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ENOUGH

Tomorrow i shall delight myself once again by watching "2001", that movie is a motherfriggin masterpiece ! I loved it, if anything, it cemented my love for science fiction and it's derivatives.

Seriously. I can only take so much stupidity in a film before it loses me completely.

Paranormal Activity.

Can't rate it since me and my friend decided to walk out since we thought it was so boring. I'll give it another chance when it comes out on DVD.

Dr. Horrible's Sing along blog.

Really good. I don't know why I never saw it before even though it was constantly being slammed in my face on the internet.

Richard Kelly who made a name for himself with his first film “Donnie Darko”, a

favorite of midnight shows and film fans everywhere, comes back after the disastrous

“Southland Tales” with a movie that despite many flaws manages to create a creepy tale

about human nature.


The movie is based upon Richard Matheson’s short story “Button, Button” and stars

James Marsden and Cameron Diaz as Arthur and Norma Lewis, a happily married

couple in the Richmond, Virginia of 1976, who in one morning receive

a mysterious and disfigured man in their doorstep who leaves them a box with a button.

If the button is pressed, someone they do not know will die, but they will get a million

dollars. As their possibilities for a better financial future begin to collapse, they become

more and more tempted by the prospect of such a quick and substantial amount of

money. Will they press it? Will they be able to live with the consequences of their

actions?


The first act of the film is slow, sometimes to the point of dullness. It shouldn’t be at all,

because it’s when the film is trying to solve its first great enigma, but like most of the

rest of the movie, it constantly stalls between moments of genuine and spine-tingling

creepiness and scenes that just don’t work as well as they should. This is probably

because Richard Kelly is not as careful with his handling of the film’s language as he

was in “Donnie Darko”. Take for example, a scene in which Norma Lewis dances for

the first time in years. The context of the scene is beautiful and absolutely

heartbreaking, but Kelly chooses to film it with no more than the style of what you

might see in a TV sitcom. There is also the disappointing score by The Arcade Fire’s

Will Butler and Regina (second name later), the end credits show how beautiful and

eerie it is on its own, but its poorly integrated into the film sometimes, especially during

one of the story’s crucial scenes.


However, as the film progresses, Kelly, Diaz and Marsden shine. They have great

chemistry together and this might be some of the best acting Diaz has done since “Being

John Malkovich”. She gives us a character that even when she does some truly terrible

things, our hearts are completely with her. Marsden is completely believable in the role

and with this film, and “Enchanted”, “27 Dresses” and the “X-Men” films, shows him

as a performer of great range. Towards its end, the film not only makes us ask questions

about the story and what will happen next, but also questions about human nature, the

nature of guilt and forgiveness and the price we have to pay for our actions. Even

though it was based on a short story, the movie very cleverly and seamlessly expands

on it, honoring the writings of Richard Matheson and staying true to the nature of that

short story.


It’s very clear that throughout the film, Kelly is honoring the suspense films of the

seventies, not only with the time period in which the film is set, but also with the use of

the widescreen frame and the music style that recalls movies like “Close Encounters of

the Third Kind” and “Poltergeist” and that makes one wonder if the film would be better

if it had been made back then. This is because the movie’s twists, which won’t be

revealed, here would probably play a lot better with a less jaded audience, but also the

usage of music, which as mentioned before is not always effective, would fit perfectly

with a movie of that time period. It’s something that at its best, takes the audience into

the time and world of the film, but at its worst, takes it out.


Indeed, there is a vast richness and attention to detail in the production design of the

film, yet, even though a lot of it screams seventies, it never is distracting or calls

attention to itself. Its very natural and makes us feel at home with the characters.


Although it’s nowhere as good as “Donnie Darko”, “The Box” is easily superior to

“Southland Tales” and gives Richard Kelly a comeback, but also a good entrance into

mainstream cinema with a movie that many years from now, kids and teens will

love to have discovered by tuning in on TV after school or at midnight.


*** out of *****

^Epic review

Last film I watched was 300 with my housemate - never realised before how blatant it's propaganda for the Iraq War. Anywho, two Zack Snyder films down, one to go. Guess what we're watching tonight.

Whip It!

It was full of clichés, but they worked very well and it made me laugh. Not bad at all.

3.5/5 stars.

Yeah, its sort of my test review for my schoolpaper. I have to turn one in and if they like it, I'll be in charge of reviewing movies : )

I hope that happens - too many school/local papers have reviews written by people without taste/writing skill.
Also it'd look good on your resume, right?

Uhhh...Damn I have a 50/50 chance here...

Watchmen!!!

..right?

well i figured he meant DOTD.

Iron Man - 9/10 I still love this movie.
V For Vendetta - 8/10 Well it was the Fifth of November a few days ago, so naturally I had to watch it at said time.

So close.

Godziller Fail #526

Ok seriously, I'm done with that.

I was being sarcastic initially though. Guessing Watchmen would obviously be stupid because he was talking about the one Snyder movie he hasn't seen.

This was the joke.

This is your head.

The joke is over it. Get it?

Get it!?!?!?!?!

The Box.

Uhhh yeah. I had problems with this movie plotwise. It was certainly interesting to watch while I didn't know what was happening though.

This is a cool smiley

And yes, of course you were being sarcastic. Just like I really hate Twilight.
*wink wink*

I hope so : )

Actually, you were right. Godziller Fail #527

Watchmen UC 9/10

Star Wars Episode III. I realise this is an unoriginal opinion, but good LORD Hayden Christensen can't act. I don't even like Star Wars as a whole anyway.

Going to see The Men Who Stare At Goats tomorrow. Coen comedies make me chuckle.
I was wondering, having never read V for Vendetta before, what does the 5th of November have to do with things? People know that's fireworks night over here right? Like the 4th of July for Britain.

V is inspired (to the point of assuming his image) by Guy Fawkes.

Tales of the Black Freighter, 8/10.

Much better than I expected.