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New York, 2:54 PM
Thu Nov 26
41 posts in the last 24 hours
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10/30/09
10/22/09
I understand that the end of Shrek signals a lot of people losing their jobs, but thank god that overblown trash is shutting down. I hope the entire Broadway-spectacle-industrial-complex comes crashing down around itself so some creativity can find a home. #shrek
10/22/09
10/22/09
But seriously, my hope would be that as more tourists stop coming to see these shows that the whole Broadway economy would contract, causing less money to get funneled into it. This would hopefully cause producers to seek out quality since they can't have quantity. Or the entire industry could just crash. I think when theater is genuinely good or buzz-worthy, NYers will flock to it, and tourists will begin to pay attention to it. The way it exists right now, however, is just really sad. It reminds me of the kind of shows you can watch at a Six Flags.
Maybe if we didn't have Shrek, The Little Mermaid, and Rock of Ages, tourists wanting a Broadway experience would still go see Patti Lupone in Gypsy or Passing Strange or the recent revival of Company. Those might not be the most revolutionary nights in theatre, but I think they at least represent an attempt for artistic merit. #shrek
10/22/09
10/22/09
10/22/09
However, "King of Queens" was very successful so I could be wrong. Sigh. #shrek
10/22/09
But truth be told, I could easily see NBC making the American Top Gear very 'Spike TV' thinking that women are not interested in cars, and it suffering similar defeat. Maybe the best think Americans could do is take five minutes to come up with an original creative idea, or to import the original British idea without sticking it on BBC America. #shrek
10/22/09
Also, "Spaced" and "Green Wing" are both on Hulu right now. The Hulu gods will make a killing if they keep that up for all good Brit series... #shrek
10/22/09
Look at "Bodies". That series was a horrifying look at incompetent doctors in a hospital--incompetent and unpunished (for the most part). The FU character from House of Cards is the same way--despicable, but victorious (again, for the most part). The teachers in "Teachers" are unmotivated, show up to work hung over, and make dubious choices where their students and jobs are concerned. They're also very human. But never in a million years would they portray teachers in a light like that on NBC, or any other major network.
And yes, limiting series is great! It keeps them fresh. I believe that telenovelas often do the same and are wildly successful. #shrek
10/22/09
You're right, many of the shows aren't uplifting. But they are awesome, which helps. #shrek
10/22/09
10/22/09
10/22/09
You know, I think shows like Dollhouse fail precisely because they're not insane enough. Dollhouse and something like The Sarah Connor Chronicles are mostly weepy soap-style dramaction shows, with long sad loving looks and saving babies, and stupid undercover agent scenes, and not enough fun insane fantasy. My favourite dollhouse episode was the outrageous post-apocalyptic episode. So good. #shrek
10/22/09
10/22/09
Whedon should have gone for Firefly 2 when Nathan Fillion was available. Ah, well. #shrek
07/15/09
So what is Tarantino's Pool movie? Jackie Brown?
And why the dichotomy between Kill Bill Vol. 1. and 2. I hated vol. 1 when I saw it. Schlocky and empty. But Vol. 2 was so "Wow!" Emotional, Kick-Ass and heartbreaking, all in one.
07/15/09
07/15/09
07/15/09
Hey Mark! I get the reference and what I'm arguing is that we (as in The Youngs) didn't need to wait that long to watch a new group of directors hit their low point. And the one's I highlighted, I don't feel, have really come back from that low.
And yeah, De Palma and Friedkin peaked and then plummeted so maybe there's nothing different or special about the the way these directors have sunk. But it still sucks to watch.
07/15/09
I still feel like C. Hanson has a few good movies in him; I just hope he finds them. It's been a long time since WONDER BOYS (though 8 MILE was fairly dece).
07/15/09
07/15/09
07/15/09
Serious questions: How many times have you watched an Akira Kurosawa film?
07/15/09
07/16/09
07/16/09
The Katie Bakes Scale of Movie Acceptability.
07/15/09
07/15/09
07/16/09
How do I give two gold stars?
07/15/09
Wait a second...
07/15/09
07/15/09
07/15/09
07/15/09
07/15/09
Obviously Soderbergh's "Pool Movies" are Oceans 11, 12, and 13.
07/15/09
07/15/09
I had totally forgotten about that! Do you think Brad will only make Serious Movies now?
07/15/09
Because it was a pretty cynical star vehicle.
07/15/09
07/15/09
07/15/09
07/15/09
07/15/09
07/15/09
07/15/09
Chronology does matter. Ang made 'Ride with the Devil' and the 'Ice Storm' which were flawed but ultimately riskier movies. Then he made the Hulk, which, you know is, well, you know.
07/15/09
07/15/09
Good point. I don't maybe he's always been a mediocre storyteller with a luscious eye. I just really loved 'Crouching Tiger' and when Hulk came out, I felt sad. It's a sad thing, no? When some one you were excited about turns out not to be very exciting at all?
07/15/09
Ban me if you must, but this was an ill-thought post, neither accurate nor amusing. Oh, and your comment typos are killing me.
07/15/09
07/16/09
Awww I', just glad u read my commentz
07/16/09
Oh, c'mon! Why do people get so defensive about millionaires?! Each one of those trailers illustrates a piece of hackery.
I did like Zodiac though, but only because I have a thing for husky midwesiterns. RUFFALO.
07/16/09
Now, you're entitled to your opinions on these movies -- if you think "Philadelphia" and "Traffic" were great movies, then fine. We have different tastes. But when the examples you present don't even make chronological sense -- as when you laud "Che" and "Brokeback", which were made *after* their directors' supposed "pool movies" -- or when your argument relies on a highly dubious assumption about the motivations behind making a particular movie -- ie., that "The Good German", a black-and-white movie shot in the style of a '40s melodrama was seen as a commercial safe bet -- then I think maybe writing about film might not be your strongest suit.
Still, agreed on Ruffalo.
07/16/09
07/15/09
I actually don't mind those movies. My kids like them and more Ricardo Montalbán is always a good thing.
07/16/09
What about YOUR FABULOUS NAME?
07/16/09
06/25/09