October 29, 2007
Gratuitous Llama Mini Netflix Movie Reviews
Just a couple thoughts:
Finally got myself to see 300. It's not my sort of thing, but I can understand why people who like this kind of movie really really like this movie, as the overall - what - style of the film, basically a comic book come to life, was quite interesting. The fellah who plays King Leonidas kept reminding me of Sean Connery, probably because of the Scots accent. And I could, if pushed to, develop some warm feelings for Lena Headey (although looking her up on Google image reveals that she seems to have tattoo issues). As for the fighting, well it's Spartans, man! What more do you want?
Robbo's Recommendation: All in all, not bad. I'd see it again, I suppose, although I doubt I'd go out of my way to do so. Let's say three yips! out of five.
Next, I ran off 1995's The Quick and the Dead. I hope that Clint Eastwood personally hunted down Sharon Stone and slapped her silly for trying to rip off his Avenging Angel genre of western. Stone may be blonde, but she's no Blondie. The basic idea itself is not bad at all. (Woman made to shoot her own father in her youth by bad guy appears in bad guy's town for revenge and becomes involved in deadly gunslinger game. You know from the very start that the climax is going to be her facing off against the bad guy.) But the plot that developes around it (including Stone's relationship with bad-guy-turned-good-guy Russell Crowe) is just insipid, the cast of gunslingers cardboard and silly and not even Gene Hackman as the villain of the piece can save this dog from itself.
Robbo's Recommendation: You want teh Clint, go for teh Clint. Unforgiven is a far, far better revenge flick, and Hackman's psychopathic Little Bill there is downright chilling. I'll give TQATD one yip! out of five just as a nod to Stone's shmokin' looks of the time.
Posted by Robert at October 29, 2007 01:33 PM | TrackBackRobbo, you are thinking too much. You should, on occasion, adopt the LMC approach to movies: be the world's shallowest moviegoer. You are not there to think deep thoughts, reflect on lessons learned in college English or fine arts classes or anything of the sort. As a shallow moviegoer you are there only for escape. Instead, ask yourself if the flick has: a plot of any kind, babes, firepower, and a high body count? If yes to all, pull a chair, open a bottle of your favorite beverage and start watching. The only question thereafter is whether the gals can be enjoyed with the sound off or on.
Posted by: LMC at October 29, 2007 02:14 PMHeck, that's what I liked about 300. And I didn't have a single thought about historical accuracy all the way through. You guys should be proud.
But the dumb stoopid in TQATD was just too distracting. Now, had there been a "lady gunslinger takes bubble bath in order to wash away cares of teh day" scene, well, that might have been a different matter.
Posted by: Robbo the LB at October 29, 2007 04:06 PMI actually kind of liked the Quick and the Dead.
Posted by: The Colossus at October 29, 2007 05:14 PMI agree with LMC. I rent a movie to get my $4.50 worth. I don't want to moved, think deep thoughts, wrestle with deep issues, or be crying at the end. I want to be entertained. A quasi plausable plot line, special effects, and things that fly, shoot or otherwise go boom.
That's all...
Posted by: kmr at October 29, 2007 06:38 PMYour thinking "High Plains Drifter. "The Quick & the Dead" sounds more like Once Upon A Time in the West. Clint Eastwood wasn't in that one. But then Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda, & Jason Robards are all dead. Eh, get Eastwood to do it anyway. Sharon Stone is a twit.
Posted by: stillers at October 30, 2007 03:38 AMI did think of High Plains Drifter, but just making a reference to "the Stranger" in the post seemed too vague - better to reference a movie in which Clint's character actually had a name.
OUATITW would work better, of course, both because of the name ("Harmonica") and also because the plot was closer. But then no Clint. I understand he was originally cast for the part and that Bronson only took over when that casting fell apart.
Posted by: Robbo the LB at October 30, 2007 11:30 AMAbstract paintings
Angel painting
animal paintings
ballet paintings
beach painting
Boat painting
building painting
Children painting
Christ painting
church painting
City painting
Cottage painting
Dancer painting
field painting
Floral paintings
Garden painting
Hunting paintings
impressionist painting
Knight painting
Lady painting
Landscape painting
Lighthouse paintings
Music painting
Nude painting
Oriental paintings
Piano painting
Seascapes paintings
Still Life paintings
street painting
sunset painting
Tropical paintings
Venice paintings
Village painting
wine paintingsalvador dali paintings
thomas kinkade paintings
pablo picasso paintings
vincent van gogh paintings
claude monet paintings
diego rivera paintings
Image courtesy of the lovely and talented 