I don't think the trailers are contradictory; I just think the second one reveals more of the premise. I agree it's less funny, but it also makes the show seem more interesting. The British angle and the Matt Leblanc fucking up a marriage angle are more interesting than LOOK A CELEBRITY TRYING OUT FOR PARTS!
I realize I am wrong. I know that. Of course. But I liked this movie when I saw it. I think there are probably MILLIONS of movies like this, but this was the first movie I saw that presented suburbia as something dark and disturbing, and I LATCHED ON to that shit. I think Gabe misreads the movie as a tacit approval of Kevin Spacey's actions. Instead, I think it's condemning suburbia for creating him. But maybe (probably) I am giving it too much credit. Still, in 1999, when I was 14, this was a decent movie.
I think the movie totally agrees with you. It puts forward the 14-year-old version of love and then lets an 11-year-old girl tell you why it's bullshit.
Thirded. That movie was likeable while you're watching but INFURIATING as soon as you stop to think about it. It did have zippy dialogue, though. Thanks, David Eggers. You roofied me with your words and then let the movie do the date-rape.
Good point, deepo. But I think many people like this movie for the cute indie songs and cute joseph gordon leavitt who gets to kiss cute zoey deschanel. Maybe not the filmmakers' fault, but it is annoying that many people missed the point.
I liked (did not love) this movie for a few reasons, most of which Gabe pointed out:
1) It's easy and fun to watch. It moves breezily, and it's major plot points are universal enough to make it very relatable. Unlike, say, The Last Kiss, where the whole time you are just like WOW FUCK THIS DUDE.
2) It gets that most movies like it are lies. Gabe pointed out the ridiculousness of the way these characters meet and bond over things as trivial as The Smiths and Karaoke. But the MOVIE ITSELF pointed that out too when the 11 year old girl said "just because she likes the same weird crap as you doesn’t make her your soulmate." With that line, the movie became self-aware and, implicily, a rejection of all the other crap like it but not as smart (i.e. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist).
3) It gets that its main character is immature and dumb, but also, so is everyone. Gabe's criticism of Zoey Deschanel's character is sort of the point of the movie. Joseph Gordon Leavitt's character is hung up on a girl who he has no real reason to believe is his soul mate, except for that she is pretty and cool. When it doesn't work out, he's devastated; but the point of the movie is that he learns to look for some deeper connection.
4) It doesn't work out. I guess I'm beating a dead horse at this point, but I like that the movie pretends to be a traditional cutesy indie romance like Garden State, but then has the balls to make it fail miserably. That makes it a helluva lot more relatable than movies that end with everything wrapped in a bow. It's not a love story; it's a story about growing up.
Granted, all of these things could have been made more explicit, and it's arguable that they were underplayed in service of a more traditional cutesy indie romance of exactly the kind I am trying to argue it attacks. But the subtext is there if you look for it.
Weevil actually had a weird disease that made him all red and bloated. It's sad cause everyone thought he was on drugs or something. I mean he was on drugs, but they were given to him by a doctor.
And come on, Buffy Season 7 may be among the worst seasons, but aren't you still glad you watched just to know what the hell happened? It also seems better the older you are.
I disagree. I think Season 2 is by far the weakest. No spoilers, but the "big reveal" of who the villain was reminded me of a Scooby Doo plot. Season 3 scales back the "big mystery of the season" angle and instead works with three more maneageable and more believeable mysteries that run aboud 5 episodes each. I think that was a very good decision.
Anyway, basically Season 1 is one of the all-time best television seasons of anything ever, and Seasons 2 and 3 are both significantly worse (but still better than the average show) in different ways. I still liked both of em a lot.
Not a caption, but a clarification. Willis is a frequent Letterman guest and always wears ridiculous hats. So this might be weird, but it's actually not that weird. Right? Or maybe it's even weirder.
Also, I can't believe no one has brought out any Troy McClure yet. The only one I can remember exactly is:
"Hi there, I'm Troy McClure. You might remember me from such Nature films as 'Man vs. Nature: The Road to Victory' and 'Earwigs! Ewwwww.'"
I hope the video blog thing is a recurring segment. It's a great way to set up an episode, and give a voice and winking answers to the fan community. Example:
Blogger guy: "There is a forum on my website dedicated to convincing you not to rap."
Mr. Schue: "Wait, kids don't like it when I rap?"
THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE HAS BEEN HEARD.
I am pretty sure Scott Patterson (aka the Dad with SECRETS) was supposed to be a pilot, which explains how he can fly a plane. He just wasn't supposed to be the pilot of that plane that day. The co-pilot seemed to know who he was, even though he was surprised to see him.
Imagine, a violent sex scene in a movie called "a history of violence!" I actually watched the commentary on this movie, because it's that good, and Cronenberg talks about how he wanted to depict all the different types of violence in this one movie, in the most realistic ways possible. That's how you end up with the horrible random violence of the opening scene, the macho schoolyard violence with the kid and the bully, the gangster shoot 'em up violence at the end, and yes, the rapey violence in the rape scene.
Before I saw this movie, a friend and I decided based on the premise and the posters that it was basically Point Break with artistic aspirations. We decided to count how many things it had in common with Point Break while watching. Bank robbers in silly masks? Check. A tense bromance between a loose cannon bank robber and a good guy bank robber? Check. Pursuit by the Feds? Check, but comparing Don Draper to Gary Busey is just mindboggling. But the best part was when Jeremy Renner's character got SHOT IN THE ASS! IF that wasn't a deliberate reference to Point Break, I'm the ghost of Patrick Swayze.
I read some bloggy thing about how this was the most predictable pilot ever--but not in a bad way. It's just like, ok, we all knew there was a gangster show about prohibition-era Atlantic City coming soon, written by a great Sopranos writer and with creative influence by the also great Martin Scorcese, starring the always great even in Armageddon Steve Buscemi, and we were all like "Wow, this will be pretty great." And then it was pretty great in pretty much the exact ways we expected it to be. It's just like, ok, check that box.
It may be a while before this show surprises us, but for now, who cares? Good tv is as good tv does, or something.
I have seconded too many movies already, but I second the hell out of this movie. I haven't seen it, but I know it involves Denzel Washington protecting a BIBLE from mauraders in the post apocalypse. Guess what, after the apocalypse happens, pretty much the first thing we're gonna stop caring about is the fucking Bible. I also heard the twist, and it is deeply stupid.
Wow, you managed to pick two of my top ten movies. Seriously, History of Violence and Sin City are both fucking great. Two of the best comics adaptations ever. Maybe the two very best, in fact. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen does, indeed, suck phallus.
God, that was fucking horrible. It's not even interesting enough to write about. It simply should never have happened. When the best part of your movie is Fergie, you know it sucks.
Also, [SPOLERS], it ends with Pattinson fucking DYING IN 9/11! If that isn't egregious enough to invite Gabe's gleeful scorn, I don't know what is. I mean people freak out about a mosque being three blocks from the place, but shamelessly use it as a plot device and no one bats an eye.
OH SECONDED! I luckily managed to avoid ever seeing this, but the poster alone made me want to kill everyone I have ever loved. Good god, I hate Sandra Bullock, and she is at her worst when acting lovably offbeat. YUCK. Also this movie has gained some "worst movie" cred in critics' circles. Good selection.
Invention of Lying is best remembered as a noble failure. If it had just faded to black after the Pizza scene, it would have slipped into the win column. But Ricky Gervais wants beautiful actresses to pretend to fall in love with him for inexplicable reasons, apparently.
Guys, I think I've found a loophole. The rules do not say the movie cannot be based on a "comic book character." The rules say the movie cannot be based on a "popular super hero." Catwoman is neither popular nor a superhero! Boom. LAWYERED. Watch it, Gabe. Watch it and cry.
I haven't commented in a few months, because I am almost as old as Gabe and have many responsibilities, but I am chiming in just to point out that Jim Parsons is an incredibly funny actor and you all better recognize. He is NO Jon fucking Cryer. That is all. Carry on.
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