1. I missed seeing Coco when it came out in theaters, since I was by the disillusioned by Pixar's deteriorating quality. Last week, upon seeing it recommended, I pulled it up and gave it a watch. My goodness, that is one of the best films I've seen in a long time. Certainly one of the … Continue reading Flotsam: ‘Coco’ and Such
Movies
Mauler vs. Black Widow
A melancholy step: I was really hoping this movie wouldn't be horrible. And I would say that it was still possible Mauler's being too harsh on it, except...the prison break scene. How the heck did that make it through production without anyone saying "wait, our heroine just condemned hundreds of people to horrible deaths..."? And … Continue reading Mauler vs. Black Widow
No Aspirational Heroes, Huh?
Apparently, the star of the latest Marvel film - Shang Chi and the Ten Rings (yeah, I forgot about that movie too) - claimed that this is something he "didn't have growing up," namely an aspirational Asian or Asian American hero. Ahem: "Three weeks top of the US Box Office. I doubt you will be … Continue reading No Aspirational Heroes, Huh?
Flotsam: Various Writing Observations
1. A few observations on different works: 2. When Uncle Walt adapted Alice in Wonderland, he and his writers ended up giving it a bit more of a plot than the book had. Not much, but a little. And if you notice, the plot they gave it was pretty much lifted directly from The Wizard … Continue reading Flotsam: Various Writing Observations
If You’re Looking for Reasons to Go Back to the Theaters…
I just learned that certain services are ramping up their theatrical showings of classic films. Most people already know about Fathom Events, but they seem to be showing even more lately. Their upcoming schedule includes Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Star Trek IV, the Voyage Home (the whales one that is widely considered one … Continue reading If You’re Looking for Reasons to Go Back to the Theaters…
Flotsam: Fitting Final Lines
To every actor there comes a final performance. Most of the time, for such is the nature of the beast, they're pretty prosaic affairs, often obscure, coming and going with little fanfare. But sometimes it happens that a prominent performer gets to end his film career on a high note, ending his final performance with … Continue reading Flotsam: Fitting Final Lines
Friday Flotsam: Mostly Alice
1. This week, as a much-needed relaxation (and to help with a ‘Batman’ fan-fiction I was writing), I revisited the Alice books. I’d almost forgotten how delightful they are. Just a wonderful romp of satirical nonsense, done in that delightful Victorian way. They’re also one of the best examples of capturing the feel of a … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Mostly Alice
RE-POST: Why I Love ‘Independence Day’
I missed this 4th of July's 'Independence Day' rewatch due to being sicker than paint, but here's my yearly post on why it's among my personal favorites. When Independence Day came out, it was a huge hit, but ever since then it’s kind of become the poster-child for the big, dumb, CGI-fueled blockbusters of … Continue reading RE-POST: Why I Love ‘Independence Day’
Compare – Contrast: ‘Street Fighter’ vs. ‘Mortal Kombat’
The two biggest fighting game franchises of their time (and ours) were adapted into feature films one after another: first Street Fighter in 1994, then Mortal Kombat in 1995. The question is, why did one work and the other didn’t? The Structure: The first and, I think, the most important factor is how the two … Continue reading Compare – Contrast: ‘Street Fighter’ vs. ‘Mortal Kombat’
Thought of the Day: Blaming Audiences
I notice that audiences always seem to get blamed for Hollywood's attitudes: people say things like "audiences wouldn't have accepted an actor like this in a lead role before such-and-such, but the country was more mature now." I remember seeing a clip from a Film Noir documentary where someone was saying: "The Bogarts and the … Continue reading Thought of the Day: Blaming Audiences
Serpent's Den 