The Chronicles of Riddick - *Finally* got around to seeing this one. Definitely worth the $4 for the rental. Pretty much what I expected going in--lotsa action, great effects, an ending you could see coming a mile away. Good popcorn flick. One thing puzzled me, though. Why would jailers pay bounty hunters for inmates? I can see Riddick having a price on his head, but why would it be the jailers paying? That doesn't make sense. It costs $$ to build and run the facility, so how are they making their money? Whatever...a minor issue. The Prestige - Was really looking forward to seeing this one, and it didn't disappoint. Great performances all around. Interesting story with a number of twists, some which I saw coming, and at least a couple that I didn't. Wonderful flick that had me & the Mrs. talking about it afterward, and even the next day. The Pursuit of Happyness - Didn't watch it. The Mrs. and my eldest wanted to see it, and said it was very well done and entertaining. It just didn't do anything to draw my interest, based on the previews I'd seen. Guess I wasn't in the mood for an inspirational story. They both liked it, though.
Of those, I've only seen 'The Prestige,' which I liked a lot (though I figured out the mystery right at the start).
Riddick: Enjoyed it. Not oscar worthy, but fun. One of the strangest sequels ever when held up against the original, Pitch Black. Prestige: 9 out of 10 stars. Moviemaking at its best. Pursuit of Happyness: Wasn't interested. I only like Will Smith when he's two-fisting the weapons and blasting away.
Riddick was surprisingly good. Prestige was very good, but I can't say I liked the ending all that much. Loved the Christian Bale twist. that was sweet. But thought the whole cloning thing was a farce. He already had a double he could have used and be done with it.
I guess I just don't like "popcorn flicks". Every movie lately that I'd like to set fire to the original print before it was duplicated, gets excused as a "popcorn flick". Yeah, and the symbolism hasn't escaped me that popcorn is all hot air. Fuck popcorn, I'd rather have candy.
I never guess the plot twists, symbolism, or mystery. Hell, I have to tape Scooby Doo and rewind it just to figure out the mystery.
His double betrayed him- that's how he mangled up his leg. Besides, it was about obsession, not the trick itself. You saw at the end how far he was willing to go to frame the other guy and get his revenge. As his grace the Marquise of Montrose said of MacGregor and Archibald Cunningham in Rob Roy, the two magicians were "none too fond."
I still found it quite an amusing bit of symbolism that both couples died in the same manner. Edit: in The Prestige
I tend to agree. There's already enough "popcorn flicks" out there to keep Orville Redenbacher in whores and cocaine until Jesus comes back. When I hear "popcorn movie" now, my mind reflexively substitutes "loud, tedious, predictable drivel."
Orville and Jesus are kicking it together in heaven now dude. He's been dead for a couple years at least.
I watched the Pursuit of Happyness last week as well. As much as it was quite entertaining I also found it a little basic and patronising. It was really just the age old poor man does well story and it didn't really go into any greater detail about what it really means to be faced with life on the street.
I know. But they've managed to bring zombie Orville back for new commercials using their satanic digital technology.
Reason #468 for why I don't have cable for my television: Zombie Orville commercials. It would be ver creepy to see commercials produced after someone's death with them as the speaker. Did they use some program to produce audio clips from words he had said previously on recording? If so, that is fucked up.
No, they got a really, really, really bad impersonator who sounds nothing like him. They should've done more auditions.
