David’s Ramblings

Se7en

Seven is a story about the seven deadly sins, and people dying for committing them. It is a good thriller with a compelling story and decent focus on character development. It’s R, and somewhat gruesome in places, so it’s probably not for the faint of heart. I highly recommend this movie for people looking for a decent, intelligent murder thriller. The actors are good and the ending is great, though it may not be what some people would like. (4.5¹)

Gattaca

The story of a future where genetic engineering is the norm and people who aren’t genetically engineered are looked down upon. This movie is a great sci-fi that doesn’t really feel like a sci-fi because it’s not so far-fetched as teleporters and aliens. Also another I find worthy of my recommendation. (4¹)

I’ve got a movie review for today Ð King Kong and the Chocolate Factory. This movie is a remake of the classic movie telling the tale of an ape of alarming stature that falls in love with a man named Willy Wonka, the famous chocolateer.

I must say I was slightly disturbed with all of the shocking views this movie portrayed to the public. From Charlie’s sicko grandparents that all share the same bed and get freaky with each other, to the blatant love affair between Jane Goodall and the monkey behind Willy Wonka’s back (don’t even try to ask how she was able to pull off such things with an ape that size), this movie was full of adult content that was completely unsuitable for children.

Of course, there were good parts as well. I thought it was awesome to watch the jungle explorers being trampled by the Oompa Loompas. The graphics were amazing in that scene. And when that annoying TV kid was swallowed by that T-Rex, I think most everyone cheered. We were all happy to see that character go.

Speaking of cheering, the people behind us at this movie were extremely good at it. We couldn’t go ten seconds without an “ooohhhh” or “aaaaahhhh”. They were obviously very impressed with what was on the screen. So much so, you might have thought that they believed what they were watching to be actual footage or something. It’s like they’d never heard of claymation and it’s growing ability to display realistic scenes.

All in all, I very much enjoyed this movie, even with all of the blatantly taboo sex between elderly people, midgets, and large animals. I give it 8¹ to split between the two when King Kong and Willy Wonka finally file for their divorce.

Two things have come to my attention of late: first, there has been a large lack of post in recent weeks, and secondly, that a major, blog-worthy holiday occurred. I’ve been putting it off for a while, but you can’t put blogging off forever. It’s like a stray dog. Once you feed it, it just keeps coming back for more and more.

So, where were we again? Oh, right. Movies. I’ve seen a ton of them this holiday weekend. Many were of course holiday related, and then there were some others that I just happened to catch. I could review them all, but that would seriously be more work than I would want to do. Just because I feed the dog doesn’t mean I’ll play fetch with the dang thing.

Bad Santa, Elf, A Christmas Story, Christmas with the Kranks, and Santa Clause 2 were all Christmas movies and fulfilled their roles as such. Bad Santa was pretty funny, Elf wasn’t quite as stupid as I suspected, and neither were the Kranks. A Christmas Story is just a classic, and well, we’ll just all try to ignore the fact that Santa Clause 2 was ever made… please? As far as the others, there was nothing particularly outstanding.

On to the most important part of the season – my presents. I didn’t really want a whole lot, actually. All I really wanted was a digital camera, and I got that. Now I can treat all 3 of my blog readers to pictures when I randomly decide to do so, like now:

Sorry I was so late with my Christmas post, but it’s not like you can do anything about it anyway.

Laura, one of the few people that visit my website on a regular basis, was hassling me to post more. So, this post goes out to you, Laura. The rest of you Ð all two of you Ð you can consider this an example of what to do if you think I’m slacking off in posting. Tell me. (Unless you’re Shaine. Shaine doesn’t count.)

I’ve watched three movies in the last week or so that I haven’t taken the time to review, so here they are, in brief:

The Exorcist – 4.6¹



This movie is good, as far as horror movies go. I think my recent turn from religion has affected my ability to feel scared. Though I wasn’t very frightened at all by this movie, I’m pretty sure I would have been a year ago. The difference? Probably that a year ago I lived with a man who was convinced that Harry Potter was a way for Satan to corrupt the minds of children and get them to let him take control of their lives.

This is certainly considered a classic in the horror film genre, and I can see why. It was well done. It didn’t rely much at all on cutting edge graphics or anything, so it has aged very well. It’s rated R for a reason. There’s some nasty stuff in the movie. I mean, not Saw nasty by any means, but a 12-year-old girl stabbing herself between the legs with a cross while shouting “Fuck Jesus” in a deep demonic voice nasty. (She’s possessed, in case the word “exorcist” didn’t get that across. That’s possibly the worst part beyond the projectile vomit, but still, viewer discretion is advised.)

Pulp Fiction – 4.9¹

Pulp Fiction’s a great movie. It’s just all around awesome. An interesting order of presenting the different pieces of the plot (not in chronological order), good actors, good cinematography, the music… it’s just all awesome. You’ve got to love the part where he’s trying to figure out how to kill the hillbillies and can’t decide what to use: gun, baseball bat, chain-saw… or, what he finally decides, samurai sword.

I must say, the movie was a bit familiar at parts because I’d read the script, and that ruined some of the fun of it all. This was necessary because back in the day I didn’t know what bit torrent (downloading software) was and there was no way I was going to bring this kind of movie into the same house as my stepfather.

Office Space – 4.4¹

This is also a good movie. I don’t really have much to say about it, except I hope my life never becomes as meaningless as the main character’s does. This is a funny movie, and worth your time if you’re looking for one.

Holy Cow. Seriously.

I mean, there’s lot’s of things that can be said about this movie… but first you’ve got to pick your jaw up off the floor and start blinking again. My roommate and I, after careful scientificly-based consideration, have come up with the correct genre to place this movie in: “Fucked Up”. Yes. “Fucked Up” is a little-known subcategory of the genre “Drama”. “Drama” alone would absolutely not do this movie justice.

I won’t make you watch this movie. I think it’s a dang good movie, but it’s probably not everyone’s cup of tea. I mean, if “Fucked Up” is not a big enough clue for you, I can’t really vouch for your reading comprehension. I mean, Saw was probably in this category too, but I’m less certain about putting it there than I am Requiem for a Dream.

The movie starts in the Summer, introducing the main character and his mother. He goes on to steal his mother’s TV and take it down to the pawn shop with his buddy. (Which is hinted to being a weekly ritual as she goes to the pawn shop to buy it back.) Other than that, life is generally good. They’ve got their drug money, and our main character’s got time to spend with his girlfriend.

Then something happens… they decide that if they could get a hold of some of the good stuff, they could cut it up and start dealing. It could be their big break, right? So they get to work, trying to build a better life by selling drugs. Meanwhile his mother’s at home fantasizing about he chance at being on TV and trying to ignore the diet she’s on to lose weight for it.

Then stuff goes downhill. Everyone’s trying to stay on top of things while the drugs (his mother’s taking diet pills that are equivalent to Speed) slowly claw away at their lives. The movie transitions these periods with different seasons, this next season being fall, where the good of summer is flowing away. This movie wouldn’t be very good if it didn’t do these scenes so remarkably well, with the transitions between the seasons and scenes.

Of course, winter comes. His mother’s become addicted to the diet pills and is goes crazy, he and his friend get caught on their way to pick up drugs from Florida. His girlfriend begins whoring herself out to get a fix. Everyone’s life is, appropriately, “Fucked Up”. And that’s the end.

Of course, reflecting on this, the remarkable beauty of the film is that we know spring is just around the corner, though it may be distant. There’s hope that maybe, someday, everyone’s life will be better… or maybe not. It’s just such a mind job… that’s Requiem For a Dream. 4.7¹ out of 900¼ (5¹).