mooovies (now with 50% more parenthesis!)

[thehefner]

So I just saw Kronk's New Groove, the direct-to-video sequel to Disney's The Emperor's New Groove, which is probably my very favorite non-Pixar non-Robin Hood Disney movie. The sequel was flawed, sure. Definitely uneven. Certainly suffered from sequelitis, where they unimaginitively reuse some of the old jokes (the worst case of sequelitis being Austin Powers: The Spy who Shagged Me). But I tell you, I had the hugest fucking grin on my face the entire time.

Somehow the combination of beautiful Disney 2D animation (they apparently have a new studio for 2D!) mixed with Warner Brothers style humor (the "Stag Reel" footage and the tiny "uh oh" sign = pure WB) is pure happy for me. Especially with the voice talent of Patrick Warburton (make this man Captain Marvel already!), David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt (her singing still rocks), Tracey Ullman (where the hell has she been?!) and the late great John "Piglet/Juror #2" Fielder.

Another movie I saw yesterday was The Reckoning. I wanted to see this for awhile, ever since the trailer had me hooked. Dig this plot: in 1308, a monk (Paul "wow, he's paler than Misty" Bettany) is disgraced for sleeping with another man's wife, and on the run he encounters a travelling band of actors (including Willhem "God bless his heart, his English accent sucks" Dafoe and Bryan "I can call myself Hannibal Lektor if I want, what're you gonna do about it" Cox). The actors and the monk travel to a small town where a woman is being tried for the murder of a young boy. Tired of performing bible stories, Dafoe decides to produce a new kind of morality play by staging the story of the murder. But as things develop, he and Bettany (who may be more than he seems) begin to investigate the murder and, with the help of Matthew "Mister Darcy by way of Severus Snape" Macfayden, uncover the town's deep, dark secret.

I'm still not sure how good the movie was, but it was damn fascinating. It's a must for Rude Mechanicals to check out.

Tonight, I'm gonna go to AFI to see Cronenberg's The Fly. Brundlefly on the big screen, aw yeah.

Comments

[jgurlpunkrck.livejournal.com]

UGH, I want to see that SO bad.

I *heart* Patrick Warburton. A "simultaneous has been and never was," my ass. I hate Stephen Hunter.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Hunter said that? What a dick! God, that man gets on my nerves.

Reg: The Reckoning.

[sabine42.livejournal.com]

Dear Hefner: Hot Damn.

You had my attention at Paul "I'm so good you don't always recognize me" Bettany, my interest at Willem "The man who defines 'sexy creepy/ugly'" Defoe, and my heart--and other things-- at Matthew "did anyone but me in the States watch MI:5/Spooks prior to P&P?!" Macfayden.

*goes to add this to Netflix list....*

~H

[sex-and-tea.livejournal.com]

I really like Paul in the Reckoning. Have you ever seen Gangster no.1? The movie has the same director and the same photographer as The Reckoning. I don't think Paul will ever be able to top his performance as a complete psycho in that movie.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Oh man, thanks for reminding me! I really need to see that. My driving factor in seeing it is my love for Malcolm McDowell (ever seen IF and/or O LUCKY MAN! ?)

The same writer/director also did the movie if Irving Welsh's THE ACID HOUSE, I believe, which I also have not seen.

[sex-and-tea.livejournal.com]

Watching Bettany move to the sound of McDowell's voice is a thing of beauty. Paul only has a few lines in the movie, the rest of the voice work is done by McDowell. I love If and Lucky Man! The scene where McDowell is attempting to help the homeless and is attacked, while in the background you see "Revolution is the opium of Intellectuals" spray painted on the wall, is a by me deeply cherished moment.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Oh god, yes! "Revolution is the opium of the intellectuals" was one of my absolute favorite moments of that movie! Yes!

Have you seen Time After Time? Malcolm versus David Warner. The voice of crazy evil and the voice of seductive evil, together in one movie!

[sex-and-tea.livejournal.com]

I've never seen that one. Will be adding it to my already ridiculously long list of movies to see.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

And I'll add Gangster no. 1 to my invisible list.

(lurve the Withnail icon, btw... I finally splurged and bought the Criterion Collection DVD and look forward to one day getting HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING).

[sex-and-tea.livejournal.com]

Withnail is one of my all time favorite movies. Feel free to use the icon if you like:) Do you know if How to Get Ahead in Advertising is out on Dvd?

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Indeed it is! There's the cheap edition as well as the super-special Criterion Collection DVD, the latter is the one to get, methinks. They are both such special, special movies.

[disc-sophist.livejournal.com]

On Gangster No. 1: THEWLIS! Don't forget Thewlis! I love that movie. It went into that category of films that does one thing and does it well. Don't ask me what that one thing is, though.

Argh. Need to see The Reckoning now. It was on the list, but you know what THE LIST is like for a film freak.

So. Movie night. What're you doing Thursday? Jay's doing game night at FSD's, so I'm woefully unoccupied.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

My dear, I believe I would absolutely delight in partaking in a movie night with you this Thursday.

[disc-sophist.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! Ideas for watchables? You always have such great new-to-me stuff, which I LOVE, but I'm not sure what I have that's new to you. Not really fair that you have to see all the same stuff. I could try to dig up Gangster No.1 or similar?

Also, I still haven't watched Ravenous, though it's sitting at home in its little Netflix envelope. Always an option.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Ooh, umm... Ravenous I'd love to see again, but lemme dig through some of my new DVDs that I haven't had the excuse to watch yet and see what strikes your fancy!

Gangster no. 1 might also be good, especially as I no longer get free movie rentals. We'll see.