Arndt.Wil

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0084726/

Man, who would’ve thought that Moby Dick could sound so frickin’ wikkid oozing off the lips of the Fantasy Island guy?

“From hell’s heart, I stab at thee. For hate’s sake, I spit my last breath at thee.”

Awww, dag! That’s rad.

This film is simply the pinnacle of the Star Trek universe, and one of the all-time best sci-fi movies made, ever. Yeah, punk, I’ll stand by that statement until I die. And, funny enough, I loved this movie the first 800 times I watched on HBO back in 1983 (it was shown along with other not-so-popular line-ups, Oliver Twist, Gay Superman, and The Unfunny Muppets). I was 9. And I still like, nay, LOVE, this movie today.

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http://imdb.com/title/tt0043456/

Klaatu barada nikto. Learn it. Love it.

This film is a triumph of the theremin, and is required viewing for all sci-fi geeks everywhere. Seriously, this is one rockin’ sci-fi flick.

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http://imdb.com/title/tt0106977/

“Get off my plane!”

Woops, wrong movie.

This one had, “I didn’t kill my wife!”… followed by the brilliant retort,

“I don’t care”

Oh, Tommy, you’re SO badass.

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http://imdb.com/title/tt0264464/

This is a great movie to watch with your mother-in-law.

The titles are great, in that classic Saul-Bass-meets-the-Pink-Panther kind of way. A joy to watch in itself.

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http://imdb.com/title/tt0089881/

I thought this was made in like 1968, or something. As such, it felt like a fantastic watch.

Then I find out it was released in 1985. A bit of a disappointment, because I always thought this was the inspiration for Lucas and Star Wars. Doing the math, it’s clear I made a moronic assumption. Apparently, that honor belongs to Akira Kurosawa’s other epic films, Kakushi-toride no san-akunin (The Hidden Fortress, 1958), Tsubaki Sanjûrô (Sanjuro, 1962), and Yojimbo (The Bodyguard, 1961). Films I now must add to our collection.

Still, don’t let that dissuade you from watching and enjoying the film. This Shakespeare adaptation was truly a fanatical masterwork. It’s deserving of your adoration: Akira storyboarded every shot in the film with paintings (it took 10 years, apparently), and his wife even died during its making (Akira took the day off).

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/

Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Chills up my spine, man.

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375063/

Oscar buzz usually wrecks a film for me. Thankfully, the hype machine didn’t stop me from liking this movie. It’s funny and sadly familiar. So familiar, in fact, that I’m inspired to write a screenplay about the idiots in my life. And also inspired to learn how to use words like “thin-skinned”, “temperamental”, “survivor”, “fullest expression”, “haunting”, “brilliant”, “subtle”, “thrilling” and “ancient” when describing the taste of wine.

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0209163/

We bought this one about four years ago. Twice since, we’ve tried to watch it in its entirety. And twice, we’ve fallen asleep before we could get to the mid-point. But don’t let that disuade you. It’s probably a great sequel. Just don’t start watching it too late in the evening.

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385267/

Despite the retarded premise, the film’s structure actually hangs together quite well. And the ending was quite a departure from the typical baby-boomer-targeted mid-life-crisis movie.

But none of that saves it. Don’t watch this film. Unless it’s on TV. Or you borrow it from some poor schmo that happened to buy it. Like us.

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401792/

Practically a shot-for-shot adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel series, Sin City is graphically stunning. Almost as stunning as the graphic novels. Too bad the actors had to be in there. But, then, without them I guess you may as well just read the graphic novels and forget the film. Oh… that’s an interesting recommendation…

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167260/

Un-freakin-believably great. (Though the first is still my overall fave by a very, very, very narrow margin). The last-minute saves, exciting heroics, and epic camera work makes me want to weep. And everytime I watch the part where Gwendolyn (or Gwennevir, whatever her name was) cuts of the Naz-Gul’s head, and yells “I am no man!” and then proceeds in killing the unkillable Witch King by stabbing him in the face - yeah! - everytime I see that, I wish so hard that I was a woman.

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167261/

Yeah, the splitting up of the magic dream team in the previous movie was a serious suck. How can you take the perfectly balanced band of wisdom, strength, pointy ears, archery, and short stubby people and then have them go their separate ways? What was J.R.R. thinking?

Well, the book turned out to be quite good anyway. The movie? It was still rockin’, but it was missing that “something special” (called editing). Overall, the film could’ve moved a bit brisker at the beginning. And less zooming helicopter shots of dudes on horses in New Zealand would’ve been nice, too.

Yet the Battle for Helm’s Deep makes the previous 3 hours of extra footage more than bearable. Man, that battle is the pinnacle of action films. Can anyone suggest another that rocked more? (Other than the battles in The Return of the King, of course).

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120737/

Oh, you know, this movie frickin’ rocked. Peter Hoang told me he fell asleep in the middle of it. How ironic: I guess I am a nerd, and he just looks like one.

I almost liked this one better than the two that followed (but you know what I once said about usually liking the beginnings of movies better than the endings). It had all the hallmarks of great fantasy:

• the ultra super team of magic dudes, knights, dwarfs and elves;
• a rich variety of terrain and topography;
• mysterious ancient cities and fantastic hidden realms;
• a setup that includes an apparently insurmountable quest;
• rich and obscure lore;
• super-demons with whips;
• scary evil dudes in black hooded robes;
• awesome heroics.

Oh yeah, I could watch this one over and over again. And I have. Unless you’re Pete, I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t like this flick.

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082971/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087469/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097576/

The summary, according to everyone:

• Raiders of the Lost Ark: Awesome, a classic.
• The Temple of Doom: Sucks ass.
• The Last Crusade: Ok, not as good as the first, better than the second.

The summary, according to me:

• ROLA: Wicked awesome, a classic.
• TOD: Wicked ass sucking.
• TLC: Too much information. And who gives a crap about Indy as a hot young kid? But, otherwise thoroughly entertaining.

And, believe it or not, the 4th one is in the works. Besides powerfully evocative dialogue (“Get off my plane.”), I’d be keen to see what action ol’ Harry Ford can muster at the age of 65 (which will be his approximate age by the time filming starts).

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This promotional DVD came with our copy of Batman Begins, and is part of the The Batman series. To be honest, I don’t remember if I watched these yet or not.

On a cool side note, The Edge wrote/performed the totally wicked theme song.

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450392/

Oh, holiest of holiest of Batman films, thou are truly worthy of watching over and over again.

Except for the end. Oh, how thou suckest, foul ending. DAMN!!!

On a related note, looks like the next installment is in the works.

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0346156/

I think the hype and myth around this one was that some guy produced this in After Effects in his attic, or something. And it took him like 80 years to do it. Yet somehow, Jude Law, Gwyneth and Angelina get tapped for significant roles. An underground sensation? Hardly. A uniquely original voice? Barely. A visual feast? Certainly, but it depends on who you talk to.

As a source of significant inspiration for visual and motion designers (like myself), I give this film 700 thumbs-up. As a significant Film that makes you think for more than 30 seconds after the credits start rolling, I give this DVD -3 out of 10. Take that as you will.

But I’ll still be watching it again. Cause it’s a cool and fun adventure flick.

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126029/

This movie’s a moderately ok laugh. Eddie Murphy has found his niche as an ass. Or, I guess he’s solidified his niche. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen it, but I think I could sit through it again without poking my eyes out or falling asleep. That’s a good sign.

Why did we buy it? Don’t know, especially since we didn’t have kids at the time. That probably also meant we dropped good coin on it. Unless I got it for Christmas (which rings a bell, actually). In that case, I don’t know why I would have asked for this instead of something cool, like Blade Runner or bass strings.

Ironically, this is still probably a bit too scary for our kids (aged 14 months and 4.5 years).

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114369/

Just saw this one the other week. This is another DVD that forms part of my Emily Carr class curriculum (seeing a pattern here, yet?). Mostly because of the ground-breaking titling by Kyle Cooper (Well, ground breaking for 1995).

After four years of CSI-driven explicit advanced in TV gore, this film was quite tame in comparison (they didn’t even show the de-capitated head!), but it made it all the more rich and rewarding. It’s a pretty good detective flick thriller thing all around.

Go buy it. It’s a cheap buy at your local BestBuy (or you can spend a little more and buy it online).

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103639/

A gift to our daughter from one of my great friends, Luis. (Very sweet, that guy can be, when he’s not dragging me into the mire of fart jokes and Halo 2).

The Disney Vault. Funny monkey side-kicks. “A Whole New World”, performed by Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson. “Proud of Your Boy,” performed by Clay Aiken. Need we say more?

One of the only truly evil aspects of parenting is having to sit through these kinds of movies with your kids. But at least they dig it, and that’s what counts, right?

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http://imdb.com/title/tt0367594/

Johnny Depp, chocolate, little people in red suits. No, it’s not Chocolat (which we don’t own). But, other than squirrel’s nuts, this movie has little redeeming quality. Sure, it’s far better entertainment than the original. But, in my mind, that’s not a large complement.

JD gets mad props for his wicked Willy Wonka, the set design is all wonked-out in that wonderful Tim Burton style, and the little kid is just so loveably pathetic that you can’t help but love his genuine affection for the world. But, somehow all these pieces come together to form something less than the sum the parts. Too bad.

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http://imdb.com/title/tt0056218/

Whoa, this is some heavy stuff for old Franky boy. Brain-washing, psychological games, war in Korea… and where’s the skinny black guy with the glass eye?

I’m sure this movie was a riveting hard-hitter back in its day. Not today. Don’t waste your time.

(Note of Disclaimer: I’m writing this a full year after actually watching it, so maybe I was just in a bad mood, or something.)

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http://imdb.com/title/tt0075066/

We just watched this one a couple weeks ago. Even though it’s relatively short, we had to watch it in two nights (Battlestar Galactica was on).

Peter Sellers is a comic genius. Pure and simple. I don’t think Annette got into the physical comedy so much, but that’s because she couldn’t appreciate the pure artistry of the timing and restraint required to pull off such convincing theatre.

Meh, must be a guy thing.

Anyway, the opening credits were really cool, I might have to show this to my Design for Motion students. Less time I need to fill the air with actually teaching.

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http://imdb.com/title/tt0286106/

Oh, I just love M. Night. Shamamamallyaaannananan’s movies. But I’m probably biased cause I grew up in the Philadelphia area, where most of his films are set. To anyone else that didn’t grow up in Philly: do you like his movies?

Signs was great (well, good) for more reasons than I liked seeing the Philly area or that M. is a great filmmaker (I show his movies in my Design for Motion class). I liked the religious overtones, the ideas that purpose can be found in the seemingly mundane or insignificant things, and aliens. I kind of like aliens. Sometimes.

The end was a dissappointment (as with most of M.’s films, for me, anyway) — mostly because the sense of mystery so carefully crafted throughout the first 90% of the film was just dumped. But I guess that’s my complaint with almost every film. I need to make films. Films that start mysterious and compelling, and somehow end that way, too.

Screw getting all the answers, nice and neat at the end. I want to live in that world and feel like that world continues to live after the credits roll.

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http://imdb.com/title/tt0137523/

This movie, I’m proud to say, we paid FULL PRICE for. Like, $30 or something. And I’d do it again. Not only for the great walkthrough Ikea catalogue scene (which, by the way, is what our apartment looks like), not just because of it’s eerily prophetic vision of a new world that’s ushered in by terrorists collapsing skyscrapers, not just because of Brad Pitt’s pecks (hey, I’m comfortable enough in my heterosexuality to say that Brad has some nice pecks), not just because of the brilliant writing, and not just because they make that soap with old lady fat.

Well, ok, it’s just because of those things.

And also because the Ed/Brad character taps into that no fear, you-can-do-it-on-your-own, DIY, attitude that I look for in myself (but can’t seem to find — maybe I need an alter ego?). I mean, come on — it’s pretty cool that a scrawny, average guy like Ed boldly takes over a deserted potentially druggie-infested house, raises a national cell-based terrorist army, and finds his inner penguin, while nailing whats-her-name all day and night. Where does the guy find the time?

Oh yeah, he doesn’t sleep.

Truly inspiring.

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http://imdb.com/title/tt0298148/

The sticker on the DVD case says “Previously Enjoyed $14.99″. Why the hell did we pay $14.99 for this movie, again? Oh yeah, the fart jokes. And because we couldn’t own Shrek without owning the sequel now, could we?

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http://imdb.com/title/tt0316654/

Whoa, we have Spiderman 2?! I think I got this for Christmas a while back, cause I couldn’t think of what to ask for and I saw it onsale in some flyer lying around. I did like this movie, and (showing my true fanboy geek colours here) my eyes kinda watered at that part in the subway train, when he saves everyone and his mask falls off and everyone sees who he is but they all make a pact to keep his identity a secret. Moving stuff.

Not that it made a diff in the long run, suckers.

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http://imdb.com/title/tt0335266/

Bill Murray can do no wrong. He’s so funny even when he’s not trying to be. That’s genius. I love the use of color in this film. Making fun of other cultures is always good for a cheap laugh, too, no matter how much you wrap that up in art film pretensions. You can’t go wrong with karaoke, either. And Scarlett Johansson is in her underwear a lot. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen the movie, so that’s all I can say about it for now, ’cause that’s all I remember.

We must watch this one again (especially since it’s required viewing for my Designing for Motion students — yikes!) and I’ll get back to you on this.

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