Movies I Saw This Weekend
I actually made use of Blockbuster this weekend for the purpose of renting movies. I know, I know. Call me old fashioned, but it seemed like there must have been a number a movies that I missed in the past 6 months that I should probably see. So the girlfriend and I went for it. Here they are in the order that I watched them:
1.) History of Violence
I saw the previews for this movie before it came out in theatres, and let me just say they didn’t really prepare me for the amount of violence it contained. There were a couple sexual moments in the film that kind of threw me too. I didn’t realize it until I saw it on this film, but I’d never seen a ‘69 position’ performed in a movie that wasn’t an actual porno or one of those low-budget soft porn movies you can catch late at night on Cinemax.
Verdict: Recommended
2.) Syriana
Again, I saw the previews for this one too and I wasn’t prepared for what type of movie it was. I’m actually glad I didn’t see this one in a theatre, because it would have been more confusing. The film is VERY non-linear, so it can be hard to keep up. Couple that with the fact that you really need to be pretty aware of world events and cultural issues to understand why things are happening the way they are. The acting was great though, and watching the ‘bonus material’ really put into perspective what the makers of the movie were trying to accomplish.
Verdict: Recommended, but try and read a month’s worth of newspapers front to back before seeing it.
3.) Brokeback Mountain
Yeah, I know. Any serious movie goer would have watched this last year. Well, it must have been all the caffeine I had consumed on Saturday or something, but I think I ruined this movie for my girl and I. I couldn’t quit saying stupid gay jokes through the whole thing. Immature? Of course. But let me ask you this: What was the writer thinking when she named one of the main characters ‘Ennis’? I mean, come on! How can you not joke about that? And you find this out two minutes into the movie. I was definitely not serious enough to just ignore the fact that Heath Ledger’s character’s name sounded WAY to close to ‘anus’. Hell, I would have joked about someone named Ennis even if the movie hadn’t been about gay cowboys. I do need to say that the movie was good, with great acting and you do get to see the boobies of Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams, but its literally only for a second in either scene.
Verdict: Recommended, but please try and be mature about it. Deep down, no one likes a guy who makes gay jokes, even if it is about a guy named ‘Ennis’.
4.) Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
I know what you’re thinking. That I talked my girlfriend into renting it and watching it with me. Well, you’d be wrong. It was all her idea. You’ve got to remember that this is the same chick that really wanted to see The Hills Have Eyes with me. Also, keep in mind this is the original 1974 version of the movie. It goes without saying that any movie made in the 1970’s is going to be a little ‘different’ than the movies made today. Texas Chain Saw Massacre was no exception. I haven’t seen the 2003 remake, but I heard it sucked and I’m sure there’s no way it compares to the original. This movie is beyond bizzare. The fat guy in the wheelchair made me really uncomfortable and I was kind of glad when he was chopped up into little bits. But the most disturbing part of the whole movie was the grandfather. You’ll just have to watch it for yourself and see him sucking the blood from the main girl’s finger to know what I’m talking about.{shudders}
Verdict: Recommended, but don’t take any drugs while you’re watching it. It’s WAY too disturbing as it is.
In other news… “Snakes on a Plane” failed to excite movie goers this past weekend. Huh. Who woulda thunk it?
Other Resources: Movies Movies
History of Violence: It fucking rocked. That dude was a serious badass.
Brokeback: “you do get to see the boobies of Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams, but its literally only for a second” Are you kidding me?!? The way I remember it, those sweet tits were on screen for at least 10 minutes each. *drooling*
Texas Chainsaw: Love it. It’s one of the true American classics. A lot of people write it off as a cheesy 70’s gore-fest, but it’s got some serious gripping psycho-freak out scenes. Excellent filmmaking for its genre.
And most importantly… Snakes on a muthafuckin plane! I saw it Friday night. The theater was sold out, and the crowd was super fucking rowdy. It was an AMAZING experience. So much fun yelling and laughing at the screen. I’d see it again, but only if I could be sure there would be a lot of drunk young people there.
I gotta say, I thought Brokeback was good, but probably would have been a bit more boring if it were a hetero couple instead of a gay couple.
We saw “History of Violence” in theaters and were so enraged with it that we couldn’t speak. It was so far and away bizarre that I almost demanded my money back.
Also saw the 2003 version of TCM and that’s ANOTHER movie that enraged me. Gone are the days when horror movies could be campy and goofily gory. Now it’s like taking a trip through a butcher shop for 2.5 hours. I watched the entire thing from behind my hands it was so uncalled for.
I really need to see the original version, though. I think I could actually appreciate that one.
JJ: Yeah, the dude was definitely a bad ass… I loved it when he just went ape shit on the first two robbers that came into his diner. And I REALLY wish those boobies were on screen for 10 minutes each.
The original TCSM was definitely NOT cheesy. I actually think most of the disturbing horror in recent years took a number of hints from this movie. Great movie! Hopefully I can find a theatre where I the crowd will be that into it for Snakes on a Plane. It would definitely be one fun time then.
Eddie: Yeah, I agree… the only part of the movie that made it not boring was the fact that the two main characters were gay.
nicole: I don’t think I would have liked it in the theatres either… would have been too different than what I expected.
As for the original TCM… make sure you’re ready for some bizarre shite. It’s definitely a good movie, but I still think the director was on some sort of mind altering substance when he made it.
I’ve heard that Snakes on a Plane was great more for the movegoing experience. The crowds were all plastered and funny.
The original TCM definetely has informed recent renditions of the genre, I saw Wolf Creek recently and that echos TCM. Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer is another variation of the genre, I found that movie hard to watch too.
Phoenix: I’m sure that’s definitely the case. I’ll have to see if I can make it to a shwoing this weekend.
Furtive Wrangler: Wolf Creek was definitely similar… and just as disturbing. I haven’t heard of “Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer” before. I’ll have to check that one out.
Dude,
Henry is one of the creepiest movies I’ve ever seen. It’s uber-realistic and eerie. I definitely recommend it, but it’ll totally freak you out.
JJ: Well then… it’s a movie I DEFINITELY want to see. I may regret it after the fact, but you guys have piqued my interest WAY too much for me not to see it.
I’m looking forward to seeing Syriana. I’ve heard lots of good reviews
I found Brokeback to be a little boring. I wouldn’t have voted for Brokeback or Crash for best movie. Ennis - it’s not anus, it’s not penis - it’s almost like Taint. Another disappointing aspect was that i didn’t have any pudding (southpark ref.)
If you really like boobies, see Hostel. It isn’t really scary and has lame effects but there are lots and lots of boobies - could I have at least gotten a shot of one nice male ass?
Rob: Haha! Dead on about Ennis… and you’re right about Hostel. Boobies galore. I was actually surprised they didn’t show a little male ass in there just to balance it out.
I thought the exact same thing about the 69 in History of Violence! I was like “Holy crap, I’ve never actually seen that in a real movie before.”
Riss: I KNEW there were other people out there that had thought the same thing… it’s weird because you couldn’t really see anything, but it was more in your face than if they had been butt-nekid and simulating actual intercourse.
I really did NOT like Brokeback Mountain. I thought it was boring and tedious. I still don’t understand why it was so acclaimed, other than it being “the gay cowboy movie”.
And someone, please tell me, how does one turn a short story into that painfully long a movie? I could have been totally happy not ever seeing it.
FyreGoddess: Ok, good… I don’t feel that bad for making stupid jokes during most of the movie. I’ll just blame it on my short attention span.
Texas Chainsaw is a warped movie for sure. Maybe not as bad as Motel Hell
shane: I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Motel Hell. Maybe I can find it at Block buster too!