monologues for complete realism perhaps, perhaps, but those are also enlightening.

It's also a bit old-fashioned in that in parts we have a warm, loving, firmly committed woman trying to spark a warm response from a stone-faced, emotionally shut down man. In this case she's correct that there's a loving human being in there, but all too often in real life there's nothing there, and the woman is opening herself up to abuse from a person like that, psychological or otherwise.

Nowadays I think we advise women to talk away from a relationship like that.

Having said that, I admire her for sticking to it. In this film (and presumably in Marsha Mason's and Neil Simon's real life, to some extent) she was right and it paid off.

Personal observations below. White text to avoid TMI.

It's very painful for me to watch some of this, because it reminds me of how I would emotionally shut down sometimes when I was married, particularly if my wife was upset about something. A module in my head said "she's mad, it must be your fault, better shut up and stay out of the way for a while", when in fact what I needed to do was go over there and give her a hug (or try shutting her up with a big kiss, something I never tried but should have).

I guess I must be making some kind of progress because now I feel sorry for her about it.

I Sell the Dead



The story of a pair of bumbling body snatchers with an Evil Dead flavor. A couple of funny scenes and some twists to it. Their first encounter with a vampire is very Evil Deadish.

Blame it on Rio

1/2

Creepy as hell, but some nice footage of Rio, which makes it worth watching.

Grandma's boy

Don't watch it unless you want to be disturbed.

This is a good commentary on all modern movie formulas.

LOL

Haha... "TV Tropes: The Film". The only way to make that more perfect would be to make the title "Naming Movie".

It came from Beneith the Sea.

its a 1950's giant monster B-movie. It had potential, but the man military guy is an over-testosteroned Alpha-male type who spends much of the movie trying to steal the scientist girl away from her scientist beau. Of course, navy boy belittles her work and scoffs at the scientist's work of studying marine life: its unmanly you know, not like being at the top of the daisy chain in the submarine.