Eiga no Shi

Continuing my daily plight - here’s anoher four. This time it’s flicks.

Robin Hood (Disney)
I’ve watched this one more than any movie I can think of - and would watch it many times more. It has a good theme - Robin Hood, it’s animated, and has animals as characters. Actually, what always gets me is the downtime song - “every town, has it’s ups and downs. Sometimes the ups, outnumber the downs - but not in Nottingham”. Replace Nottingham with your town, it’s perfect (ie: Federick-Town). You’ve got a fair, a drunken slithery snake, burnt soup, and Nutsy. Anyway I could go on forever about this one - here are some quotes, including the one about burnt soup! Runner up to this in the category of movies I’ve seen for the upteenth time while babysitting or keeping one or most of my five siblings company could only be Dumbo (pink elephants!)

Fire Walk with Me
I really like the Twin Peaks series, and I love the movie too. In my mind this is David Lynch doing some of his best work. Something just dark and creepy yet innocent at the same time moves me - I could watch this one over and over just to figure out how they achieve the normallness and creepiness both at once and just as powerful. The acting isn’t award-winning, but I think it ads to the charm. Plus you have Kyle MacLauclan and a Bowie cameo.

Donnie Darko
Some parts angst, part pseudo-science, and a huge helping of social critique. There’s satire, existentialism, paradoxes, and craziness. That just about sums this one up. Oh and you’ve got this big evil bunny. Right. If not this one then maybe the film adaptation of Catch 22 that I only saw once, but was just as slapstick as the book, I know I’ll be watching that one over and over too.

Dr Strangelove
Come on… It’s Kubrick for one so you have me there. It’s black and white. It has a cowboy riding a bomb… Also you get Peter Sellers, and you get some politics too. Oh and recently learned that Weegee was the special effects consultant. This one is laugh-a-minute for me, but I guess it’s not for everyone. If not this one than Full Metal Jacket from Kubrick as well.

NB: This list is not even close to fair in my mind. But it has movies I’ve watched many times (and liked, as opposed to Legally blonde…) If I had more slots you’d get something from Miyazaki, a Cronenberg, and a Cohen. And maybe How to Get Ahead in Advertising. What?! I’m not cheating!

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You’re currently reading “Eiga no Shi,” an entry on yottabite

Author:: string

Published:: 25.04.06 / 6am

Category:: Random

wildsisters 25.04.06 / 8am

I was so addicted to Twin Peaks that I called the TV station when it wasn’t on at its’ scheduled time (because of SPORTS for the love of…)and ranted like a maniac. When I finally got through. Which took a long time because there were a lot of other fans out there foaming at the mouth in deprived fury.

The movie didn’t do as much for me - if I remember correctly. I think it’s because a series (like Six Feet Under, for example) has the time to build characters and explore plot directions that two hours just can’t cover. But I agree - it’s that chilling mix of normality and creepiness that hauls you win.

One of my favorites is “Something Wicked This Way Comes”…A Disney film (based on Ray Bradbury’s “Dark’s Midnight Carnival)…which has that mixture, too. Opening shots, New England autumn…pumpkins in the fields, glorious trees, blue sky and two perfect little boys…and then the worm in the perfect red apple begins to emerge.

I’m with you on Strangelove, too. Still a fabulous classic.

string 25.04.06 / 10am

I’m glad to have found another Twin Peaks fan. We can use all types of inside humour. I liked the movie quite a bit, but yes the series is much better, though open ended.

I’d like to see the Disney movie that you talk about - I read that Bradbury story a while ago - but it was actually titled Something Wicked This Way Comes - maybe some sort of movie tie-in?

As for Strangelove.. it was kind of a no-brainer, I was actually trying to stray from the American Film Institutes bests and IMDB faves… but it’s pretty difficult.

Actually, I don’t think I ever did read it - I just remember the book cover because it was the name of a punk album from my childhood, and I liked Bradbury quite a bit - I’ll have to go find it.
But a book that was very similar was Dandelion Wine - I’m not sure if you’ve read it but it has the same sort of theme going on, and definitely reminded me of Twin Peaks while I was reading it.

wildsisters 25.04.06 / 12pm

Funny thing is - I don’t Bradbury’s actual writing style - but his stories translate so well into films and if you’ve ever heard interviews with him or heard about his life - he’s fascinating. Movies that were fantastic : The Illustrated Man, Something Wicked, Fahrenheit 451etc. And in the 1980s they did a mini-series of The Martain Chronicles. It’s a bit dated now but it still knocks my socks off.
I think he’s covered every plot line possible in sci-fi.

That would be “I don’t LIKE Bradbury’s actual writing style.”
Geez.

string 25.04.06 / 12pm

wow! funnily enough I have not seen any of those movies, and love his writing style. he’s just matter-of fact about things, but still manages to paint a picture at the same time. maybe like a lesser steinbeck? well maybe not even that good.

wildsisters 25.04.06 / 2pm

He’s got a brilliant imagination. And as to you not seeing the films - I’m three days older than Jesus, honey. But The Illustrated Man was fabulous - and starred Rod Steiger. If you can ever find it, it’s really worth the search. It’s been a dog’s age since I read him - and I might feel differently now…but his stories are pure gold.
The illustrated man is a series of short stories. The plot line is that he’s tattoed everywhere but his face - and it’s a kind of curse, the tattos are magic. If you stare at them, the stories come to life. It’s very weird and scary and fabulous.

marko 25.04.06 / 8pm

Bradbury huh? Consider the research project underway.

Donnie Darko is a jaw-dropper. I’ve seen it about three times now and I still won’t know on the fourth what I’m looking at. It is one very eccentric film, I mean, it’s an 80’s period piece for chrissakes! An 80’s period piece about time travel and madness.

Strangelove is not only one of my favourite films, it’s one of my favourite things. Apparently, according to Kubrick, Slim Pickens didn’t understand that it was a black comedy, and played his role straight. Know that and die laughing next time you watch it, and know also that Slim Pickens fucking rocks. Also -Peter Sellers. ‘Nuff Said!

wildsisters 26.04.06 / 9am

My good gosh. This is beginning to resemble a conversation!

string 18.05.06 / 9am

oh yeah?
no talking!

Seriously though - Marko you should definitely check Bradbury out if you haven’t yet.

yottabite

Eiga no Shi

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