Silliness So what are you doing RIGHT NOW? - Page 336

GeoffC · 05-17-2009, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjh215

Hmm, could we perhaps bribe, err, entice you into adding the 700 if we offered you large amounts of chocolate?

-MJ

Tried and the amounts were obscene ....

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

The Da Vinci Code was on TV here there other night. The Yeti and I tried to watch it, just to see what it was like, and if it was any better than the book. We managed just over half an hour before realising that, for us, it had achieved the impossible and was worse than the book. (Which I've read but didn't like - unoriginal premise, unoriginally executed. In my opinion, obviously)

We also watched it and after 30 minutes it did start to get a little better.... Though the BEST bit was the car reverse against the traffic....even better than Top Gear ....

kazbates · 05-17-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekokami

I suppose if the sets and props are good, that could be a reason to see a movie.

I went to the Harry Potter movies pretty much exclusively to see if Alan Rickman would give away anything about what Rowling was doing with Snape. Rickman is a pretty good actor, and I knew Rowling had given him "secret information" about the character. The movies themselves were kind of... gimmicky, I guess is the word I want. Too much flying cars and triple-decker buses (and Quiddich), and not enough plot.

I don't know if I'll bother seeing the movies for the last two books, though. Well, maybe. A few things were revealed about the characters after the series ended, and it would be interesting to see if they affect the movies at all.

I don't see many movies, though, especially in theaters. If I get my last two papers done tomorrow, the Muffin Man and I may go to see the new Star Trek movie. We both like Trek, but not to the fanatical "memorize every episode" level, so we could probably enjoy it if it's got any entertainment value at all. We've heard Sulu's fencing scene is good, anyway.

I think the worst movie I've ever personally seen in a theater was Highlander II. We very nearly walked out on that one. Sean Connery was somehow entertaining enough to keep us from actually leaving until his character died, and by then we figured we might as well stay and see the last few minutes.

But it says something that we both thought the He-Man movie was significantly better in all respects. (Skeletor, in particular, was simply outstanding.)

My kids loved the Harry Potter books but were thoroughly disappointed with the movies. They say thay will go see the last two, but think they are missing the best parts of the books. I haven't read the books yet (the are Soooo long and I have had other things to read) but have seen the movies and found them enjoyable. Sometimes I think it's better not to have read the book before seeing a movie, I am almost always disappointed when I have read the book first.

Nekokami, If you are going to see Star Trek, not being complete recall of all past Star Trek series, etc, will help you immensely! Just think of it as entertainment and you will should like it, especially if you like action movies.

Kaz

montsnmags · 05-17-2009, 09:08 AM

I just watched WALL-E (I bought it for my nephew's birthday tomorrow). That was good, especially for something so light on words.

tirsales · 05-17-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I just watched WALL-E (I bought it for my nephew's birthday tomorrow). That was good, especially for something so light on words.

It was! Especially the scenes w/o anything human

yvanleterrible · 05-17-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I just watched WALL-E (I bought it for my nephew's birthday tomorrow). That was good, especially for something so light on words.

That movie was pretty good, proof that words don't have that much influence in a movie told story.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

We watched Angels and Demons last night. Big mistake! While the book was fair (and I'm being kind here,) the movie fell so far short of fair as to be really, really poor. Despite Tom Hank's abilities, and Ron Howard's skills, this movie was the pits! The only reason we even continued with it was that I was curious to see how it would be resolved. There were so many important plot facets left out, so many character points ignored, and so many culturally important issues missed that this movie was more than a total failure. It was a complete and utter waste of time. (Do you get the idea that we didn't like it?)

Stitchawl

Just curious, if you've apparently read the book, how did you not know how the story resolved?

YGG- · 05-17-2009, 11:28 AM

Trying myself at limericks (should I say llimericks ;-) ) --tough but funny.

nekokami · 05-17-2009, 11:32 AM

I have very rarely seen movies based on books for which I have not read the book. In some cases, I've even read the novelization of a movie before watching the movie!

Two exceptions are The Day the Earth Stood Still (the original, still haven't had a chance to see the recent remake) and Stardust, which I really did mean to read first, but someone gave us the DVD as an anniversary gift last year and so of course we had to watch it.

(In my defense regarding The Day the Earth Stood Still, it was only when the remake came out that I became aware of the original short story. And they are so different that I am inclined to consider them separate works anyway.)

GeoffC · 05-17-2009, 11:42 AM

I consider the film "The Day the Earth Stood Still" such a classic that I would hate to see what the re-make has done to it .....

yvanleterrible · 05-17-2009, 11:49 AM

The movie that was the worst let down to me was "Children of Men". It was appalling that a scenario should let be written to be so different from the book...

mjh215 · 05-17-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekokami

I have very rarely seen movies based on books for which I have not read the book. In some cases, I've even read the novelization of a movie before watching the movie!

Two exceptions are The Day the Earth Stood Still (the original, still haven't had a chance to see the recent remake) and Stardust, which I really did mean to read first, but someone gave us the DVD as an anniversary gift last year and so of course we had to watch it.

I try to read the books first myself... In fact that is a large part of my reading lists anymore, books I wish to get to before Hollywood butchers.

Stardust I read several years before the movie as I've been a fan of Gaiman's since the mid-90's. To be honest, with so many years between reading and watching the movie I wasn't sure of how 'close' the film was. Most reviews trash it from that perspective.

I have little interest in seeing the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still. I'm actually tired of all the remakes.

-MJ

yvanleterrible · 05-17-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjh215

I try to read the books first myself... In fact that is a large part of my reading lists anymore, books I wish to get to before Hollywood butchers.

Stardust I read several years before the movie as I've been a fan of Gaiman's since the mid-90's. To be honest, with so many years between reading and watching the movie I wasn't sure of how 'close' the film was. Most reviews trash it from that perspective.

I have little interest in seeing the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still. I'm actually tired of all the remakes.

-MJ

So am I.
However, I can understand the fascination people have with the concept of an end to the world as we know it. It a basic instinct to prepare for the worst...

GeoffC · 05-17-2009, 12:10 PM

One remake sorely designed to be sent to the dustbin would be "The Fly" ... How anyone can say that the remake was anyway comparable to the scarey original needs to see a spider immediately ....

edit : Also - "The 39 steps" ....

Moejoe · 05-17-2009, 12:27 PM

Here's a list of movies with remakes in the works http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/1662...the_works.html

Some of them on there should be left well enough alone. I ask you, how can you have Arthur without Dudley Moore? The Taking of Pelham 123 without Walter Matthau? The mind boggles.

Bilbo1967 · 05-17-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Here's a list of movies with remakes in the works http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/1662...the_works.html

Some of them on there should be left well enough alone. I ask you, how can you have Arthur without Dudley Moore? The Taking of Pelham 123 without Walter Matthau? The mind boggles.

Thanks for that Moejoe - some of those are just scary:

Death Wish - to be remade starring Sylvester Stallone!! Chosen, presumably, because he's the only man who comes across as more wooden than Charles Bronson?

Fantastic Voyage - without Raquel Welch?!?

Last Tango in Paris - with Tom Cruise in the Marlon Brando role!? Please, somebody stop him - does his egotism know no bounds.

Still, some on the list there that were so bad first time around that there's not really much pressure on the remakes; Red Sonja, Meatballs, Conan, The Karate Kid and Footloose spring to mind. Let's face it, you don't need to be Francis Ford Coppola to improve on those!

YGG- · 05-17-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

One remake sorely designed to be sent to the dustbin would be "The Fly" ... How anyone can say that the remake was anyway comparable to the scarey original needs to see a spider immediately ....

By this you mean the novella, don't you? (by G. Langelaan) Great read!

05-17-2009, 09:08 AM	#5028
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	I just watched WALL-E (I bought it for my nephew's birthday tomorrow). That was good, especially for something so light on words.

05-17-2009, 11:28 AM	#5031
YGG- Dry fruit Posts: 1,157 Karma: 1047086 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Paris, France Device: Bookeen Opus + HTC Desire HD	Trying myself at limericks (should I say llimericks ;-) ) --tough but funny.

05-17-2009, 11:32 AM	#5032
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I have very rarely seen movies based on books for which I have not read the book. In some cases, I've even read the novelization of a movie before watching the movie! Two exceptions are The Day the Earth Stood Still (the original, still haven't had a chance to see the recent remake) and Stardust, which I really did mean to read first, but someone gave us the DVD as an anniversary gift last year and so of course we had to watch it. (In my defense regarding The Day the Earth Stood Still, it was only when the remake came out that I became aware of the original short story. And they are so different that I am inclined to consider them separate works anyway.)

05-17-2009, 11:42 AM	#5033
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	I consider the film "The Day the Earth Stood Still" such a classic that I would hate to see what the re-make has done to it .....

05-17-2009, 11:49 AM	#5034
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	The movie that was the worst let down to me was "Children of Men". It was appalling that a scenario should let be written to be so different from the book...

05-17-2009, 12:10 PM	#5037
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	One remake sorely designed to be sent to the dustbin would be "The Fly" ... How anyone can say that the remake was anyway comparable to the scarey original needs to see a spider immediately .... edit : Also - "The 39 steps" ....

05-17-2009, 12:27 PM	#5038
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	Here's a list of movies with remakes in the works http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/1662...the_works.html Some of them on there should be left well enough alone. I ask you, how can you have Arthur without Dudley Moore? The Taking of Pelham 123 without Walter Matthau? The mind boggles.