Palimpsest - View Single Post

Wavid · 24th Apr 2005, 11:32

Wavid's Films

20. The Quiet American TV -

Really good film, its moral ambiguity was a real treat where I thought the Hollywood treatment might make it a more cut-and-dried affair. An attempt was made at this: I coudn't see Pyle as a top CIA guy at all, but other than that, a really great adaptation. Much more enjoyable than The End of the Affair.
19. Minority Report TV -

Entertaining enough but at least half an hour too long.
18. Sideways SSR

- see thread.
17. The League of Gentlemen's Apocolypse SSR -

Utterly bonkers. Wasn't sure at all about whether I should be expecting a feature length episode or not; but it was brilliant stuff in the end.
16. Being John Malkovich SSR -

Really, really enjoyed this. My biggest laugh came when after Malkovich was dumped out of his own head, and, following a row with John Cusack, some random guy in a car throws a can at Malkovich's head, yelling "Take that, Malkovich!" for no obvious reason.
15. Alien SSR -

Though the DVD was apparently the Director's Cut, a studio release that Ridley Scott hated, it also featured the original version, which I watched. It's visually stunning, claustrophobic and tense, and gripping from the very start. But it isn't scary is it?
14. Supersize Me SSR -

Entertaining bit of corporate America bashing. The science is all a bit dubious though, isn't it, and the message obvious, at least for sane people.
13. The Big Lebowski SSR -

Loved it. I am now tempted to change my Palimpname from Wavid to 'The Dude'.
12. The End of the Affair SSR -

Found this strangely unlikeable.
11. Spiderman 2 SSR -

Even more stupid than the first one. Enjoyed it, but felt thoroughly ashamed of doing so.
10. Hitchiker's Guide... SSR -

First one through from Screen Select, made all the sweeter for the fact that the first 5 they send are free. Jemima liked this more than me - she thought this might be because she hasn't read the book for 10 years, while I re-read it all the time. It was ok, I guess.
9. Red Dragon B -

Decent enough adaption of Harris' novel. Much of the suspense was ruined by knowing the plot, of course. Thought Ralph Fienne's performance was excellent.
8. Spiderman B -

Bought this on VHS for 99p (!) in the supermarket the other day. I thought it was enormous fun, and some really good laugh out loud moments. Great no-brain entertainment.
7. O Brother, Where Art Thou? ADR -

Another Coen brothers one, suffered a little from me watching it in two chunks. Deserves to be rewatched. Still, very funny, beautifully shot and some great performances. Soundtrack was superb.
6. Fargo ADR -

Thought this was really, really good. The big three performances of William H Macy, Steve Buscemi and Frances McDormand were superb and utterly convicing. Those accents! "Yah..." Top stuff.
5. The Usual Suspects B -

About the tenth time I have watched this, but I love it. A great, great film.
4. Kill Bill Vol. 1 ADR -

Found this bewildering. Beautifully made, and very stylish, but content wise pretty vacant. Will watch Vol. 2 with interest, however. I kind of felt like I should be enjoying this more than I am.
3. The Eagle Has Landed O -

Michael Caine, Robert Duvall and Donald Sutherland star in this 70s WWII movie about an attempted kidnapping of Winston Churchill on the Norfolk coast. It came free with my dad's copy of the Mail on Sunday, and was pretty good fun. Sutherland's role as a free drinking wise cracking oirishman (no stereotypes here) was the most entertaining thing on show.
2. Insomnia B -

An Al Pacino/Robin Williams/Hilary Swank police procedural from the director of Memento (which is now next to come on my Amazon list). I bought this in the sale in HMV aaaages ago and never got round to seeing it. But today I did, and it was great.
1. Sean of the Dead ADR -

Plenty said about this elsewhere. I liked it a lot.

Key:
SSR - Screen Select Rental
ADR - Amazon DVD Rental
TV - From or on the TV
B - Bought (won't be many of these...)
O - Other

24th Apr 2005, 11:32	#13
Wavid Administrator befriends strangers Join Date: 10 Apr 2003 Location: Cambridge Posts: 4,535	Wavid's Films 20. The Quiet American TV - Really good film, its moral ambiguity was a real treat where I thought the Hollywood treatment might make it a more cut-and-dried affair. An attempt was made at this: I coudn't see Pyle as a top CIA guy at all, but other than that, a really great adaptation. Much more enjoyable than The End of the Affair. 19. Minority Report TV - Entertaining enough but at least half an hour too long. 18. Sideways SSR - see thread. 17. The League of Gentlemen's Apocolypse SSR - Utterly bonkers. Wasn't sure at all about whether I should be expecting a feature length episode or not; but it was brilliant stuff in the end. 16. Being John Malkovich SSR - Really, really enjoyed this. My biggest laugh came when after Malkovich was dumped out of his own head, and, following a row with John Cusack, some random guy in a car throws a can at Malkovich's head, yelling "Take that, Malkovich!" for no obvious reason. 15. Alien SSR - Though the DVD was apparently the Director's Cut, a studio release that Ridley Scott hated, it also featured the original version, which I watched. It's visually stunning, claustrophobic and tense, and gripping from the very start. But it isn't scary is it? 14. Supersize Me SSR - Entertaining bit of corporate America bashing. The science is all a bit dubious though, isn't it, and the message obvious, at least for sane people. 13. The Big Lebowski SSR - Loved it. I am now tempted to change my Palimpname from Wavid to 'The Dude'. 12. The End of the Affair SSR - Found this strangely unlikeable. 11. Spiderman 2 SSR - Even more stupid than the first one. Enjoyed it, but felt thoroughly ashamed of doing so. 10. Hitchiker's Guide... SSR - First one through from Screen Select, made all the sweeter for the fact that the first 5 they send are free. Jemima liked this more than me - she thought this might be because she hasn't read the book for 10 years, while I re-read it all the time. It was ok, I guess. 9. Red Dragon B - Decent enough adaption of Harris' novel. Much of the suspense was ruined by knowing the plot, of course. Thought Ralph Fienne's performance was excellent. 8. Spiderman B - Bought this on VHS for 99p (!) in the supermarket the other day. I thought it was enormous fun, and some really good laugh out loud moments. Great no-brain entertainment. 7. O Brother, Where Art Thou? ADR - Another Coen brothers one, suffered a little from me watching it in two chunks. Deserves to be rewatched. Still, very funny, beautifully shot and some great performances. Soundtrack was superb. 6. Fargo ADR - Thought this was really, really good. The big three performances of William H Macy, Steve Buscemi and Frances McDormand were superb and utterly convicing. Those accents! "Yah..." Top stuff. 5. The Usual Suspects B - About the tenth time I have watched this, but I love it. A great, great film. 4. Kill Bill Vol. 1 ADR - Found this bewildering. Beautifully made, and very stylish, but content wise pretty vacant. Will watch Vol. 2 with interest, however. I kind of felt like I should be enjoying this more than I am. 3. The Eagle Has Landed O - Michael Caine, Robert Duvall and Donald Sutherland star in this 70s WWII movie about an attempted kidnapping of Winston Churchill on the Norfolk coast. It came free with my dad's copy of the Mail on Sunday, and was pretty good fun. Sutherland's role as a free drinking wise cracking oirishman (no stereotypes here) was the most entertaining thing on show. 2. Insomnia B - An Al Pacino/Robin Williams/Hilary Swank police procedural from the director of Memento (which is now next to come on my Amazon list). I bought this in the sale in HMV aaaages ago and never got round to seeing it. But today I did, and it was great. 1. Sean of the Dead ADR - Plenty said about this elsewhere. I liked it a lot. Key: SSR - Screen Select Rental ADR - Amazon DVD Rental TV - From or on the TV B - Bought (won't be many of these...) O - Other __________________ Site Admin \| Blog \| Reading List \| Email \| Current Reading: The Sportswriter, Richard Ford Last edited by Wavid; 27th Dec 2005 at 23:49.