Well this weekend was a particularly cinematic affair, shared by a like-minded fpkk, and a scattering of non-member type friends. Since I can't really talk about playtesting the Serenity RPG, I guess I'll concentrate on the films.
Ravenous is one of my favourite films of all time thanks the superbly macabre subject matter and the quirky off-beat characterisation. A period piece set on the Californian frontier in the aftermath of the war with Mexico, it actually turns out to be character piece centered on the theme of cannabilism. Certainly Robert Carlisle's creepiest role evar. And aside from the black humour and the gruesomeness it's also a poignant allegory about modern consumerism and the gluttony of American culture.
Saw is a slickly filmed thriller building tension around a number of set pieces whereby the antagonist's victims are forced to kill themselves and/or other people in an elaborate series of games. Some great ideas and a little nail-biting, but it does get a bit sloppy in places. A bit of careful rewriting could have made it a *great* movie rather than just a good one. And of course not half of good watching it the second time around (or if the ending's been spoiled for you).
Kung Fu Hustle is a action comedy with no shortage or crazy ideas. Despite being rather slapstick and almost cartoonish in places it still works. A gang harasses a small community who all live in the same slum alley, only it turns out the very same community harbours a number of kung fu masters who are only happy to give thema good kicking. Utterly bonkers stuff, and well worth viewing on the big screen.
And so to Batman, dark, edgy revisitation of the mythos which certainly does it more justice than *any* of the previous cinematic incarnations. Christan Bale is just great, and Cillian Murphy downright creepy. The only weak link is Katie Holmes, who despite acting her little heart out is IHMO just too young for the role. Possibly the second-best film to be shown this year? (After Serenity, of course)
Also worth a mention is The Shield (again) as fpkk as kindly lent me the third season for my consumption. We watched a couple of episodes yesterday, and it picks up again superbly without missing a beat. Such tight, consistent storytelling is rare indeed, and it makes you wonder how far the show will go. Unfortunately I will be left cursing as there is no way of knowing how long it will be before season 4 will grace these shores, or the medium of DVD... *sigh*
Ravenous is one of my favourite films of all time thanks the superbly macabre subject matter and the quirky off-beat characterisation. A period piece set on the Californian frontier in the aftermath of the war with Mexico, it actually turns out to be character piece centered on the theme of cannabilism. Certainly Robert Carlisle's creepiest role evar. And aside from the black humour and the gruesomeness it's also a poignant allegory about modern consumerism and the gluttony of American culture.
Saw is a slickly filmed thriller building tension around a number of set pieces whereby the antagonist's victims are forced to kill themselves and/or other people in an elaborate series of games. Some great ideas and a little nail-biting, but it does get a bit sloppy in places. A bit of careful rewriting could have made it a *great* movie rather than just a good one. And of course not half of good watching it the second time around (or if the ending's been spoiled for you).
Kung Fu Hustle is a action comedy with no shortage or crazy ideas. Despite being rather slapstick and almost cartoonish in places it still works. A gang harasses a small community who all live in the same slum alley, only it turns out the very same community harbours a number of kung fu masters who are only happy to give thema good kicking. Utterly bonkers stuff, and well worth viewing on the big screen.
And so to Batman, dark, edgy revisitation of the mythos which certainly does it more justice than *any* of the previous cinematic incarnations. Christan Bale is just great, and Cillian Murphy downright creepy. The only weak link is Katie Holmes, who despite acting her little heart out is IHMO just too young for the role. Possibly the second-best film to be shown this year? (After Serenity, of course)
Also worth a mention is The Shield (again) as fpkk as kindly lent me the third season for my consumption. We watched a couple of episodes yesterday, and it picks up again superbly without missing a beat. Such tight, consistent storytelling is rare indeed, and it makes you wonder how far the show will go. Unfortunately I will be left cursing as there is no way of knowing how long it will be before season 4 will grace these shores, or the medium of DVD... *sigh*
VIEW 19 of 19 COMMENTS
maelwys:
Ah, but Kung Pow:Enter the Fist is also in no way a serious film 
shad:
I can't officially promise anything, because we sort of all agreed that this wouldn't be an "open for submission" deal. However, we are looking for more writers to share the load. But yeah, go ahead and send me something. There's no money in it right now. Obviously.