Comments for Slate Scrawl http://filmjournal.net/gproject "Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads" Thu, 23 May 2013 18:04:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 Comment on Ghost Town (2008) by 100 Films in a Year » #37: Ghost Town (2008) http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/06/07/ghost-town-2008/#comment-256571 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:51:00 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/06/07/ghost-town-2008/#comment-256571 [...] Before I come to write a review, I tend to check out the sort of scores it’s received at a few different sites. This isn’t to help form my opinion, but actually just a side effect of the fact I go to places to rate the films myself. What one usually encounters is some degree of discrepancy, be it as little as half a mark or as large as several. As you may have guessed, Ghost Town is going to prove the exception: on IMDb, both the DVD and the Blu-ray on LOVEFiLM, and FilmJournal’s own Slate Scrawl, Ghost Town is a three-and-a-half-out-of-five film. [...] […] Before I come to write a review, I tend to check out the sort of scores it’s received at a few different sites. This isn’t to help form my opinion, but actually just a side effect of the fact I go to places to rate the films myself. What one usually encounters is some degree of discrepancy, be it as little as half a mark or as large as several. As you may have guessed, Ghost Town is going to prove the exception: on IMDb, both the DVD and the Blu-ray on LOVEFiLM, and FilmJournal’s own Slate Scrawl, Ghost Town is a three-and-a-half-out-of-five film. […]

]]> Comment on The Proposal (2009) by Monic http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/07/26/the-proposal-2009/#comment-211008 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:15:35 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/07/26/the-proposal-2009/#comment-211008 I've watched this film a couple of times now and rest assured that it isn't the best romantic comedy out there. But for some reason, I've been wondering why I keep on catching myself in fits and smiles when I do watch it; and a couple of those reasons, if not all, you've managed to adequately contextualize in this review. We share the same thoughts on the film, apparently. Although I really do enjoy watching this film over and over again, especially the beginning, which, you've mentioned, contains probably the most chemistry between the two. I only wished the ending didn't turn out to be a mix of being awkward (in your workplace, around your office mates?), typical and nothing that's too special, you know. I actually would have loved for the ending to turn out as how they told everybody on how Andrew "proposed" to Margaret because I thought that would have totally set it off the stereotypical film of such genre. I do recommend it for viewing simply because it is a light and poignant movie, with a couple of moments wherein you'll find yourself smiling at the two. Overall, I'll give this film four stars. =) I’ve watched this film a couple of times now and rest assured that it isn’t the best romantic comedy out there. But for some reason, I’ve been wondering why I keep on catching myself in fits and smiles when I do watch it; and a couple of those reasons, if not all, you’ve managed to adequately contextualize in this review. We share the same thoughts on the film, apparently. Although I really do enjoy watching this film over and over again, especially the beginning, which, you’ve mentioned, contains probably the most chemistry between the two. I only wished the ending didn’t turn out to be a mix of being awkward (in your workplace, around your office mates?), typical and nothing that’s too special, you know. I actually would have loved for the ending to turn out as how they told everybody on how Andrew “proposed” to Margaret because I thought that would have totally set it off the stereotypical film of such genre. I do recommend it for viewing simply because it is a light and poignant movie, with a couple of moments wherein you’ll find yourself smiling at the two. Overall, I’ll give this film four stars. =)

]]> Comment on (500) Days of Summer (2009) by gproject http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/09/02/500-days-of-summer-2009/#comment-208355 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:14:14 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/09/02/500-days-of-summer-2009/#comment-208355 It is indeed one of the good ones – I too was surprised by the lack of (I hesitate to say 'credible' sources, but here I go regardless) credible sources backing this film with positive soundbites. I've seen other reviews both good and mediocre since, and while it may well be a bit of a hipster-flick as they report, it was hardly worthy of the dressing down Mark Kermode gave it for being too 'kooky' and quirky – save those comments for <a href="http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2007/10/01/nacho-libre-2006/" rel="nofollow">Nacho Libre</a>, <a href="http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/04/05/eagle-vs-shark-2007/" rel="nofollow">Eagle vs Shark</a>, and films that are irrefutably of that nature. As to your question, the title is supposed to be inspired by those song titles that conceal their full meaning in brackets. So much like '(Everything I Do) I Do It For You', or '(What's the Story) Morning Glory?', I guess this is giving us license to call it simply 'Days of Summer' in the future? It is indeed one of the good ones – I too was surprised by the lack of (I hesitate to say ‘credible’ sources, but here I go regardless) credible sources backing this film with positive soundbites. I’ve seen other reviews both good and mediocre since, and while it may well be a bit of a hipster-flick as they report, it was hardly worthy of the dressing down Mark Kermode gave it for being too ‘kooky’ and quirky – save those comments for Nacho Libre, Eagle vs Shark, and films that are irrefutably of that nature.

As to your question, the title is supposed to be inspired by those song titles that conceal their full meaning in brackets. So much like ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It For You’, or ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’, I guess this is giving us license to call it simply ‘Days of Summer’ in the future?

]]> Comment on (500) Days of Summer (2009) by badblokebob http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/09/02/500-days-of-summer-2009/#comment-208153 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:43:22 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/09/02/500-days-of-summer-2009/#comment-208153 Nice to read this film's a good'un -- I saw an advert recently that boasted glowing reviews from NME, Cosmopolitan, Heat, Radio 1's James King, and News of the World's Robbie Collins ("one of the best films of the year"), so I was all set to avoid it like the plague. One question: any explanation as to why 500 is in brackets in the title? Or is it just a "stylistic flourish" a la Tarantino's recent lack of spellchecking? Nice to read this film’s a good’un — I saw an advert recently that boasted glowing reviews from NME, Cosmopolitan, Heat, Radio 1’s James King, and News of the World’s Robbie Collins (”one of the best films of the year”), so I was all set to avoid it like the plague.

One question: any explanation as to why 500 is in brackets in the title? Or is it just a “stylistic flourish” a la Tarantino’s recent lack of spellchecking?

]]> Comment on Inglourious Basterds (2009) by ghost of 82 http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/08/20/inglourious-basterds-2009/#comment-205400 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:49:30 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/08/20/inglourious-basterds-2009/#comment-205400 I can't be bothered with this. Sums up everything wrong with Hollywood. Tarantino hasn't an ounce of talent compared to the guys he keeps on ripping off/'homaging'. I've been told the first chapter is a blatant 'homage' to Sergio Leone, even to the point of titling the chapter 'Once Upon A Time in...' Give me a break. How hamfisted is that? Kill Bill Part 2 and Death Proof hinted that Tarantino had finally burst his bubble and this film only reinforces it. Overlong, pretentious, deliberately 'cool'.. and thats just the dialogue. Maybe he should make a silent movie. Shame. I love Pulp Fiction. I can’t be bothered with this. Sums up everything wrong with Hollywood. Tarantino hasn’t an ounce of talent compared to the guys he keeps on ripping off/’homaging’. I’ve been told the first chapter is a blatant ‘homage’ to Sergio Leone, even to the point of titling the chapter ‘Once Upon A Time in…’ Give me a break. How hamfisted is that? Kill Bill Part 2 and Death Proof hinted that Tarantino had finally burst his bubble and this film only reinforces it. Overlong, pretentious, deliberately ‘cool’.. and thats just the dialogue. Maybe he should make a silent movie.

Shame. I love Pulp Fiction.

]]> Comment on Moon (2009) by badblokebob http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/08/07/moon-2009/#comment-204116 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:46:51 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/08/07/moon-2009/#comment-204116 I have the <i>BSG</i> box set on pre-order. My blog is doomed! I think it's probably true that few, if any, TV sci-fi properly deals with science-fiction ideas -- however great <i>Firefly</i> is (and it really, really is), it's more down to the characters than its spaceship setting. (Incidentally, mentioning <i>Cowboy Bebop</i>, you've probably heard it said before that it and <i>Firefly</i> are meant to be pleasantly similar. Just one of the reasons I have the <i>Cowboy Bebop</I> DVDs... as yet unwatched, of course.) That said, current SF TV can and does reflect on the way we live -- the new <i>BSG</i> is constantly praised as being the best commentary on the war on terror etc, while <i>Torchwood: Children of Earth</i> had a disquieting believability in the actions taken by its fictional government (anyone who doesn't believe our real-life government(s) wouldn't act at least as badly has more faith in them than I do!) I have the BSG box set on pre-order. My blog is doomed!

I think it’s probably true that few, if any, TV sci-fi properly deals with science-fiction ideas — however great Firefly is (and it really, really is), it’s more down to the characters than its spaceship setting. (Incidentally, mentioning Cowboy Bebop, you’ve probably heard it said before that it and Firefly are meant to be pleasantly similar. Just one of the reasons I have the Cowboy Bebop DVDs… as yet unwatched, of course.)

That said, current SF TV can and does reflect on the way we live — the new BSG is constantly praised as being the best commentary on the war on terror etc, while Torchwood: Children of Earth had a disquieting believability in the actions taken by its fictional government (anyone who doesn’t believe our real-life government(s) wouldn’t act at least as badly has more faith in them than I do!)

]]> Comment on Moon (2009) by gproject http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/08/07/moon-2009/#comment-203767 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:48:13 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/08/07/moon-2009/#comment-203767 First of all, on the subject of limited availability, Moon expanded its release slightly last week. It may be worth checking the wonderfully helpful <a href="http://www.findanyfilm.com/Moon-in_cinemas~27382" rel="nofollow">FindAnyFilm website</a> (just enter a postcode) to see if it is showing anywhere near you right now. As for intelligent sci-fi, while it's true that my TV watching is limited to only a few select things, I don't find myself drawn to a lot of TV sci-fi. The last sci-fi series I watched was probably Gerry Anderson's Space Precinct (I was young). Unless you count Cowboy Bebop, which everyone should. Also, I'm not down with the argument that the longer running length of TV shows leads to more opportunity for smarts. More depth, sure, but I'm talking about the use of sci-fi as a means to pose ideas and make statements about the way we live. Moon manages to achieve all this in just 97-minutes. Film is good with these conceptual abstractions, unbound by having to worry about its life or series arc; television is better at simply telling its characters' stories. Lord knows Chris, we shall probably discuss this further! First of all, on the subject of limited availability, Moon expanded its release slightly last week. It may be worth checking the wonderfully helpful FindAnyFilm website (just enter a postcode) to see if it is showing anywhere near you right now.

As for intelligent sci-fi, while it’s true that my TV watching is limited to only a few select things, I don’t find myself drawn to a lot of TV sci-fi. The last sci-fi series I watched was probably Gerry Anderson’s Space Precinct (I was young). Unless you count Cowboy Bebop, which everyone should.

Also, I’m not down with the argument that the longer running length of TV shows leads to more opportunity for smarts. More depth, sure, but I’m talking about the use of sci-fi as a means to pose ideas and make statements about the way we live. Moon manages to achieve all this in just 97-minutes. Film is good with these conceptual abstractions, unbound by having to worry about its life or series arc; television is better at simply telling its characters’ stories.

Lord knows Chris, we shall probably discuss this further!

]]> Comment on Moon (2009) by Chris http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/08/07/moon-2009/#comment-203702 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:40:20 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/08/07/moon-2009/#comment-203702 Apologies Bad Bloke, I was referring to the owner of the this blog, he's really bad at watching telly, he's never even seen Firefly... He owns it, but he's never bothered to watch it! And he talks about the lack of intelligent sci fi, i mean, honestly! *shakes head in despair* Apologies Bad Bloke, I was referring to the owner of the this blog, he’s really bad at watching telly, he’s never even seen Firefly… He owns it, but he’s never bothered to watch it! And he talks about the lack of intelligent sci fi, i mean, honestly! *shakes head in despair*

]]> Comment on Moon (2009) by ghost of 82 http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/08/07/moon-2009/#comment-203605 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:06:38 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/08/07/moon-2009/#comment-203605 Well don't buy the upcoming BSG boxset, if you get started on that you'll never get any reviews on your blog... Well don’t buy the upcoming BSG boxset, if you get started on that you’ll never get any reviews on your blog…

]]> Comment on Moon (2009) by badblokebob http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/08/07/moon-2009/#comment-203506 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:20:57 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/gproject/2009/08/07/moon-2009/#comment-203506 My TV's on all the time. It's why my blog's floundering a bit of late. My TV’s on all the time. It’s why my blog’s floundering a bit of late.

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