Posted on 12/29/2006 11:25:58 PM PST by L.A.Justice
Michael Medved is, IMHO, the smartest guy on the radio today. He absolutely kicks the @## of anyone who is stupid enough to debate him. He does it without invective, and without ad hominem attacks. He does it purely with facts and logic. I always pity liberals who are foolish enough to argue with him, because they're slap boxing with a lion.
>>>I would include CASINO ROYALE in my best 10 list for 2006.<<<
Absolutely. It is one of the best action films of all time, IMO.
I agree with Medved on The Departed, Apocalypto, and Flyboys -- all excellent movies in every way. But his choice of Little Miss Sunshine as the best movie is bizarre. His choice of Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector in the bottom 10 is also strange (I personally love slapstick humor). I would have included that film and Blood Diamond in the top 10.
>>>What about "Cars?"<<<
Good movie.
I saw Shepherd. It's a much better movie if you're actually familiar with the history of that era, as it makes some interesting allusions to real stories and figures such as James Jesus Angleton, Allen Dulles, and Kim Philby. If those stories interest you, the movie can be considered "ok." Otherwise, the movie is extremely slow, not much actually happens, and most plot twists are left to allusion. I really wish Deniro had went deeper into some of the history, such as preparation for the Bay of Pigs, that sort of thing. It definitely is a trying movie, but if you have a prior interest in the CIA/KGB battle in the early part of the Cold War I think you will approve of it.
And the torture scene concerning the Russian spy was, in reality, much worse....the real episode lasted about three years.
>>>The Illusionist<<<
I almost forgot about this one. It is an excellent movie.
I also liked Inside Man and RV.
bttt for later
I enjoyed "A Good Year" with Russel Crowe, directed by Ridley Scott. It was just a light hearted bit of fun.
If anyone but Oliver Stone had laid a stinkbomb like Alexander on the box office, his career would be in utter ruins. But of course, being a leftist tool allows one to make unlimited numbers of staggering failures with no consequences.
I refused to see World Trade Center when it came out, no matter how good or unpolitical people said it was, because I just knew (and still do know) that Stone will more than make up for it with some outrageous piece of leftist garbage at some point down the road. And I will not support that in any way.
It'll be interesting to compare/contrast this film with The Prestige.
BTW, The Illusionist is based on Steven Millhauser short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist". It looks like the collection that story's in is back in print (for awhile it sold for over $150.00!) and it's also in Datlow /Windling's Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Third Annual Collection for even less.
Absolutely, and then some... then again, it's probably the funniest movie I have ever seen in my life. I honestly have never laughed so hard.
>>>I enjoyed "A Good Year" with Russel Crowe, directed by Ridley Scott. It was just a light hearted bit of fun.<<<
I have not seen that one, but every Russel Crowe film I have seen to date has been excellent. I particularly liked "Gladiator", "Master and Commander", and "The Insider".
Apocalypto - my fave movie of this year
I'm sure I'll like "Blood Diamond" even though it's probably the liberal take on things. Have not seen it yet
It definitely deserves to be in the top 10, and would make my top 3.
I would have included Happy Feet in that list of best movies.
It's official. We cannot be movie partners. I HATED "Happy Feet".
= )
It's not an action flick, but more a romantic comedy. Amusing, but in an adult way, not the sophmoric humor one usually encounters.
Stars Matt Damon and Alec Baldwin sewed it up for me.
Won't spend my money to support them.
I know it was from last year, but skip the Clint Eastwood with the made up scenes of compassionate Japanese soldiers and rent "The Great Raid". It's excellent.
My uncle who was in the Bataan death march and POW camp said it was very true to life of what he experienced.
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I don't get it either. I hear that a lot of what happens in Hollywood involves pleasing people who somehow hold the purse strings but know nothing about making movies. So, a meddlesome studio rep will change a script or mess with the editing or just make everyone's lives miserable because they can.
There are some directors with the tact and force of will to keep these yahoos at bay, but then that doesn't mean you'll get a good product-- just the imprint of another strong personality.
George Lucas is an interesting case: Fans hoped that when he started the Star Wars prequels, it would just be "pure Lucas. No interference from the suits." Well, Phantom Menace was pure Lucas all the way and it begat Jar-Jar Binks; an annoying kid; a see-through villain, a wonky story; "midichlorians" to explain The Force; and a bunch of pissed-off fans.
Not that it mattered. The movies were still hugely popular with a lot of people all over the world that made hundreds of millions apiece at the box office. And that's before we get into the merchandising! In terms of money, the ony thing that matters in Hollywood, Star Wars—warts and all—is huge and will probably always be. If only we could all fail so well!
If it's still playing in town, go see "For Your Consideration." It's a comedy about a how a film and the surrounding buzz is generated. You'll get a much better understanding about how a movie is put through the ringer.
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