12/14/2002 Entry:
"What Is Going On"

So here's the deal. I quit my job last week. I got a new job in the city at the internet consultant where I worked before I went off to make pinball machines. I am still going to work on the next game freelance on nights and weekends. This new arrangement has certain advantages and disadvantages. The big advantage is I no longer have a three hour round trip commute every day. I'm also making way better money and benefits. However, because I'm freelancing, all that time im saving is getting eaten up anyways, and then some. Additionally, the train was the time I used to write cineblog entries in general, and now that its gone, I see that I'm not doing them (although holidays and such are currently interfering as well.) Part of the reason to free up the time was to see more movies, and if you look at my Films Seen list its obviously not happening. So basically, I don't have a lot of time now, I don't knwo when it will get better (although hopefully after the new year.) And after that the entries may all be shorter. We'll see. In the meantime, here are some brief notes on some recent viewings:

Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowhip Of The Ring - Peter Jackson (2001)

Really enjoyed this, and from reports I wish I had seen the hyper-extended version. Ian McKellan was born to play Gandalf, and Cate Blanchett does a pretty good elf too. John Rhys-Davies as the dwarf was a pretty inspired bit of casting. I kept wanting him to say, "Very dangerous. You go first." Mostly though I kept wishing I had seen this on the big screen, and now I have to force myself to brave the crowds and go see The Two Towers. I'll also say that this is one of the greatest uses of digital effects I've ever seen. It was mostly entirely clear, unobvious and unobtrusive (although small screen viewing probably helped that aspect.) Also loved all those "crane" shots.

Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Kahn - Nicholas Meyer (1982)

Obviously the best of the Trek films, largely because it contains several very personal sympathetic stories set in this universe everyone knows so well. It had been a long time since I had seen it from the beginning, and I forgot how boring some of the early expository scenes were. When it gets rolling its pretty great though. The Spock funeral still gets me a little misty-eyed. Everyone talks about that theory of the Trek films (only the even numbered ones are good) and the fact is Nicholas Meyer wrote II, IV and VI. I can't believe its a coinicdence. I also just noticed that he wrote Time After Time, a totally underrated and forgotten retelling of The Time Machine in (then) modern times, which I've always enjoyed. Also could Kirstie Alley get a new hairstyle sometime? She has the same big-ass 70s hair now that she did in this film, and it was outdated then too.

Punch-Drunk Love - Paul Thomas Anderson (2002)

I liked this, but it didn't wallop me over the head like Magnolia and Boogie Nights did. In the end that will probably be a good thing, as I see PDL being the kind of movie that will really grow on me over time, and it will certainly benefit from multiple viewings. The one thing that really did strike me is how Anderson really keeps the tension high during those scenes with Sandler and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Much of the credit for this has to do with Jon Brion's score, but Anderson really puts those scenes together in a way that just had me cringing in my seat.

Rushmore - Wes Anderson (1998)

Will this be the zenith of Wes Anderson's career? I really hope not, but I have to say Royal Tenenbaums didn't have a fifth of the originality, fun and warped sympathy that this modern masterpiece did (and yes, I plan on re-viewing Tenenbaums at some point so keep your pants on Skeeter.) Also contains the best use of 60s pop music in any film I can recall.

Replies: 3 comments

Congratulations on the new job! More money and benefits aint a bad thing. I hope it works out for you. Posted by Kent M. Beeson @ 12/16/2002 12:43 PM CST

congrats on the job, but too bad you won't be writing as much. time after time is great...i just watched that again on dvd a couple weeks ago. i enjoyed it even more than i did when i originally saw it years ago. i guess the fact that a lot of it's set in SF makes it even more appealing to me. in malcolm mcdowell's commentary track, he talks about how it was refreshing to play this character after having just wrapped up caligula. he said it was nice to not have to rape and kill people. Posted by chris @ 12/16/2002 05:58 PM CST

KAAAAAAAAAHN! I have been meaning to watch STII again for a couple of weeks. Congrats on the job! Anxiously awaiting your return.... Posted by stennie @ 12/16/2002 11:36 PM CST