I've recently started watching Morgan Spurlock's "30 Days" documentary series, and found it relatively intriguing. It's a timely coincidence, though, that my Netflix DVD is Super Size Me, his documentary that launched his career, a film that I missed on its initial release.
Morgan's matter-of-fact reporting style is rather nice. Plus he knows how to mix in the right amount of back research along with his story arc.
Given the changes McDonald's "coincidentally" made after this premiered (elimination of Supersizes, flexibility in sides), this has to be one of the most influential documentaries of the decade. It's worth a viewing.
Super Size Me
2004, 100 minutes, directed by Morgan Spurlock
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
I didn't intend it this way, but watching the Temple of Doom last week really helped psych me up to see this. It's been out a few weeks, but my wife actually wanted to go see it, and it's worth the wait to get to see a movie with her.
Since I had my realizations about the scripting in Temple, I had this one all figured out from the start. Who cares about continuity errors? Who cares how improbable the events seem? It's all about the adventure, the thrill of the hunt, the glory of knowing It's Out There. I'm sucked in. The commie accusations against Indiana genuinely make me angry. It's fantastic.
I think the thing I liked least was the obvious overtones of next-generation sequels, something the Last Crusade avoided in its concise wrap. Sure, I loved to see another Indiana Jones movie, but come on, George, we don't want you to milk this one 'til it's raw, too.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
2008, 124 minutes, directed by Steven Spielberg
Since I had my realizations about the scripting in Temple, I had this one all figured out from the start. Who cares about continuity errors? Who cares how improbable the events seem? It's all about the adventure, the thrill of the hunt, the glory of knowing It's Out There. I'm sucked in. The commie accusations against Indiana genuinely make me angry. It's fantastic.
I think the thing I liked least was the obvious overtones of next-generation sequels, something the Last Crusade avoided in its concise wrap. Sure, I loved to see another Indiana Jones movie, but come on, George, we don't want you to milk this one 'til it's raw, too.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
2008, 124 minutes, directed by Steven Spielberg
Friday, June 13, 2008
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
As a child this was my least-favorite in the series. It just never seemed to fit. The graphics certainly haven't lived up well. Certainly worse than the move that preceded.
The whole story just seems contrived. I'd readily accept it if it was one of several movies filmed about the adventures of Dr. Jones, but as one of three (now four), it just doesn't seem significant enough. Far too much deux ex machina.
Maybe I've figured it out. This is a C-grade adventure film. I'd appreciate it on those merits, except it's bookended by two of the top films of the genre.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
1984, 118 minutes, directed by Steven Spielberg
The whole story just seems contrived. I'd readily accept it if it was one of several movies filmed about the adventures of Dr. Jones, but as one of three (now four), it just doesn't seem significant enough. Far too much deux ex machina.
Maybe I've figured it out. This is a C-grade adventure film. I'd appreciate it on those merits, except it's bookended by two of the top films of the genre.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
1984, 118 minutes, directed by Steven Spielberg
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