Groonkly Bits

Here’s how it worked for me. The last minute decision to see SPEED RACER in spite of those who judge a movie’s success wholly on it’s opening weekend box office came upon me swiftly. I decided it was a flick worth seeing in the theatre and I was not wrong.

If you’ve seen anime and know all the trappings involved with them and/or if you are a Speed Racer fanatic you’ll get a major kick from this film. Also, as it was quoted to me:

“The ads are very accurate; cut and filmed exactly like them, so if they turned you off, you just aren’t ready for it.”

I went in unsure about what the Wachowskis were gonna give me. Their love of anime is honestly the only thing that allowed me to fit the movie in my budget. I’m glad I did. I thought it was pretty fucking fun. It really was *Speed Racer* with only minor tweaks to make it movie-worthy.

Please note for future reference:

The Anime Laws of Physics
* Those who have not viewed much anime in the past, or read much manga, may be a tad confused by the very liberal approach to physics that Japanese artists tend to take.

* It should be noted that the laws of physics for anime are quite different than American cartoons, due to different cultural symbolism and sense of humor.

* The copyright owners have granted permission.

* It’s funny as hell.

I don’t think the mainstream American audience was ready for the mix of: over-the-top humor, angsty angst, violent death, corporate-finance conspiracy, and solid family drama. For whatever reason, most folks don’t like their movies to be that broad.

In the end, whether you like or dislike this movie will fall completely on personal taste (and the quote mentioned above).

*I* thought it was brilliant.

And I’m crossing my fingers that the DVD/blu ray release will give SPEED RACER the popularity it deserves.

Next up: PRINCE CASPIAN

No Comments | In: Movies | tags: anime, movie review, Speed Racer, The Monaco. | #

Internet,

Stop trying to please me.

These lists you insist on making in order to fill content on your sites and evoke some kind of reaction(see insane Nerd Wars), at first I found them distasteful. At worse they were lazy and unimaginative. But now you’re showing me things, wonderful things that I can actually agree with. It’s becoming very disturbing. Are you becoming more like me or am I becoming like you?

Please don’t answer this.

I’ll sit back and try not to drown in either possibilty. Instead, I’ll reflect on this list of cinematic death you’ve placed in front of me.

And I’ll call it, ‘good.’

Groonk

Top 5: Pre-Death Monologues in Film

• Blade Runner: Rutger Hauer Breaks Your Heart
• Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan: Leonard Nimoy Propsers
• Se7en: Kevin Spacey Gets Philosophical About Death
• American Beauty: Kevin Spacey Gets Philosophical About Life
• Deep Blue Sea: Samuel L. Jackson Gets Consumed By The Moment
• True Romance: Dennis Hopper Teaches Genealogy
• The Shawshank Redemption: James Whitmore Gets Busy Dying

PS. It was a tough decision but I believe you can figure out my favorite choice from the list. Although, that Dennis Hopper bit is a damn close second.

Now that you’re done dying, have a little hope.

No Comments | In: Movies | tags: internet, lists. | #

Hello, Space. This is Colbert

No Comments | In: Television | tags: astronaut, awesome, interview, space, Stephen Colbert. | #

That was the funnest, most awesome “comic book” movie I’ve seen to date. Robert Downey Jr *was* Tony Stark. He made you want to *be* Tony Stark. I’ve never been a fan of Platrow, but somehow she just glowed in this role. I don’t know what pagan goddess she prayed to, but she needs to keep that up.

I had seen the one-sheets of Obadiah Stane and found him unrecognizable. I never bothered to look up who was playing him. I did not realize til Stane opened his mouth on screen that it was The Fucking Dude, man! I about shit myself. He *owned* that role. he didn’t have much to say but Jeff Bridges ate up the scenery whenever he was on.

The inside comic geek references were perfect. The 10 rings. The mouthful of a government agency which I should have caught on to but the sheer brilliance of the movie distracted me from nitpicking it to death. Those little nods were there for those who knew Iron Man yet those who didn’t were not left out of the joke. The bit with Rhodes looking at the silver armor and promising, “next time” made me pop a little geek boner.

It was embarrassing.

I had to stay til after the credits before it went away. Which is where I saw a certain one-eyed super-spy make his appearance. He left the snakes on the plane this time.

That’s it. IRON MAN was subtle when it needed to be and action-y when it had to be. It was faithful to(what I know of) the story. It was the Spirit of Awesome in the House of Win.

And I’m gonna see it again.

Other IRON news:

* New Scientist Examines the Science Behind the Fiction of IRON MAN
* New Scientist: Top Ten Fictional Scientists(incomplete as they forgot Tony Stark and tons of others)
* Marvel pros review IRON MAN

No Comments | In: Movies | tags: Iron Man. | #