09. Seen in December 2003
Submitted by geek on Tue, 12/02/2003 - 11:06
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- Saved By The Bell - Seasons 1 and 2 (1989-1990) - Hey, there's not much I can do to argue with nostalgia. I grew up with this show (alright, I wasn't watching the new episodes when I was 5, but it has been in reruns forever), and I still enjoy watching it. Hell, I even have a shirt that says 'I <3 Zack Morris.' I did notice some weird things - the episode that logically should have been first (it was their first day of school, Slater had just moved to the area) wasn't shown until half-way through the first season, but whatever, I'm not going to argue. Also, I spread this out over 5 days. The 2 seasons are only 12 and a half hours, but I can only take so much of teenagers with perfect lives, no matter how much I love the show...
- A Christmas Story (1983) - (See below for comments. I watched it again on Christmas Eve.)
- Cold Comfort Farm (1995) - I enjoyed the second half of the movie much more than the first. I actually saw this in a theater with my family when it first came out (Why did my dad think an 11 year old would appreciate it? I have no idea...), but I didn't really remember any of it. It was a decent, funny movie, but I'm not anxious to watch it again.
- Badlands (1973) - My dad mentioned a while ago that this was one of his favorite movies, so I decided to watch it this afternoon. I know she's kind of funny looking, but Sissy Spacek was so cute in this movie. The first shooting seemed to come out of no where, and I was worried that the rest of the movie would be similarly disjointed. After that, though, things started making more sense to me. I'm not sure I would ever call it one of my favorite movies (in fact, I'd bet there's some kind of nostalgic reason my dad likes it so much), but it was definitely a good movie.
- Freaky Friday (2003) - I'll admit it - these tween / teenage movies are always guilty pleasures for me, especially if they're really predictable and bad. I was surprised, though. It was actually funny. Not a super, well-made movie or anything, but much better than I expected it to be.
- Swimfan (2002) - I have no idea why my mom rented this, but I watched it with her. It wasn't good, but it wasn't the worst movie I've ever seen. Actually, it wasn't really memorable at all.
- Manhattan (1979) - I really, really wanted to like this. Really. Actually, what happened was... I watched the trailer for the movie that was on the DVD and was bored out of my mind. Then I started the movie. Eh. It just wasn't working for me. Maybe because it's the most self-righteous, pretentious movie I have ever seen. The best thing about the movie was easily the Gershwin music, because honestly, I didn't even think it was that impressive to look at. It was also the first Woody Allen movie I've seen, and I'm not ready to give up on him yet. I'll probably rent something else of his while I'm home.
- Strictly Ballroom (1992) - Alright, I know this will sound terrible to some people, but I would rather watch this than Moulin Rouge! It's not a great movie, but I think it's stylish, without being over the top, and a lot of fun.
- Fargo (1996) - Definitely preferred this to Barton Fink. And, while I'm sure I didn't get everything in this movie, I know there are enough interpretations that I didn't completely miss it. Besides, it's hilarious.
- Barton Fink (1991) - After talking to my father and sister about this, I feel like they saw something in it I missed. All I got from this is that it's a weird movie - and if that's it, I'm fine with that - but I'm still left with the feeling that I completely missed something...
- Bubba Ho-tep (2002) - I may be a little biased with this one. Honestly, I loved the movie even before I saw it, just because the premise is so damn awesome. The thing is, I didn't know what to expect from it. I mean, Elvis and JFK fighting a mummy together? It sounds... great, but in a way that it also sounds like the movie would turn out to be a piece of crap, and you just want to see it to make fun of it. I think there was enough of the movie making fun of itself; it knew it wasn't serious, and that really worked in this movie. It was also quite funny. And the guy who played Elvis, Bruce Campbell, was pretty good in that role, I thought. Umm... this review is probably completely incoherent, but I guess that's kind of what a movie this bizarre does to me.
- A Christmas Story (1983) - Wow, this has been up for less than a day and 3 Listologists have posted quotes from the movie. Why? Because it is that good. It's easily my favorite Christmas movie. The part where Ralphie thinks his teacher will excuse him from all essay writing for the rest of the year was so me when I was a kid. ....or, last week when I turned in a paper :-) Great movie, and this probably won't be my last viewing of it this holiday season.
Author Comments:
bold signifies first viewing
Cloned From:
Your gonna poke your eye out!
"Hmm, fra-jeel-ay, must be Italian!"
Be Sure To Drink Your Ovaltine. A crummy commercial? Son of a bitch!
Oh sure, stoke the fires of my anticipation for Bubba Ho-tep. Have I mentioned I'm looking forward to that movie?
Heh. Honestly, I'm surprised this review did anything but confuse you. After rereading it, I'm not really sure I knew what the hell I was talking about. Ah, well, if it made you want to see the movie more, I suppose it worked!
Where did you see Bubba-Hotep?
Cedar Lee theater in Cleveland.
:( Florida is not showing it yet.
What did you think of Barton Fink?
Yeah... I guess I should get some reviews up there.
Whoooa... that's a little weird.
Yeah, I know! That's twice something like this has happened to us, right? I was a little freaked out.
Yeah, like when we both started reading A Confederacy of Dunces at the same time.
I'm gonna pretend I didn't read that Manhattan review. Especially because I just got a copy of it for Christmas.
Just kidding, movies are incredibly subjective.
But, I too just watched Freaky Friday, and I must disagree. This IS a "a super, well-made movie". Jamie Lee Curtis is absolutely fantastic, and I was honestly shocked by how entertaining it was. A definite B/B+ from me.
I think we can declare 2003 the year of surprisingly good/entertaining mainstream action movies and comedies. Case in point:
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
X2: X-Men United
Freaky Friday
Finding Nemo
Down With Love
School of Rock
Scary Movie 3
:-) Actually, I was surprised it took you this long to comment on my Manhattan review... It just wasn't my kind of movie, I guess.
As for Freaky Friday, I was entertained, but not as much as you were. Or maybe not in the same way you were. I would probably give it a B as a guilty pleasure, but I kind of think of those differently than I do other movies. Probably not the best way to do things, but, hey, I've never planned on being a critic.
I was waiting for your Cold Comfort Farm review, as it's a favorite in our house. I can live with "decent, funny." :-) Actually, I liked the movie the first time around, but grew to love it with subsequent viewings. Quirky, with engaging characters. I loved McKellan's sermon, but Earl P. Neck is my favorite character. The scene where Flora introduces him to Mary, Elfin, and Charles kills me every time, but I bet I'm the only one. It's just the way he modulates his voice and manner as he addresses each of them. Priceless.