BlogHer - film - Comments

Not in Love

lauralohr — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:21:10 -0500

This book has so much history and tradition for me. I was a bit depressed, disappointed and bored.

Laura (lauralohr.com)

We didn't like it

annieand — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:17:09 -0500

I talked about how it was not worth the money to see it in the theaters for our family.

you aren't alone

debontherocks — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:36:52 -0500

You aren't alone in this read of the movie, so I'm glad you are adding this perspective. I don't think Max's life will be the same though, I think he'll be in charge of himself. Admittedly, the script does indulge a lot of Buddist, Jungian and good old-fashioned group-therapy-with-monsters spins.

I kind of do like ennui, though. ;)

Deb
www.debontherocks.com blog
www.3smartgirlz.com consulting

running away

debontherocks — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:31:58 -0500

It definitely was a divergence from the book, which upset some people. I liked it as a plot device. It emphasized the sense of distance between the worlds, and helped the suspension of disbelief factor. When Max stays in his room after being sent there he is obeying his mother, and though that is not obvious in the book it would have been in the film. I like it that Eggers/Jonze prolonged Max's rebellion and delays his "civilization."

Deb
www.debontherocks.com blog
www.3smartgirlz.com consulting

Not for Kids or Adults who Love the Book

Damn Skippy — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:47:55 -0500

The movie was visually amazing and will win all the technical awards (rightly so). But just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. The piled-on miseries of Max's life and the emotional wallowiness of the monsters just reduces the story to a sad psychotherapy session. It's almost as bad as what Burton did to Wonka. All the tacked-on real world stuff is depressing.

Max's rule of the island doesn't just end when he gets homesick, like in the book. No, it begins right off the bat filled with petty insecurities and then quickly falls apart in a pathetic (but accurate) depiction of social dissolution. Every character gets a chance to fall short of someone else's expectations and suffer through the resulting emotional discomfort. Over and over again.

Finally the story ends up in exactly the same place it began. When Max wakes up tomorrow, his life will still be miserable and lonely. If you love the book - and if you want your children to love the book the way you do - don't take them to see this film. Go see it alone, when you feel like wallowing in hopelessness, insecurity and ennui.

Deb, what did you think about the running away

Honeybeast — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:06:52 -0500

instead of the melting walls? That (well, that and whether the lead Thing would bring Tony Soprano immediately to mind) is my main point of curiosity. Can't wait to see it!

I have tickets

Virginia DeBolt — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:17:46 -0500

to the one night event next Monday. I'm looking forward to it. I hope you will review it afterward.

Virginia DeBolt

BlogHer Technology CE | Web Teacher | First 50 Words

Roller Derby, Baby!

Megan Smith — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:21:27 -0500

The only roller two derby movies I can think of are "Kansas City Bomber" with Raquel Welch and Rollerball with James Caan, so I'll be interested to see what Drew comes up with.

In the meantime:

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

Twitter:@MeganSmith

"Fame" and "Nine"

Megan Smith — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:14:01 -0500

As much as I might joke about "Fame," if they do it right, it could be very entertaining. I'm expecting more from "Nine" though because it's by the same people who brought us "Chicago."

Lots of singing and dancing coming up.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

Twitter:@MeganSmith

count me in for:the lovely

pookielocks — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:09:28 -0500

count me in for:

the lovely bones, the princess & the frog, fame! and nine. can you tell i was a musical theatre major in college?

www.shebecameabutterfly.net and www.msmodern.com and www.taking-back-control.com

Looks like I can look forward to some movies this fall

Flightkeeper — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:22:57 -0500

New Moon and Avatar certainly peak my interest. And if Whip It is anything like Drew's last movie she produced, I'm gonna go see it.

Thanks for the roundup!

(My blogs are http://flightkeeper.blogspot.com and http://cutefuncool.blogspot.com)

rad list. marge simpson all

MissS — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:49:21 -0500

rad list. marge simpson all the way.

http://www.catalogs.com/info/bestof/the-top-10-mother-lode-of-tv-moms

Sammy

www.letstalkstyle.com

SPR, Richard III, Gallipoli

Elisa Camahort — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:25:40 -0500

SPR is so visceral, as you said...putting us in the frame. Richard II features one of my favorite actors ever, doing what he does best.

And Gallipoli. Featuring Mel Gibson when he was impossibly young and handsome, and we we didn't yet know he was a creepy cad. The futility, the senseless waste of young men's lives. I'm not sure any movie captures it better.

Elisa Camahort Page
BlogHer
elisa@blogher.com

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Just asked the spouse...

debra roby — Sat, 23 May 2009 12:23:22 -0500

I asked the spouse -who studies military history as a hobby. Among his answers:

Glory (how did we all forget this?)
Patton
Tora, Tora, Tora.

And to exemplify the good things about the military: The Right Stuff.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

Going Back in Time

debra roby — Sat, 23 May 2009 10:52:41 -0500

Perhaps my favorite Military movie of all time is Zulu (1964). Introducing Michael Caine (which tells you it's age), it's the tale of a small outpost of British soldiers at Rourke's Drift who withstand a full-on Zulu attack for 3 days. And it's a true story.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb