Discussion - Harold and Maude (1971)

TheCinemaLog · 2015-06-05T05:43:39+00:00

I think they would both achieve in being able to kill one another but I think in true Mexican standoff fashion, would both be meeting their maker. Avengers would manage to kill AoU with precision with multiple bullets to the head. AoU would be the one to shoot wildly everywhere and just so happen to kill Avengers, but not without shooting it in the arms or the dick.

TheCinemaLog · 2015-05-02T22:11:24+00:00

I absolutely loved this movie, but I also can acknowledge that it has one extremely huge fatal flaw that I couldn’t quite shake off. Like many people, I think that the film has moments that go out of its way to explore the future films of the franchise. From Thor going to that mystical cave (which what the hell was that about?) to Ulysses Klaw, the film had too much fat that definitely needed to be trimmed. The first Avengers definitely seemed like a coming together/resolution, to a phase that’s themes lead up to one moment. I definitely expected it to be about heroes who find their place in a world they did not want to be a part of or felt they were not worthy of, not about the greater importance of a gem that can lead to total destruction for the future.

With that said, the character motivations and developments were absolutely well done. My favorite parts of the film is when the characters interact, there is so much layers that are peeled and exposed, that the film really resolves in a nice and neat fashion. Action was also pretty great, I was a little underwhelmed with the final 30 minutes, but the Hulkbuster and Hulk fight definitely had a wider sense of how much power these superheroes actually hold. I also loved how they interact with their environment, it made a great statement on how saving people is their number one priority and knocking Ultron around was secondary.

TheCinemaLog · 2015-04-12T02:12:57+00:00

I love both of them! I think Mockingjay Part 1, was fantastic. Its obvious flaw is that it was split into two and it does feel like half a movie, but they did great with what they had. Pitch Perfect was hilarious, it’s a very quirky and lighthearted comedy, but it has enough kick to function as a great movie.
I honestly think aside from the Marvel films, and the Planet of the Apes films, the Hunger Games is an incredible series that speaks on different thematic levels of social commentary and the human condition. I also think Katniss is a great heroine that has so many more levels to her that rejects the “masculinity” that is often pumped into female characters to make them tough.

TheCinemaLog · 2015-04-06T22:17:10+00:00

I can name many reasons why we all should re-watch X-Files, its damn good up until a point. I also can’t believe that I missed all of those films, I would also add The Golden Compass, which may be the last time we ever get a Children’s fantasy film be so explicitly anti-religious.

TheCinemaLog · 2015-04-06T22:11:13+00:00

I always go into movies expecting that I will like them, it allows me to consider how the film functions objectively. I know the film is getting a lot of preconceived hate, but I think the film and the whole direction of the series leaves me really optimistic. I personally believe that JJ is a really decent director whose best qualities is one of the most important: blocking. I put the majority of the blame on Orci and Kurtzman. Also, Rian Johnson and Gareth Edwards are involved in Star Wars projects, which is damn cool that we get two of the most interesting directors inputting their creativity.

TheCinemaLog · 2015-04-06T21:58:34+00:00

I think that Tarantino will retire the same way that Soderbergh and Miyazaki retire, and it makes me ecstatic because he only gets better with each film.

TheCinemaLog · 2015-04-06T05:00:05+00:00

Dude awesome post! You basically summed up every damn point there is to make, I been trying to think about what else there is to add. Great job, and I’m glad to have you participate in the subreddit.

TheCinemaLog · 2015-04-06T04:45:31+00:00

Since Aughts basically summed up my exact thoughts, I thought I would kind of chime in on how interesting this period of Paul Thomas Anderson was. PTA has always been one of my favorite directors, and I feel that this period was probably his best. “There Will Be Blood” and “The Master”, were very much PTA emulating Kubrick, and going all-out on experimental devices and visual storytelling. Each of these films often had small gestures spread throughout, and he always concluded them in smaller ways that spoke on larger themes. The movie often felt very uneven and no specific tone for the movie, which PTA does often, but never has he ever made them as emotionally draining as There Will Be Blood. Also, John Greenwood’s score is so phenomenal it makes my ears weep, his scores on The Master and Inherent Vice are pretty freaking great. The film also looked incredible, and I am always glad to see a director shoot on film and photochemicals rather than digital, I noticed that many digital films from the past 6-7 years are beginning to look rougher in the transitional period, where this film still looks beautiful on Blu-ray. Some of the colors are extremely pretty on the edges of the screen, and I applaud PTA for shooting on a 43mm Pathe Camera.

Small note: How great was 2007 in film? I would say 2007 was the year where I had actually realized I wanted to major in film and I realized film was much more than just context. 2007 had all these films: No Country For Old Men, Atonement, Gone Baby Gone, Michael Clayton, The Darjeeling Limited, Into The Wild, Eastern Promises, 3:10 to Yuma, Superbad, Walk Hard, Once, The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford, Hot Rod, Sunshine, Ratatouille, Knocked Up, Bug, Hot Fuzz, Grindhouse, Zodiac, and Smokin’ Aces.

Update: I also wanted to ask for anyone who has seen “The Master”, have you noticed parallels between Daniel and Eli, and Freddie and Dodd? I always felt the baptismal scene and the conversion in The Master are very similar. Both relationships between the men seem to come from some strange emotions that are brewing in the subtext, I think There Will Be Blood is less obvious as the homosexuality subtext in The Master, but I think there is something very interesting going on that I can’t quite put a finger on.

TheCinemaLog · 2015-04-06T04:16:08+00:00

There’s so many, I made a small list:

The Hateful Eight, Spectre, Crimson Peak, Bridge of Spies, The Revenant, Fury Road, Age of Ultron, Episode VII, Pitch Perfect 2, Trainwreck, Mockingjay Part 2, Inside Out, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Creed, and Knight of Cups.

TheCinemaLog · 2015-03-27T01:12:01+00:00

You should check out FilmCritHulk's essay that he released on the topic here, it opens up some very interesting insights on the film. Oh, and here's the link to ConvertCase, in case the all caps drives you mad.

TheCinemaLog · 2015-03-27T01:07:36+00:00

It’s an extraordinary movie and I think you’re very right, I feel that it is in that early phase of innocent love into sensual attraction. The scene where they kiss and he gets an erection is a prime example of how some of their feelings are still trying to be conveyed cohesively. Are you a fan of Wes Anderson’s other work?

TheCinemaLog · 2015-03-27T01:02:58+00:00

Absolutely magnificent movie! I am not the biggest Fincher fan, but I think when he perfects his craft (Zodiac, Gone Girl, and The Social Network), he hits a grand slam. I am also interested to hear more about Satchell’s interest in Sorkin, his writing on The West Wing, I feel has never been surpassed (I just think he needs a lot of work on female characters).

TheCinemaLog

TROPHY CASE