I've been in the mood to see movies lately. I've seen All the Pretty Horses (not bad, but wait for the director's cut on the DVD), Shadow of the Vampire (really good -- and only ninety minutes out of your life even if you hate it), and O Brother Where Art Thou (loved it without reservation). I'm trying to get someone to go see Valentine with me, but none of my friends seem to like trashy slasher flicks. I'm pretty sure I can get H and/or Mar to see Sugar and Spice, though.

I refuse to see Hannibal. Mar can go see that one with Jeremy.

What have you seen lately? What are you dying to see? What will you absolutely not see, not even if they pay you?

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

Answers

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, was the best movie I saw all year, with the possible exception of Bring It On (did I just write those words?). I don't like martial arts movies, and I don't like subtitles, and it doesn't matter, because it's luminous and full of kickass women fighters.

Thirteen Days drags a little, but on the whole is pretty gripping. The guy who plays Bobby Kennedy is uncanny--he is Bobby Kennedy.

I want to see The House of Mirth, even though it's anything but.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

We really need to see Crouching Tiger.

I forgot to add this: all of you screenwriters (or aspiring same) need to see Shadow of the Vampire: "I do not think we need the writer . . ."

Ebert's review was pretty dead on.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

movies are sometimes slow to make it up here but i did see traffic last week and really liked it, especially benicio del toro (i hope i spelled that correctly). then i hopped across the hallway and saw the wedding planner (the only movie that fit into the traffic schedule and since i drove 100km to get to the theatre i wanted to see two movies) and it really sucked! jennifer lopez wasn't bad as a romantic comedy lead and matthew naked bongo boy was cute, but the story left a lot to be desired. or maybe that was because i had just seen traffic?

going to see billy elliot when it gets here

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

CT,HD was damn good. See it, like, now. I haven't seen anything else for a couple of months though, so I'm not much help. I'll see Valentine, though. I'm in the mood for a fucked-up horror movie set on VD day. I REALLY want to see Shadow of the Vampire.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

Oh hell, I'll go see Valentine. I won't even insist on a matinee. You, me and Rachel can go and pretend to be sorority girls and scream and clap our way through the parking lot and then maybe someone will murder us.

I've been repeatedly told to see Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I may eventually make it. I have to rent Wing Chun first or Clare WILL kill me.

Saw Shadow of the Vampire last week. I feel much the same way about it as Beth does. "I'll eat her later..." Hee. Great film.

Movies I need to see: "Dude, Where's My Car?", "O Brother", "Snatch", "Hannibal", "Sugar and Spice" and I kinda want to see "Saving Silverman" but only because I think what's-his-face... Jason Biggs, is dead sexy.

Movies you couldn't pay me to see: Anything else listed at www.movieclub.com right now that I didn't mention above.

I dunno though, I'm more of a video renter. I usually rent four or five on Wednesday and have them over the weekend, though sometimes I have to wake up at 7am on Sunday to finish watching them all. This week I rented "The Big Lebowski", "Barton Fink", "Valley of the Dolls", "Girl, Interrupted" and "American Beauty".

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

I saw State and Main, the David Mamet film, a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it. You could definitely tell it was written by a playwright. The dialogue was absolutely brilliant. I was in tears, laughing at some of the lines.

Yesterday, we went to Chocolat, which I expected to enjoy, but ended up liking quite a lot more even than I'd anticipated. Johnny Depp was particularly cute in it and the story was magical in the way more movies should be. O Brother Where Art Thou and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon are next on my list.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

[i]Snatch[/i] is excellent! Go see it before it leaves the theatres! I laughed my ass off. Seriously.

Oh, and [i]Chocolat[/i] is also quite likeable. Very sweet (no pun intended) movie.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

Amusing aside about Chocolat. When my husband tried to buy tickets, it went something like this.

KEVIN: Two for Chocolat. STUPID MOVIE CASHIER: For what? KEVIN: Chocolat. SMC: Um...that's not playing here. KEVIN: Two for Chocolate. SMC: Okay, that'll be $9.00.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

Ah! I laughed the whole way through Dude. It was dumb-funny and I loved it. I still want to see Malena, Saving Silverman and Snatch, too.

I refuse to see anything romantic or romantic-comedy related. No Wedding Planner, no Head over Heels. None of that cutesy shit.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

I read a review that said that Head Over Heels was being marketed as a romantic comedy, but it's actually full of really vile bathroom humor. I find that pretty hilarious, but since I don't like either stupid romantic comedies OR bathroom humor, I think I'll skip it.

I think we should try doing some movie nights in lieu of Pine Cove nights, Sac people. We can vary the night according to who wants to see the particular movie and who has a class that night.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

That sounds like a plan to me, except the only night I have a class now is Mondays, so I've not got many things to work around. Except Buffy. And Survivor/CSI. Where's the Survivor Night in the Mystery House that I was promised?!

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

Patience, little Mar, patience. I suppose we could watch Survivor in house this week, EXCEPT that we would all have to break into the house, carrying a tv, praying that the power is still on. I don't think this would be the best way to influence the neighbors. Not this week, possibly not next week (though there is a chance), but fer-shure after that. Good enough?

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

Valentine Sucks. It is my personal mission to convince people not to waste their money on it, as you know 5 minutes into the film who did it, why they did it, and who all the victims are.

It has an amusement factor of -9, and David Boreanz looks really awful in it. And, he NEVER takes his shirt off.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

I read your review, Kristin, and it just made me want to see it all the more. I'm sorry. I'm just contrary like that. Plus, I was too scared to see dumb teen horror movies when I was the right age for them, so I'm making up for it now.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

I saw Sugar and Spice this weekend. It sucked. There was plenty of good material there, and they just missed all of it. I was hoping for something with some bite, and the jokes were ovbious and flat. A waste of time and money.

-- Anonymous, February 06, 2001

I'm really, really ashamed to admit this, but I loved 'Red Planet' - after I suspended all disbelief and allowed myself to revert back to a pre-teen state, that is. But love it I did. Silly nonsense that looks awesome and gives a really loud BANG! every now and then, without too much violence to spoil the adventurous mood. Just set mind to zero and enjoy the ride.

Word on 'Hannibal', by the way. That movie just screams Bad Taste, no pun intended.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2001

i just saw freakin'incredible movie. unfortunately it's a 1928 silent movie, so it's probably hard to find.

The Last Command, directed by Josef Von Sternberg, starring Emil Jannings. (Sternberg later did The Blue Angel, with Jannings and Marlene Dietrich). Oh. My. God. Jannings plays a former general of the army of imperial russia, who escapes during the revolution and ends up in hollywood, where he is hired as an extra to play a general in the imperial army of russia.

My experiences was probably helped by the fact that there was a live accompanist (who happened to be russian) who composed an original score. Totally heartbreaking movie, and unbelievably beautiful.

reminds me how the advent of talkies set filmamking back by 50 years.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2001

Gloria Swanson much?

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2001

See, I thought Sugar and Spice was excellent. It was cleverly done, and damn funny. Yes, sure, there were a few flaws (and one or two plot lines that sort of flopped around uselessly), but the movie is very much worth seeing. Never even peeked at my watch.

Need to see Traffic, Snatch and, by god, Shadow of the Vampire. I'm still bummed I never got to see The Emperor's New Groove. I think it's all gone from theatres. Sadness.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2001

Jenn got two movie tickets for nine dollars? What country is that?

The Mystery House Survivor Theatre opens on Thursday Feb. 22, admission free with the secret password.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2001

Has anyone seen The Gift with Cate Blanchett? I totally wanted to see this when it came out but haven't gotten to a movie yet and have heard nothing since. And considering I still want to see Crouching Tiger and Chocolat, I wonder if The Gift is worth my time?

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2001

i know this might be a random movie...and i also know that i don't know a lot about this site since i stubled upon it just a few moments ago....but i just have to say everyone (and i mean EVERYONE..) should go see "Dancer in The Dark". (if they haven't already) it was the best (but also the saddest...) movie that i've ever seen in my life and i have yet to meet more than a handful of people that have seen it. *bonus-- awesome,Icelandic,indie-rock-queen Bjork at her absolute best.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2001

mar: gloria swanson, mey wee!

and I saw The Gift. it's pretty good in that sixth-sense-y kinda way. simple little flick, well done. Of course I could look at Cate Blanchett for more than 2 hours, and there are lots of closeups of her face while she's just glowing/acting/whatever the hell it is she does. so it's worth it for her. although i think she's dressed and especially coiffed a little too glamorously for her role.

the ending is a little pat and predictable in the suspense-movie way, but fun.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2001

I wouldn't recommend Dancer in the Dark to anyone but fans of Bjork or Lars von Trier, unless they're completely prepared for some pain.

It doesn't matter how many times you hear how depressing and sad it is... nothing comes close to the truth. That movie is AGONIZING, your heart breaks into a million pieces as you watch it.

It's worse than Breaking the Waves, if anyone is familiar with von Trier's other fi

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2001

Oh my god! Breaking the Waves was THE most depressing and heartbreaking movie I've ever seen. I thought it was a damn romance and there I was crying and feeling literally in pain! My husband came home during the last 10 minutes and was like, what in the HELL are you watching?

That is one movie I simply cannot recommend no matter how good Emily Watson was in it.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

"there I was crying and feeling literally in pain!"

and see, that's what made the movie so great for me... i felt something. breaking the waves is one of the best movies i have ever seen and emily watson is such a marvellous actor. anyone remember the name of the movie primarily about her character and her sister... jackie and something i think... she was a cellist... wow! that's a must see too

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Now see, I liked Breaking the Waves. The ending was happy to me desipite all the sorrow during the rest of the film, and I generally adore any movie that slaps organised religion in the face and then rewards the protagonist.

Dancer in the Dark had no redeeming joy at the end, and Selma was NOT in control of her suffering, unlike Bess. I'll leave it at that.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Jenn got two movie tickets for nine dollars? What country is that?

It's all about the matinees. They're $4.50 here. Evening shows are $7ish.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Chocolat was silly but i liked it. Yesterday was my day off and I went to two movies, The Gift and O Brother Where Art Thou. I don't think either of them quite worked. The Gift was too predictable, although Cate Blanchett was wonderful as always. O Brother Where Art Thou is, I think, a musical comedy and works better if you think of it that way. I didn't think either of these were great films but they were both Trying Not to be Shit, which I think deserves respect.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

As an old cold warrior, I enjoyed "13 Days". Egbert's review is excellent ( http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/days12f.html ). I was in the 5th grade at the time, and I remember feeling real fear, and doing the "crawl under the desk and kiss your ass goodbye" drill.

As Ebgert points out, the movie wasn't scholarship, but it conveys the feel of things. I don't think the generals, even Lemay, were as crazy/evil as shown in the movie. I know that the "JFK-Khrushchev backchannel" was much more active than shown in the movie.

I agree with Egbert that Dylan Baker does a great Robert McNamara. I hate McNamara with a passion, and wanted to throw things at the screen everytime he appeared. If I had done the movie, I'd have put in a little forshawdowing of the monster that McNamara became.

Kevin Costner's character is like the "Pug Henry" character in "The Winds of War", a kind of human camera to give us a view of great people and events. Costner struggles trying to deliver a Boston accent, starting out so over-the-top that I thought the character was being silly. And being Costner, the film runs a bit long.

Still, a good movie for history buffs.

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001

I have to agree with Heather regarding Breaking the Waves. That movie beat me up, stole my wallet, and left me bleeding in the street. When you mention that movie to most people, you will be greeted with a moan of pain. Heartbreaking film.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2001

I saw Schindlers list again the other night. (rented it)

By far one of the best movies i have ever seen, even though it does get a bit tedious with the black and white at parts. When i see the colored body dropping into the fire, it horrifies me every time : its even worse to know that its a true story.

-- Anonymous, May 08, 2001