Accidental Obfuscation
August 2011
20 posts
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Fright Night
Loved it.
While it technically didn’t require a remake, it wasn’t exactly a classic being tarnished either. While keeping the same plot, and even the specific vampire-look of the original, everything about it was updated in a totally positive way that places it above the original, mainly just because of there being many more solid performances in the remake, especially from David Tennant and Colin Farrell.
While 3D was (as usual) completely unnecessary and came close to hindering the film more than anything, the rest of the effects (gore, makeup, transformations) were very well done, and I particularly enjoyed the way they handle a vampire death in this, with a sort of cross between the complete “ash-ing” Buffy was known for, with a bit of the “dissolving into a mound of gore and viscera” of True Blood, with a slight explodey effect woven in.
Neither the original nor the remake was scary, more teetering on the edge of being a gory thriller. Regardless, definitely worth checking out.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Like the other sequels in the series, it makes up for shaky writing with a great cast, effects, and a whole lotta charm. The special problem with this one is TOO MUCH CAP’N JACK. He’s a great character, and will go down as one of the most memorable of Depp’s career, but needs a straight-man to play off of to really shine. It’s one of the reasons why ‘Dead Man’s Chest’ worked so well, because he had Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightley’s characters to play off of. While most of the new characters, including Penelope Cruz’s ‘Angelica’, are kinda forgettable, Ian McShane was a brilliant casting (no shit) who really gave Blackbeard this refreshing newness, while at the same time making you feel as if he’s this character who’s been hiding in the shadows the whole series.
While it’s not “bad” in any sense, with the exception of Ian McShane, it just fails to surpass any of the previous films at all. The lack of Gore Verbinski’s touch is readily apparent, and unless you’re a big Ian McShane fan (and I am in the most extreme sense), you’re honestly better of just watching one of the first three films again.
Fast Five
It is what it is. If you don’t like cars, or action movies, or both, or just the Fast and the Furious series itself, nothing beyond this point will really change your mind.
That being said, it was a great ride (LOL) and probably is the best in the series (so far). It felt a bit like Ocean’s Eleven WITH CARS and it’s really paced wonderfully, regardless of how good/bad the writing may seem to you. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s character is a bit of throwaway and rather bland, but his action scenes (and the rest of them) are great, especially the numerous chases going on throughout the film. Worth your time.
“I like videogames, okay.
No, I seriously do. Really.
Videogames are just as much a cultural, artistic, influential trend as any in comics, art, movies, TV, music, or literature. They see movements sweep through them as genres grow and die, and you can see the influence of different artists and artistic teams as they move from title to title, studio to studio. They are, quite simply, art.
Now, to dismiss any game as being good based solely on the fact that it is popular or “for certain people” or in a particular genre is an intellectually bankrupt position. If you intend to evaluate a game, do it critically and with self-awareness. Examine just what about it strikes or doesn’t strike you. Be intelligent.
People who sneer at World of Warcraft or Call of Duty or Halo or Starcraft and tell people they feel bad for playing them don’t come off as people with refined tastes to anyone with any real passion for the art of games. They come off as poseur elitists. Children intent on projecting an air of sophistication that they wholly lack because they don’t have the capacity for it.
So if you are what is best termed as “modern retro gamer,” sit down and shut your mouth. Go back and play games. Play the games that you detest so much for no real reason, and the games you love. Approach the games you hate with the intent of enjoying them, and the games you love with the intent of hating them. Balance your shit out.” —
No, I seriously do. Really.
Videogames are just as much a cultural, artistic, influential trend as any in comics, art, movies, TV, music, or literature. They see movements sweep through them as genres grow and die, and you can see the influence of different artists and artistic teams as they move from title to title, studio to studio. They are, quite simply, art.
Now, to dismiss any game as being good based solely on the fact that it is popular or “for certain people” or in a particular genre is an intellectually bankrupt position. If you intend to evaluate a game, do it critically and with self-awareness. Examine just what about it strikes or doesn’t strike you. Be intelligent.
People who sneer at World of Warcraft or Call of Duty or Halo or Starcraft and tell people they feel bad for playing them don’t come off as people with refined tastes to anyone with any real passion for the art of games. They come off as poseur elitists. Children intent on projecting an air of sophistication that they wholly lack because they don’t have the capacity for it.
So if you are what is best termed as “modern retro gamer,” sit down and shut your mouth. Go back and play games. Play the games that you detest so much for no real reason, and the games you love. Approach the games you hate with the intent of enjoying them, and the games you love with the intent of hating them. Balance your shit out.” —
Super 8
Stand By Me + E.T. + (Cloverfield - First Person Camera)
Was amazed at how much they showed the creature without actually “showing it”. All of the child actors were great, but Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning were superb. Was not the cinematic revolution I hyped it up to be in my head, but still an outstanding movie.
