This post is my entry for IndieWeb Movie Club #003. This movie is so interesting as I've probably watched it more as clips and references in all other sorts of media than actually sat down to watch it. I think this is the only time I've actually sat down and chosen it to watch, rather than it just playing on TV. I had a hard time not thinking about the plot of Wicked and how all those pieces fit together. It helps to give the Wicked Witch of the West more background as in this film she's just a "bad witch". For me, Wicked is canon. I'm keeping to my same format for this one since it's so late in the month, but I might switch to something different for the next one. First viewing: I remember it was playing on TV and I actually sat down to watch the whole thing in early 2007. Watch count: 2 times all the way through. Hundreds of times if we count every single time I've seen it in parts. Favorite quote: As Coroner I must aver, I thoroughly examined her, and she's not only merely dead, she's really most sincerely dead. Favorite scene: The obvious one is when Dorothy walks out the door in to Oz and the screen just fills with color. Yeah, there's something technologically amazing about this but the thing that stands out to me the most is the complexity of that set. There's so much detail that went in to every piece, prop, and costume. This still happens but in a much more naturalistic way so as to not see the seams. But the seams are good. Prop I wish I had: The Scarecrow's diploma. Just because out of all of the things the Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man get, this one is the silliest to me. Best boy*: Terry who plays Toto. She's my favorite. At close to 100 years, this film is unlike anything else. Yes, there's brilliance on screen but just as important, or even more so, is the horrible conditions and treatment people were subjected to in the making of this film. I don't think the extent of health complications potentially caused by the filming of this can even be documented. Toxic paint, asbestos snow, diets, and drugs is just a few of them and that's just for physical health. The list is extensive and Craig already has discussed some of them so I encourage you to check it out. I also really enjoyed this video essay by Kaz Rowe where they discuss a lot of these topics too. I'd be curious to read more about this era of Hollywood and what all had to go down to get the rules and safeguards to protect all people involved. It's still not perfect as there are several cases in recent years of more people harmed by those in power, but the egregiousness of that time is something I hope has long gone. Still, this movie's legacy will probably go on longer than any of us and audiences that are not even born yet will continue to experience it. One thing I found interesting is that there is a direct yet subtle theme that connects all entries in the IndieWeb Movie Club so far (see #001 and #002). All of these movies have so far contained a message about the importance of friendship and/or found family. Because you don't always have to do things alone.
This movie could have also been titled Her. Pretty cute overall even if it feels like ten 80s music videos with some light plot sprinkled on top. It also made me miss when songs that referenced the whole plot of a movie were a thing.
Watched The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her, 2014 - ★★★★
This review is for this movie and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him. Its hard to rate these separately and rating "Them" seems misleading as I believe watching both is what makes them great. "Him" is a breakup movie without context for us. "Her" feels less structured as you slowly gather the pieces necessary to see more of the story. Not having all the pieces is what makes each of these films more interesting. And while watching both may answer some questions, it is in no way a full picture. I really like not knowing the rest. Prepare for heartbreak.
Watched The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him, 2014 - ★★★★
This review is for this movie and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her. Its hard to rate these separately and rating "Them" seems misleading as I believe watching both is what makes them great. "Him" is a breakup movie without context for us. "Her" feels less structured as you slowly gather the pieces necessary to see more of the story. Not having all the pieces is what makes each of these films more interesting. And while watching both may answer some questions, it is in no way a full picture. I really like not knowing the rest. Prepare for heartbreak.
Can movies set legal precedent? Wasn't super into the premise but Aisling Bea and Billie Lourd are a joy to watch. "Can you calm down and stop overturning furniture, please?"
I enjoyed this story of two friends reconnecting. It also made me feel very optimistic by the fact that a majority of the encounters Harper has are positive and accepting.
I haven't watched this in years but a recent rewatch of New Girl. I really wish they would've done the version with Summer's point of view too like they were planning to.
This post is my entry for IndieWeb Movie Club #002. This has been on my rewatch list for a while. The last time I watched this movie was also the first time my (now) wife and I watched a movie together. Someone at work recommended it to her, and I had a copy of it (remember DVDs?). First viewing: I don't know exactly but it was around the summer of 2008. I remember because a store I loved going to was closing and that's where I found the DVD and got it. Watch count: 3 times. Favorite quote: This is a movie of good lines and even better deliveries. My favorite delivery has to be: Then you know what happens? Six years later you find yourself singing "Surrey with the Fringe on Top" in front of Ira!. Favorite scene: The Met scene is shot beautifully but it also presents the slight shift in the relationship between the two leads. Not because Harry asking Sally to a movie is necessarily a romantic ask, but because this version of Harry is changed so much from the one we originally meet that believes "men and women can't be friends". He's asking his friend to the movies much like I asked my wife all those years ago to watch this movie with me. Cut to us now doing one of those couple interviews that are so brilliantly done in this movie. Fun fact: They were all real interviews and stories but they cast actors to perform them. Prop I wish I had: You know that little container that Sally has to alphabetize her VHSes with index cards? I want that. Cards and all. While I think this is generally regarded as a classic in the romcom genre, I feel like it doesn't get as much of the attention as others. I'm pretty sure even other Meg Ryan movies of the same genre get more play even today on TV and movie theaters. I need to eventually find a movie theater that is playing it so I can watch it there.
Wake up, Neo... This post is my entry for IndieWeb Movie Club #001. It's hard to write anything original about a movie (and series) that has had every frame analyzed, discussed, copied, and (to some degree) has come true. Instead of an analysis or review, I came up with a list which may or may not carry over to future IndieWeb Movie Club posts. First viewing: I can't say exactly but I know it was in theaters. We had one movie theater in the town I grew up and it played movies about 6 months after they were released elsewhere. So I want to say either late '99 or early '00. Watch count: I've logged this movie 4 times between my site and my letterboxd. But even before this I had probably seen this double of that. So I'm estimating between 10-15. Favorite quote: What is real? How do you define 'real'? If you're talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then 'real' is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain. Favorite scene: This one is difficult because every scene is great for different reasons. Trinity's first scene is pretty great and builds up to what action scenes are going to look like in this movie. Morpheus training with Neo does so many new things while taking shots and moves straight out of the media that inspired it. Then there's the writing with scenes like Morpheus in the construct teaching Neo about the Matrix, and Smith's interrogation scene venting his frustrations of humanity vs machines and his place in this world. But I think in this last watch something stuck out to me about the scene where they are going to unplug Morpheus. I interpreted this moment as Neo finally understanding what Morpheus was teaching him during the fight and the jump programs. The word believe is used a lot. Free your mind. Prop I wish I had: Many movies have done the multiple monitor workstation, but this is the one I wanted. While this is my favorite of the series, I do love all the sequels and the Animatrix. Since I can't just watch one, I'm probably going to continue on to the rest of the series before next months IndieWeb Movie Club. The Matrix has you...
I've been meaning to rewatch this for a while and since I heard some positive things about the RoboDoc documentary, this seemed like the perfect time. I know this movie is huge and considered a classic but I am surprised that it's not even bigger than that.
I remember watching this when it came out having no context for the series other than Alien. After watching it as part of a rewatch of the series in preparation for Alien: Romulus, this one might be close to my favorite. I didn't get why it was divisive at the time and I still don't quite understand.
Thanks to Joe and James for this recommendation. Favorite quote (spoilers): You have this way of making everything sound reasonable and then rooms begin to burn. People start to chase people.
Now this I enjoyed a bunch. It feels more in world than Mad Max. I read a little about the making of these two films and it's very interesting to learn more about the background of the people involved and how these actually got made. The final car flip at the end of this one feels impossible.
I shouldnt rate movies as soon as I leave the theater so maybe I'll feel different on a rewatch but I really enjoyed this. More jokes and blood than the previous ones. Montage during the credits was great and there is an end credit scene in case you werent sure.
Apparently I've watched this before. I have no recollection of doing so and after watching it, I get it. The first 20 minutes are pretty great. Then I just kept trying to follow what was happening. I was lost by the end of it. It definitely was hurt by how much I like Fury Road and Furiosa which is unfair on my part.
This was recommended in a podcast and I thought I'd give it a try. I've been slowly getting into band documentaries so why not. Having never heard them before, for the first few minutes I kept wondering whether this was real or a mockumentary. Some of the stuff that was happening just came out of nowhere and seemed heavily staged to follow a narrative. They do have some good riffs.
Rewatching to prep for 3. I'm very biased but Cable is one of my favorite comic book characters. Also pretty convinced sling bags became a thing because of Cable.
It wasn't as bad as I expected based on all the negative stuff I'd heard about it before. Spoilers: I didn't really like the design of the newborn but the fact that the creature emotes so much in its final scene was very impressive. For a second, you really feel for them as they look at Ripley.
I was prepared to cry. I was expecting it to be about a certain kind of loss but it was much more than that. It is about grief and throughout you grieve with Andrew Scott's character so that eventually, hopefully, there is some acceptance. Perfect use of Always On My Mind - Pet Shop Boys
Watched Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, 2022 - ★★★★
Marcel is such a wonderful character. It's such a lovely story. Minor spoiler below: There's a point where Marcel is reaching out to people for help and instead of helping, they use this as an opportunity to take selfies.Marcel's realization is that "It's still a group of people, but it's an audience. It's not a community."There's a lot of thoughtful observations in this movie but this one stuck with me because of how isolating the internet can still feel even when we're more connected now than we have ever been before.
110,000 people attended this World Cup final and I had never heard about it before. This was about the event and not the players but I still wish we learned a bit more about them and what happened after the final.
The last third of the movie is better than the first two but that's still not great. Andie MacDowell is probably the only reason I don't rate this lower.
This is only the second time that I've watched this, first time was in theaters when it came out. I think if this movie would've come out 10 years before this it would've been more well received. It's not a bad movie and it has some fun Indy moments which is what I'm here for.
Rewatched Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, 1989 - ★★★★½
I just hope this movie helps get stunt performers the recognition they deserve. Also, havent heard Kiss this much in a movie since maybe Role Models (2008)
I wanted this to say a bit more and in terms of documentaries its maybe not as thorough as it could be. Worth checking out the Defunctland Jim Henson videos for a little more insight into the shows and the people involved.
I am torn here because I really liked Kirsten Dunst in it and the scene with Jesse Plemons was real and terrifying. I found myself questioning who the "good guys" were here. I don't think anyone is good.
