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[EARWIG AND THE WITCH]

EARWIG AND THE WITCH

The latest in the Ghibli library is probably a text book example of 'vibes do not make a movie alone' as as comfy and charming as scenes are in isolation, if there was a plot to be discerned it was certainly lost...

Not entirely an uncommon problem with Ghibli films, I find.  Some instances can be worse than others, but I do find this describes my feelings towards My Neighbour Totoro.

[SG1]

I finished the first season of SG1 and am part way through the second.  I was actually surprised how many threads were established so early on.

There is this interesting conflict in tone with the show.  There is a strong anti-authoritarian text in the writing that, given it's about a military unit, does come across as slightly anti-military.  It also, because it's about a military unit, supports the myth in media that surrounds the military.  I remembered it being a lot more pro-military than it actually is.  This makes SGU all the more weird for me.

Anyway, I almost made it seem like the show is clever.  It's not.  It's pretty dumb.  You have to suspend you disbelief really hard and abruptly as a few elements (like people not from Earth speaking their own language and not English) are just thrown away for the sake of the format.  It never entirely goes away, but I guess once you're on board it doesn't matter.

So the show is dumb, but it's also fun.  It's silly sci-fi and it's not entirely doing it with a straight face either.  The highlights are some of the single episode non-arc stories.  It's all kinda what I remember it being.  I don't know whether I'll watch the entirety of the show as I remember it getting really bad at the end.

[Fern Gully]

Fern Gully

I like it.  Protect the rainforest.  Pollution is bad.  Fairies.  Guy finds an ecological conscience because of that very special feeling he felt between his legs.  Robin Williams is a bat, but is still Robin Williams regardless.  Decent enough songs.  Yeah, I like it.

Well, you're absolutely right about the daftness of the premise (apart from anything else, how are the tracks maintained?)

By this guy, of course.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEZIh7lQ3dc
[/quote]

Nice.   

The last Tomb Raider film is one of those films I intend to watch but never get around to.  It looked to me to be a film more based on the reboot game.  That doesn't really mean much to me because I know little about the games.

I might eventually watch it because I kinda want to compare it with the earlier films.

It's an adaptation of an 80's French comic.  Might see if I can track (geddit?) down a copy.

I have found Snowpiecer to have a wealth to offer.  Always found the disdain it can garner to be odd. 

Maybe it's like Marmite. 

Because Marmite is revolting (geddit?)

Doomsday is a film that represents The Telegraphs idea of an independent Scotland.

Neil Marshall also seems to have this odd love/hate thing with the Scottish.

[Nobody]

Nobody

I really like this.  Just this minute finished watching it and had a massive smile on my face throughout the film.  Was really trying to nail it down and I think I got it.  This film is a wonderful collection of action film cliches strung together in a satisfying narrative with a wry sense of humour.  I can see the comparisons that have been made with John Wick, but I also saw so much more here that it would be harsh to compare it with any one film.  This is a true genre film that knows it's genre.  I also love the juxtapositions.  In any other film the soundtrack would have been too on the nose with what it is doing, but I think in this film it works.  There is so much that is on the nose that I can't help but assume that is the point.

Then again, I may have had slightly too much wine and got a bit over excited about the shooty bang bang.  Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Congratulations Tomwe.  I look forward to see your choice for the next theme.  Great comp, everyone

I wasn't even aware of a miniseries.  I'm assuming it wasn't exactly good. 

I know it'd be hard to compare the Dynamation glory of the film.  I revisited it at some point last year and was not disappointed with it.

I didn't know there was another Jason and The Argonauts. 

I knew Clash of the Titans had a remake.

That's an eclectic mix of films.  Certainly happy to take the recommendations

[Three Days of the Condor]

Three Days of the Condor

This is a 70's spy film that I've never heard of before.  It's got Robert Redford in it.  For the most part it is a really engaging spy thriller that does a really good job with its story.  Nevertheless there is a very glaring problem with the film.

[spoiler]Part way through the film the protagonist and hero kidnaps a woman and proceeds to have sex with her.  It just comes across as rape.  Rape is lampshaded before it happens and it's sort of commented on afterwards.  It seems to reflect Stockholm's as well.  It is very weird, gross and a tonal whiplash.  I think it was intended as romance, but it's so tone deaf.  It really stood out and is in sharp contrast to the rest of the film.  I don't know whether there was the need to have the kidnapped victim become an ally of the protagonist, but this was not the approach.  Especially as there was a great opportunity for her to accept his story and get on his side in the next scene.
[/spoiler]
Aside from that problem the film is very good.  The ending was very satisfying.  Ambiguity done well, I think.

Well, I must thoroughly disagree here. I won't waste my words on Darkie's Mob, because I never read it, so I can't speak much about that (I'll do it once I read it). What I can say is that for the comic being sold to boys (albeit judging by its content, it's not appropriate material for them), let that be a testament of the times it had been made. For better or worse. One thing I am sure, I don't think Wagner intended for it to be KKK racist. Nor do I believe it's exploitative material. Wagner never would do that. Besides, I don't see anyone claiming here that racist views expressed, also express the views of themselves.

Outside that and in the world of art in general, I must bluntly stress that art as such shouldn't give you moral lessons. Nor it is the purpose of it. On such questions, the audience must reach those answers alone. Art should reflect life. And if any such works incite audience's reaction, that either could be good or bad. But speaking about bad, if anyone for a second considers killing someone in cold blood because he has seen it in a movie, then do you know how many movies would be banned from existence today? Same with racism. One fictional work shouldn't be accountable for the actions of people. Words don't hurt people. People hurt people. That's why I am against censorship, of any kind. And I firmly believe that not a single word should be banished from existence. I don't think it ever happened in the history of mankind, though.
Now, a lot of works of art are controversial in that regard. Either for being very much of its time or paying homage for the specific time it has been set. So, that's why we have Birth of a Nation, which was probably the first masterpiece of cinema, despite its subject matter. Thematically not really, but costumes, camerawork, editing, overall production values - all cutting edge stuff for 1915. And then you could get away with the production of such film. Today, I couldn't even imagine it. Should we impose a permanent ban on the movie? No. Had Tatantino's Django Unchained had copious amount of N word? It did. But that's how people talked then. And the notorious fact is that humanity is fucked up and is capable for all sorts of fucked up stuff. Ofcourse, these will get explored in music, comic books, cinema, etc. I mean, I don't like that Holocaust happened, but it did and I can't do anything about it. But at least we have movies like Schindler's List, as a warning.

As for civil rights movement progression, they were still pretty much ineffective in the 1970s. Those were very gullible time and you could get away with anything. And the 1980s were even worse and much less PC than the 1970s.

I think we've got crossed wires here.  My points have largely been about how media is talked about and how we, the audience, shouldn't fail to acknowledge or be dismissive of problematic elements.  Something I think you and most others (I don't feel I can say everyone) agree with.  Maybe it was largely a point that didn't need making, yet I felt the need anyway.

I've already wasted most of today trying to be composed in the face of a serious topic that's becoming increasingly relevant and uncomfortable for me.  I would have liked to have addressed some additional points you made, milstar and really clarify what I'm trying to get across. 

I don't have the luxury of not being affected by bigotry in media, real life and online and I find BPP's posts so troubling that I feel I should be very cautious about talking openly and frankly about these issues.  Even debating with myself whether I should post this and not just let it go without comment.  So I don't think I'll be continuing with this discussion.

I hope you find enjoyment in Darkie's Mob if you can track down a copy, Milstar.