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The Lady in the Water is an interesting movie, at least, BlackPearl ...
Meanwhile, I love Uma ... she just needs a better agent, that's all. Cause I'd say, at least, 89% of the (non-Tarantino) movies she's in completely suck.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 27, 2006 at 8:31 PM
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Hi, Mademoiselle,
Thanks for the review. I haven't seen either, but maybe they'll be worth a look on DVD rental. I didn't care for "Prime" either, which I believe was advertised as a romantic comedy. I guess Uma Thurman is just hit or miss for me. To others, she can do no wrong. Oh well.
posted by
BlackPearl1
on July 27, 2006 at 7:32 PM
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I liked the twists in The Village, too, Bell Keeper ...
Though I liked them even more the first time I saw them, when they were in episodes of The Twilight Zone.
This represents a curious trend with Shymalan. Even his best movies borrow liberally from other sources: The Sixth Sense shares an almost identical plot with an episode of Who's Afraid Of The Dark? While the Pastor's wife's death in Signs is lifted from the brilliant Homicide: Life on the Streets episode called "Subway".
Stealing from other material isn't really the issue though, since nearly every filmmaker does it (intentionally or otherwise). The problem with The Village is that it simply isn't a very good movie: lousy dialogue, lousy acting, lousy sense of pace, etc.
The Lady in the Water, meanwhile, takes it down another several notches. Even the biggest Shymalan apologists will have trouble defending this one.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 24, 2006 at 9:13 PM
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I love all of M. Night's films and I am sure that I'll love this one. His movies, although usually drwan out for a long time before the climax comes, seem to have a flair for intellectual suspense. Take The Village. I loved how the creatures turned out to be mere lore and tools to thwart wanderers...while there was a woman I used to work with who dubbed the film as "stupid" just because the monsters were not real.
I thought the sub story of the wilderness reserve was brilliant, although I am sure this left many folks without imagination disappointed.
I'll bet there are many sub plots and hidden stories behind Lady in the water as well. I'm anxious to go see it. Will I be disappointed or will I be poking fun at my coworkers who just "...didn't get it..."? We shall see!
posted by
bwFrampton
on July 24, 2006 at 4:57 PM
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You really should, Mason ...
I was sure I would hate it (cause I'm not a Garrison Keillor fan), and yet, I absolutely loved it.
The best movie of the year thus far (imo).
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 24, 2006 at 2:48 AM
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..humm.. I'll put that on 'watch for' list... thanks...
posted by
MasonGarrett
on July 24, 2006 at 2:41 AM
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Why do you say that, Ann?
(They are thumbnails, of course, btw.)
You know, I fear I've finally gone completely insane.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 24, 2006 at 2:37 AM
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Yeah, I know, Mason ... I don't get it, either.
I will say, though, that there are still some screenwriters who have a real way with words. Quentin Tarantino and Charlie Kaufman, in particular, come to mind.
Also, if you get a chance, see A Prairie Home Companion ...you'll be shocked at how brilliant it is. Especially, in terms of the dialogue.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 24, 2006 at 2:35 AM
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Nice pics. I think........................................................................................................
(A)
posted by
A-and-B
on July 24, 2006 at 2:18 AM
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...what could be more realistic dialouge than answering
Norris' question..." how do you like your brandy?' with, "..in a glass.."
posted by
MasonGarrett
on July 24, 2006 at 2:16 AM
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Unfortunately, probably not, Mason ... movies today are more concerned with "realistic" dialogue.
Which is a real shame.
I could certainly be described as "a child who likes to pull the wings off flies". And yes, I've been known to suck my thumb on occasion.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 24, 2006 at 1:30 AM
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..thanks for the reviews! ...I'll stick with TCM.... Hummm, so you're
like Carmen Sternwood... and if I said my name was Doghouse Riley... you would ..."she tried to sit in my lap while I was standing up," ...will those kind of great scripts ever come back?
posted by
MasonGarrett
on July 24, 2006 at 1:15 AM
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Is your name "Sophistie"?
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 9:03 PM
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coke! i like wasting my money on coke!
posted by
fourcats
on July 23, 2006 at 8:55 PM
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What do you like wasting money on, Sophistie?
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 8:10 PM
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Aaron, you like Luke Wilson, but don't like Uma Thurman?
No offense, but ... are you gay?
Just joking!
Uma's awesome, though. I wish I looked like her. Assuming, of course, she had a normal sized navel.
She does seem to be really bad at choosing scripts, though. Even Cowgirls Get The Blues was one of the five worst movies I've ever seen. It was essentially unwatchable.
Personally, I don't consider Ron Howard's daughter much of an actress. Plus, did you ever notice that she looks exactly like Shaun White (a.k.a. The Flying Tomato)?
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 8:08 PM
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Thanks.. I Do Not Like Wasting Money on a Movie
posted by
Dr_JPT
on July 23, 2006 at 7:57 PM
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I think I'll be skipping both of those
I like the premise of "Super Ex," but I haven't read a good review. I like Luke Wilson, but not that big on Uma.
I was interested in "Lady" because I loved Bryce Dallas Howard in "The Village" and I'm an M. Night fan, but the premise does sound pretty dumb.
posted by
AaronB
on July 23, 2006 at 7:37 PM
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Try to convince the children to see "Monster House" instead, Ben ...
you'll be glad you did. It's terrific.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 6:44 PM
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You're lucky you don't have to babysit through Hoodwink. (I'm trying to escape that one).
(B)
posted by
A-and-B
on July 23, 2006 at 6:41 PM
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Actually, I didn't care for that one either, Ben ...
(I'm a hard woman to please)
It was much better than these two, though.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 6:37 PM
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My family saw Pirates too. It was seaworthy enough. Lol.
(B)
posted by
A-and-B
on July 23, 2006 at 6:28 PM
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You're thinking of The Sixth Sense, Blanche ...
which I considered a tad overrated, actually.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 5:33 PM
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Oh, crap, Mademoiselle, I blew my cool points AGAIN.
I was almost positive that The Crying Game was M. Night Shamwhatisname's big masterpiece. I am planning on starting a blog to review old Netflix movies. I'll have to take better notes, though.
Thanks for being cool.
posted by
Blanche.
on July 23, 2006 at 5:29 PM
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Um, Blanche, Shymalan didn't make The Crying Game (Neil Jordan did) ...
which is too bad, actually, since the film was a masterpiece. Not sure what your problem with it could possible be.
P.S. It's cool (concerning any perceived parallels).
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 5:04 PM
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Some people have no ability to detect humor, fourcats.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 5:01 PM
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I would go see that movie, fourcats ...
It would probably be a lot better than this one.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 4:58 PM
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Glad you enjoyed it, SteelerFan.
However, to me, it felt like an animated children's movie plot being awkwardly shoehorned into an adult horror film.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 4:57 PM
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Thanks, Ben ...
although you should have seen them when I first posted ... they made
no sense whatsoever ... I was, like, totally out of it.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 4:54 PM
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Well, I certainly wouldn't endorse doing that, SuccessWarrior ...
I can't imagine life without movies.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 4:53 PM
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I'm not really sure, Robdon, I haven't touched it ... obviously.
Though, whatever it is, it's quite freakish.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 4:51 PM
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Yes, Tanga, your money is much better spent on "A Prairie Home Companion" or "Strangers With Candy" (the two best movies of the year thus far).
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 23, 2006 at 4:49 PM
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Mademoiselle,
I can't remember how to spell M. Night Shamalala's name, but it's okay, because since he did Crying Game, I haven't wanted to see any of his movies. You've just confirmed my worst suspicions. (Okay, nto quite my worst suspicions, I sitll have a couple of other more terrifying ones).
We were toying with the idea of seeing My Super Ex-Girlfriend, thinking that if Uma Thurman's in it, how bad can it be? You've settled that question, thank you.
I wasn't really aiming that post at you, it was more of a parallel, and it's kind of embarrassing. Please excuse my rampant moralism. It's not as though, I'm perfect, or anything, plus I probably read a whole lot more into the conversation than was actually going on. I think the elderly father was just trying to stay awake.
posted by
Blanche.
on July 23, 2006 at 12:10 PM
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btw - i did a favor for a neighbor while he was on holidays. upon his
return, he was so grateful he stopped by my door with two cold cans of beer as a way to say thanks. i thanked him profusely but said "can't take those, i'm an alcoholic". he seemed stumped (so many people get thrown when the simple alcohol gift blows up in their faces) so i said "i'm a coke addict". he paused for a minute and said, "okay, i'll keep that in mind" and left.
i'm really not sure that he understood i meant coca-cola.
posted by
fourcats
on July 23, 2006 at 8:34 AM
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coming soon to a theater near you - "my super ex-bellybutton".
posted by
fourcats
on July 23, 2006 at 8:30 AM
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I went to see Lady in the Water yesterday and actually enjoyed the
way it was made as a bedtime story and had fictional characters (must be the grandma in me...lol) When I saw the commercials for it, I didn't think I would enjoy it at all, and my husband and I, for lack of anything better to do went to see it, and actually he enjoyed it to. Better than sitting at home and doing nothing I suppose. The other movie you reviewed I have no desire to see. As always I enjoy your input and thanks for the reviews. That is the good part about it....we don't always have to agree, do we, guess that is why they call it an opinion...lol Have a great day. SF
posted by
steeler_fan
on July 23, 2006 at 5:46 AM
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These reviews are very well written. You manage to inject humor even into the bad movies.
TaipanPublisher blogs in Business.
(B)
posted by
A-and-B
on July 23, 2006 at 3:08 AM
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Luckily, I've given up movies altogether so I won't be seeing these two
posted by
SuccessWarrior
on July 23, 2006 at 12:59 AM
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what kind of belly-button
.. is it an in-y or an out-y? One of my brother's has an out-y and it's rather strange, like a tiny little limb protruding from his stomach. I can't imagine Uma has one of those. I liked her in
Henry and June.
posted by
robdon67
on July 22, 2006 at 11:49 PM
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Thanks for the tip
I will save some money and give both a miss.
posted by
Tanga
on July 22, 2006 at 10:23 PM
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Editor's note (#2):
Okay, now, they are fixed.
Sorry.
I guess my mother was right ... I do suck.
I need coke.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 22, 2006 at 9:55 PM
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Editor's note:
Typos/flaws in logic corrected ... hopefully.
I'll get the hang of this writing thing someday.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 22, 2006 at 9:41 PM
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Ya, it's maybe worth renting, SmartDog.
Maybe.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 22, 2006 at 9:39 PM
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M
The trailers to each were enough to put me off. It was good to see that my instincts were right.
Be well,
-smartdog
posted by
smartdog_670
on July 22, 2006 at 8:44 PM
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How could you not have seen the ads, Bel?
They play constantly (and are pretty good, actually).
The movie itself, however, is beyond a mess. I mean, it makes The Village look like Picnic At Hanging Rock!
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 22, 2006 at 7:53 PM
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Super Ex is kind of a given
I haven't seen ad's for Lady though. Think I'll skip both!
posted by
bel_1965
on July 22, 2006 at 7:38 PM
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