Mastrah an' Commandrah: step off, haters!

Films/DVD Asylum

Movies from comedy to drama to your favorite Hollyweird Star.

Dim, I think you're being a spoilsport. I don't think it was a perfect film, but I thought it was pretty great. A thoroughly entertaining film with none of the stupidities of most Hollywood epics. I don't even like Russell Crowe--I thought Gladiator was a thorough snooze--and I grew to like him in this. I thought the doctor was a little overdrawn, maybe, a bit too blunt...but, like Clark said, he's in the book. And hell, I'll take a heavy-handed naturalist for a sidekick over any of the other Hollywood cliches any day.
The script is great, the action is believable, and it doesn't strike a false note throughout--comes close a couple of times, but holds back. Plus, the younger actors are very credible, which is a real feat these days.
The music could probably be less sappy, but after the brutalizing melodrama of Mystic River(FEEL IT! FEEL THE SADNESS! FEEL IT, GODDAMN IT!), my skin is somewhat thicker in that area. Plus I have a soft spot for that Tallis piece.
It also uses the appropriate film stock. All too often, an otherwise decent movie can be compromised by looking just too damn slick. Grainier film can make a movie--as witness Saving Private Ryan. Lighting has alot to do with it, and I could've stood more grit and more shadows, a more muted palette overall...but it still looks like a sea epic, and not Jurassic Park or XXX.
Go see it, it's the most enjoyable film I've seen all year. If you or someone you know has been the victim of the last Matrix or two, this will wash away the unpleasantness of that experience. It's the first film in years (ever?) that's made me hopeful about the direction of Hollywood.

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Topic - Mastrah an' Commandrah: step off, haters! - rhizomatic 09:42:28 11/17/03 (7)

"the brutalizing melodrama of Mystic River"? - Todd B. 23:48:44 11/19/03 (0)

M&C - loved it.! - Harmonia 19:41:12 11/18/03 (0)

The last stitch goes through the nose, rhizzo-mate.. - Dmitry 10:34:24 11/17/03 (4)

First and tenth, actually. There were twenty in all. nt - clarkjohnsen 14:17:56 11/17/03 (1)

that's a bugger.. - Dmitry 21:26:14 11/17/03 (0)

A franchise to look forward to? - rhizomatic 12:52:40 11/17/03 (1)

Re: A franchise to look forward to? - Dmitry 20:44:08 11/17/03 (0)

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