Movie Corner

Movies, sometimes known as films or even flicks, are awesome. Although I liked all of the movies listed here for one reason or another, I will try to note the ones I particularly recommend with an asterisk. And this list is for my mother.

* Recommended movies, films, and flicks

Recently Viewed Movies

The Incredibles -- cool animation and fun characters. What do we think of the message?

Ghost in the Shell -- Japanese anime that should not be missed. Intriguing story and characters with great animation. What does it mean to be human?

Ghost in the Shell 2:Innocence -- Really cool animation and interesting philosophical questions, but not quite as complete of a story as Ghost in the Shell. Of course, perhaps the subtitles lead us to confusion. So many quotations that I am perhaps not quite learned enough to grasp.

Shawn of the Dead -- Incredibly funny British zombie movie.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou -- A detailed view into an alternate universe of marine research and exploration from Wes Anderson. A bit more scattered than The Royal Tennenbaums, but delightfully weird. The soundtrack is not to be missed.

Somewhere between a second run theater and video:

A Dirty Shame -- John Waters takes a funny sketch and beats it hard. Which is maybe the point. Many funny moments, but I liked Pecker better as a whole film.

Dig! -- an interesting documentary about Brian Jonestown Massacre and the Dandy Warhols. Pretty funny and pretty depressing, and also an interesting peek into music creation and finding an audience.

* Hero -- Visually beautiful, mesmerizing, fluid martial arts that dance across the screen. But what are we to do with the message of the film? Do imperial ends justify the brutal means?

* Skycaptain and the World of Tomorrow -- hey, I loved it. It's going to bomb at the box office. How many people love Indiana Jones and old Howard Hawks movies? More than I expected...

Movies on dvd or video:

About Schmidt -- Funny and depressing.

Adaptation -- Weird and wonderful exploration of the difficulties of adapting Susan Orlean's "Orchid Thief."

* American Splendor -- Harvey Pekar's hard, funny, and loving life.

Apollo 13 -- Tense, absorbing. Oddly MacGyver-esque with their solutions. Or maybe MacGyver is Apollo 13esque.

Austin Powers I -- Funny. Fine moment of bathroom humor.

Austin Powers II -- Still funny.

Austin Powers III -- Funny again.

* Being John Malkovich -- Whoa, what is real and who is the John Malkovich fellow?

Catch Me If You Can -- Delightful and yet emotionally painful crime caper.

Chinatown -- Twisting and turning. Depressing. Brilliant dialogue.

City of Lost Children -- Amazing visuals and soundtrack. Weird future world.

Comedian -- Funny and interesting for a documentary.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind -- Messed up stuff.

* Delicatessen -- Funny and macabre. Great acting, visuals, done by the same guys as City of Lost Children.

* Dodgeball -- don't get me wrong, this is not fine cinema. But it is very, very funny for what it is...a silly comedy.

* Donnie Darko-- how does the director's cut compare to the original cut? I am of two minds. Nonetheless, this movie in either version is well worth viewing a few times. There's something about Frank...

* Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind -- fascinating exploration of memory and relationships.

Ghost World -- Depressed teenagers are not as interesting as they might be. Steve Buscemi is great as always.

Jaws -- Dammit, it wasn't as scary as I was expecting. But the mother of so many animal-eats-man movies. Although Deep Blue Sea doesn't quite rate its own listing (although it is a wonderfuly bad movie), they would make a funny double bill.

Kill Bill I -- Violent, funny, and beautiful.

Kill Bill II -- Violent and gripping.

Last Picture Show -- A way better movie from the seventies than I expected. A great glimpse into small town America and growing up without excessive pathos.

Like Water for Chocolate -- Cheesy Mexican romance with fun plot and goofy acting.

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring -- Friendship holds fast. Hobbits rule.

* Lord of the Rings: Two Towers -- Friendship tries to hold fast. Battles and battles.

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King -- Kicks royal ass. You'd thinks since I loved these movies, I'd review them. But you'd be wrong.

* Lost in Translation -- Slow meditation on life, love, age, and friendship.

Master and Commander: Unnecessary Subtitle -- Ass kicking without the story and depth of Return of the King. Excellent tall ship battles and storms.

Mighty Wind -- Entertainingly accurate folk music mockumentary.

Modern Times -- Charlie Chaplin makes us laugh and cry.

O Brother Where Art Thou? -- Quirky characters, great music, and an odyssey.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Something about Black Pearls -- Johnny Depp saves the day as Captain Jack Sparrow. The rest is not as brilliant. First two thirds lots of fun, last third limp.

Princess Bride -- We laugh, we cry, we root for good and evil. A good time is had by all.

Pump Up the Volume -- Depressed teenagers are more interesting, or sexy, or something.

* The Royal Tennenbaums -- Weird, stylized family feels oddly honest.

Seabiscuit -- Read the book and then see the movie. If you can only do one, read the book.

* School of Rock -- Rocks. Jack Black is the man. But not "The Man."

Shawshank Redemption -- Engrossing, disturbing, and heartfelt. Friendship in prison can mean a lot.

Something's Gotta Give -- Entertaining. Diane Keaton really is excellent.

* Spinal Tap -- Mockumentary about heavy metal. Well worth watching along with a Mighty Wind. Might make a good triple feature with Decline of Western Civilization Part II.

There's Something About Mary -- Gross. Funny. Goofy. Romantic.

* Triplets of Belleville -- Very enjoyable and weird and moving.

Wedding Singer -- Goofy. Funny. Romantic.

* Whale Rider -- Moving and earnest. Go New Zealand!