I just reviewed this movie… but I was super apathetic about it. I had cleared some cache in the process and got logged out and the whole thing just crashed on me…  All that to say. I enjoyed this film. It was decent. Watch “Waiting for Superman” instead.

Glad to be back… apparently technology has baffled me in my absence.

Well this is a new one on me… you can watch this movie on youtube. In fact, the full 90 minutes have been embedded into this post. I, however, watched this film on Netflix, like a normal person, advertisement free. But feel free to watch it wherever you like. Just as long as you watch it.

“The Rage in Placid Lake” is an interesting film considering my life seems to reflect a lot of the statements being made. The focus hangs out with the idea of what should be normal and how do we deal with our emotions. Placid Lake is actually the name of the main character so it’s primarily about his emotions, and at times the lack thereof. 

I liked this film because Placid copes with being different by trying to become normal, which ultimately has little more to offer. It’s a great statement about understanding how to be yourself and especially how to understand your own emotions, which I am a strong advocate of.

[STATUS REPORT]

BROAD vs. NICHE - I think this is a bit of both. Broad audiences could understand this movie, but may not care to watch it. It errs more on the side of independent since the story is a little obtuse. It’s not some weird rompus, however, like a lot of independent films tend to be.

WATCHABILITY - I felt like the pacing was rather nice. A lot of the conflict develops very naturally and the characters never seem to take on too much or too little. I’d say it’s fairly engaging but the dialogue is a touch heavy for the casual viewer.

WHEN TO WATCH - Weekday night movie, for sure. This isn’t one you’ll go home raving about, but you’ll be pleased you watched it. Not a waste of your time and the perspective it offers is interesting and challenging, enough to leave you with new thoughts but not so much that you’ll sell your car and move into the wild.

Oh man - boy am I happy to bring you something good for today’s Funtastic Friday, “Shaolin Soccer”. The name reminded me of a Bend It Like Beckham knock off or one of those Disney “Johnny Tsunami” kind of films, but I was happily mistaken.

“Shaolin Soccer” falls into the slapstick genre of kung-fu. A mixture of “The Big Green”, “The Matrix” and “Kung Pow: Enter the Fist”… but a little less South Park. The stunts were great, the jokes were well executed and the film relies on sarcasm or exaggeration for it’s delivery which is one of my favorites.

“Shaolin Soccer” follows an out of work Kung Fu master hoping for a Kung Fu reformation but he can’t find the hook to make it popular again. He has the “Steel Leg” which an injured drunkard by the name of “Golden Leg” discovers and decides that they can kill two birds with one stone by starting a soccer team. I can’t tell you how much fun this film was… you’ll just have to trust me on this and give it a go.

[STATUS REPORT]

BROAD vs. NICHE - I place this in the more broad area of film. Anyone can enjoy this movie. It’s a comedy film that gets its laughs from silly situations and exaggerated outcomes. No foul humor and no weird sex jokes. My kind of film.

WATCHABILITY - Easy. Something new and goofy is always happening. The characters are these wild kung fu heroes with borderline super powers which offers an “anything goes” feel to the movie. You may find a brief lull here and there but they had to include a story somewhere.

WHEN TO WATCH - This is a late night movie for sure. Not because of it’s vulgar or anything, but because you’ll want to have gotten everything else done and out of the way so that you can just sit down and have a laugh with no interruptions. I think this is the kind of movie your friends will enjoy as well. Highly recommended. 

Are you kidding me on this one? So many big names and amazing actors and actresses… such a crazy impossible story. I don’t understand how they got so many strong reviews on this one. It was directed by Tarantino AND Rodriguez… I don’t know what to do with this one.

First of all, “Four Rooms” wasn’t bad. It wasn’t a horrible film. It was just a highly disconnected film that lacked story and replaced it with shock factor and oddity. The film takes place in four separate rooms in which four very different problems arise. It felt like a thrown together script made out of over the top sketch comedy and mild horror.

I don’t know how to review a film like this that inherently isn’t a bad movie, but at the same time I have no idea what audience to direct this towards. Four Rooms is a rompus of a film. It’s everywhere. The one moment of the film that created a real tension for me was over as soon as it started. 

More than anything, Ione Skye has now been ruined due to her topless seen where she acts alongside Madonna… if that tells you anything about this film. You can watch this movie if you like, but if you really want to see Tim Roth at his finest, watch bloody “Lie to Me”

[STATUS REPORT]

BROAD vs NICHE - WTF am I watching films are typically niche films written for an audience that I can’t define. Definitely not a broad concept film and honestly, not the best work coming from a guy who previous to this had written Reservoir Dogs.

WATCHABILITY - It was rather watchable, and I did appreciate the longwinded single angle shots that I miss from a lot of older independent films (specifically “Clerks”) but a lot of the chaos felt a little stretched for the same reason. I was comfortable finishing this film, but often times I was just hoping it would soon be over.

WHEN TO WATCH - Watch this… when you’re alone by yourself and you feel sad. This movie will remind you that there are sadder things in life so don’t be as unhappy. It’s really bonkers. I don’t know when you should watch a film like this, to be honest.