Posted on 09/28/2005 9:11:34 AM PDT by pabianice
Set in the late 19th century, monster hunter Dr. Gabriel Van Helsing (Jackman) is summoned to a mysterious land in East Europe to vanquish evil forces...
evil forces with names like Count Dracula, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein's Monster... Assisting him once he gets there is Anna, the heir of a long-running family committed to hunting down and destroying Dracula.
Gary Sinise is terrific! And his portrayal of Harry S. Truman was really a wonder.
"The Stand" is, IMHO, the best visual adaptation of any work by Steven King.
Mark
Were you aware he uses the same yellow car in all of his movies? He has used it since his highschool movie making days.
The mark of a true actor is to portray an exact opposite of your true self.
I'd have to disagree. Anything with frontal nudity is worth sitting through, even if you didn't pay for it.
Exactly, which is why "Showgirls" goes into my special, testosterone slathered special catagory of "really awful movies where the only redeming feature are hot, nekkid wimmen!"
Between the lead character (I can't remember her name, and it's not worth looking up), the "generic porno blonde," and Gina Gershon nekkid, it was somewhat worth watching.
Mark
P.S. I got that phrase, "Generic Porno Blonde" from a band I was in back in highschool.
Class 3: Face-off. A stupid movie. I mean, damned stupid. Waste of money stupid. Waste of time stupid.
Time to drink from the fire hose!
Mark
There's "Cannibal, the Movie," "Orgasmo," and "Baseketball," by Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
Mark
Oh, please!
Sleeper is one of the best, brainless, silly comedies ever. Bananas is a hoot, as is Everything you always wanted to know about sex. But "Take the Money and Run" is a silly masterpiece!
Mark
I remember watching it and asking, "Is it all right to applaud when the hero dies?"
I used to get stopped on the street by people who thought I was Matthew Broderick (ugggh). The only good thing about going bald was THAT stopped happening.
How about "Tommy"? Basically any othe rorck movie qualifies..
LOL, I had forgotten about "American Anthem".
You wrote, "Sleeper is one of the best, brainless, silly comedies ever. Bananas is a hoot, as is Everything you always wanted to know about sex. But "Take the Money and Run" is a silly masterpiece!"
Bring on the popcorn, looks like you got yourself another Allen triumpth to treasure!!
__________________________________________________________
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200509/200509270023.html
"Even at 70, Woody Allen Keeps the Films Coming
Woody Allen, now the grand old man of New York, complains endlessly about how Hollywood just cares about money, how unsophisticated young viewers these days are, but he remains an evergreen cinema-kid who satisfies the world's cultural hunger with a production each year. "Hollywood Ending," in which Allen once again stars, directs and writes, is set to debut in Korea on Sept. 30. The Chosun Ilbo took the opportunity to conduct an e-mail interview with the 70-year old. His answers were short but full of his characteristic sharp wit.
Things were quiet for a few years, but "Hollywood Ending" will be the second Korean release this year following "Anything Else." How do you feel?
"I'm excited. As you know, my wife was born in Seoul. She has asked that we go to Korea together."
"Hollywood Ending" is a humorous portrayal of a has-been director, Val (played by Allen), trying to make a comeback in Hollywood. He seemed almost like you. How would you compare Hollywood, New York and London, where you are currently shooting?
"New York is freer than Hollywood, and Europe is freer than New York."
The movie Val shoots gets a good reception from French film critics only. Do you think Europeans have better aesthetic appreciation and taste?
"No comment."
One goofy question. In "Hollywood Ending," your character goes blind, but pushes ahead with his film anyway. If you went blind because of stress during a film, would you actually push through with it anyway? And what was the toughest moment for you physically in the film?
"That's a stupid question. Even in France, you can't direct blind. The toughest thing when shooting a picture is getting up in the morning. The next is shaving every day."
Your films are charming, but in the United States and Korea, fewer and fewer people are watching them. If it's true that younger filmgoers are not watching your films, is that their fault or yours?
"I don¡¯t know whose fault it is. I want to think it¡¯s the viewers' responsibility, but it may be my fault. Perhaps thinking it¡¯s the viewers' fault is proof that I've gone blind already."
You're 70 years old this year. But you've persisted in making one film a year. What is the source of your energy?
"I'm a man of many ideas, especially when it comes to movies. That's my nature."
Korean filmgoers welcome not only your films, but also the fact that your wife Soon-yi is Korean. Does your wife help you make films? And do you have any memorable experiences with Korean film or Korean film people?
"My wife is the source of my inspiration. But frankly, I don't know much about Korean film. There aren't many Korean films broadcast over here."
What do you say to film critics who say your films are lost in mannerism?
"Frankly, I don't understand their criticism. But they must be right. All critics are smart."
Last question. If you were to recount your happiest and unhappiest moments from the last week, what would they be?
"My happiest moment would be lying in bed with my wife. The least happy would be my endoscopy."
(englishnews@chosun.com )
"Popeye" -- Incoherent; they were all stoned. Those 90 minutes were the longest three weeks of my life.
"A.I." -- Spielberg owes Kubrick a big apology. At the end of the movie when the narrator comes on and solemnly intones "two thousand years later...", the audience howls. That's some jump cut.
You've just listed half of my favorites. "Joe Vs. the Volcano" is a great, under-rated movie.
"Thank you for my life. I forgot how big you were."
Allen's latest, "Match Point," has gotten great reviews. It comes out Christmas Day.
"Crimes and Misdemeanors" is one of the best movies ever made.
Thirteen Ghosts. Awful, awful, awful. Not scary, not funny, not good at all.
Con-Air. More posing than a season of Power Rangers.
The Rundown. Movie with wrestler The Rock. I stopped watching after about 20 minutes. Painfully dull.
Pearl Harbor. 10 minutes. A disgrace.
Armageddon, Daredevil. Ben Affleck is in them.
Wasn't that Courtney Love?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.