I definitely liked Inkheart . 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

GB

I too enjoyed Inkheart. Brendan Fraser is a good Mo. In fact, I think I prefer the movie's use of

I tend to associate that movie and book with The City of Ember, probably because I saw that movie and read that book roughly around the same time. I enjoyed that adaptation as well; Bill Murray makes a good Mayor. I also liked the casting choices for Lina and Clary. But

one of my favorites is Inkheart, though that is probably obvious from my avatar!
anyone else like Inkheart?

I LOVE the book and really enjoyed the movie (as you can probably tell from my username.)...but I definitely prefer the book. I did think that Paul Bettany was FAB. as Dustfinger...he was exactly how I pictured him in the book! And I thought Brendan Fraser was really great as Mo! The only thing that really bugged me in the movie was the Shadow...that was disappointing.

stargazer: I love the Movie of City of Ember and I agree with you about ! I thought it was too big!
but other than that, I love the movie!
I also agree with you about Inkheart !

Wow, I haven't been in here since page 14.

I haven't seen The Phantom of the Opera movie but I saw the theatre production on stage back in 1999. I'm not one for musicals but this was brilliant!

*whispers* The book is better.

I can't believe you hadn't seen the Bourne movies before this month, Shadowlander! I'm glad you like them. They are definitely some of the best and smartest action movies out there, in my opinion.

*doesn't want to see the new Journey to the Center of the Earth, and liked the old one aside from Pat Boone's superfluous singing and shirtlessness* It's such a fun adventure film. Verily, James Mason rocks.

Every year on December 7th I try and make time to watch Tora Tora Tora(1970), starring E.G. Marshall, Martin Balsam, and Jason Robards.

And Joseph Cotten, no? I should try to see that at some point.

I agree with your general appraisal of Shyamalan's films, Steerforth (oh, and W4J too - good ideas needing work - spot on!), but I wouldn't want to get into a debate over The Village with you. And I rarely if ever agree with Ebert. Locals Gary Cogill and Philip Wunch were always my main men when it came to movie reviewers.

I'm not a Bond fan, but I've always wanted to see On Her Majesty's Secret Service. "More emotional depth" always helps with me. Not to mention Dame Diana Rigg. (Big Avengers fan here.)

So Bryce Dallas Howard was wasted in yet another itty-bitty bland role in a Big Action Movie? First Spider-Man 3, then T4 ... this needs to stop. One thing's for sure: she needs to find herself a new agent.

Does it make you feel any better lysander that Bryce Dallas Howard is going to be Victoria in the next Twilight movie Eclipse. She's the major villain, though she really only pops up nearer the end than sooner.

She does need a better agent.

P.S."Brooklyn!"

*pop in after a short absence*

Well, recently I watched Spider-Man 3 on the FX channel. Having only seen parts of Spider-Man (a really overblown film) and really liking Spider-Man 2, I went in with medium level expectations. I really should have gone in expecting a horrible film since that's what I got.....

The Plot: Overlong and over complicated seemingly for the sake of being complicated so the writers could say "You see! We made a complicated action film!!!". We have six different story lines going on at the same time: Peter and MJ having problems (yet again.... ), appearance of Sandman, Peter going "bad", Peter going out with Bryce Dallas Howard (can't think of her characters name), birth of Venom and Harry's ongoing problems with his Dad's... ghost?

Some films can have multiple stories going on at the same time and make it work (Star Wars IV, V, VI, TDK, LotR, etc...). Unfortunately, this is not one of those. The main problem is the fact that you really don't care what happens to any of the characters, especially Peter and MJ. Also, you would think by film 3 they could work out all their differences instead of breaking-up in each film....

Acting: Mostly sub-par for all the actors. This is a real disappointment after the previous film where all the acting was topnotch. Also, I must agree with Lys and others that Bryce Dallas Howard is completely and utterly wasted in this film. A really big shame after her amazing role in "The Village".

Special Effects: Amazing and dreadful. I think that sums up the effects in the film nicely. There are moments where the CGI looks amazing, but there are as many or more moments where it is painfully obvious that you're watching a completely CG scene. Most of the worst CGI comes from the many "falling battle" scenes throughout the film.

Also, Venom is completely wasted in the film. What could have been a great, creepy villain is degraded to second-hand bad guy with the usual revenge motive.

Score: One of the few good things about this film. Christopher Young (Hellraiser, The Fly II, The Uninvited, Ghost Rider) takes over scoring from superhero veteran Danny Elfman (Batman, Spider-Man 1 and 2, most of Tim Burton's films). The score contains the heroic feeling of Elfman's music, while also adding a new "Christopher Young" spin on things. I really wish they would release this score on CD....

Final thoughts: Wasted time, energy and talent. A HUGE disappointment after Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3 feels like a film that was rushed together without any care *reminds me of Pirates 2 and 3.....* The score is really the only good thing about this film.

If you want a superhero film, stick with Superman, Christopher Nolan's Batman films, Spider-Man 2 or Iron Man. Just skip this film. Nothing to see here, folks.....

Rating: 2 out of 5.

I really like the movie The Wizard Of Oz! I just watched again recently..... now I want to watch Inkheart again because of

Does it make you feel any better lysander that Bryce Dallas Howard is going to be Victoria in the next Twilight movie, Eclipse?

Eh, kinda. That's neat that she does have the main "bad girl" role—I thought it was a much smaller part than that—but oh for the days when Shyamalan and Branagh were building whole projects around her!

Great Spider-Man 3 review, PC, although I wonder how you were able to write all of that and not mention the, ahem, "high point" of the whole movie: the Peter Parker emo dancing scene. I hope Sam Raimi is properly ashamed of that now. I know I was while watching it. And believe it or not, I actually liked the first one of the movies best (I know, I'm like the only person in the world who did), although obviously both it and the second were better than this trainwreck.

Wow, I've watched 6 movies since I was last in here—not counting my earlier post today, obviously . I'll try to be succinct in giving my thoughts on them, and will probably fail in the attempt.

While I was still at university a friend goaded me into watching Made for Each Other (1939) with her—and as it starred the marvelous Jimmy Stewart and Carole Lombard, I was more than willing to be goaded. For the most part I was impressed. This is the sort of movie they simply don't make anymore, a simple, honest look at the everyday life of a young married couple. There is no offensive content, and though my friend warned me that it was sad, I didn't find it overwhelmingly so. Stewart and Lombard are refreshingly down-to-earth as they work their way through various trials and obstacles, and certain scenes are imbued with quiet humor. There is one scene that is quite tragic: it occurs on New Year's Eve, when the two of them are out partying on New Year's Eve, although neither of them is really in a holiday sort of mood. When the hour strikes, they see a younger couple kissing, and Stewart leans towards Lombard to do the same, but is unable to. Unfortunately after this scene the film becomes so ridiculous and melodramatic that it seems a completely different movie. A movie that could have been great but for the last 10-20 minutes.

The first of my two recent viewings from B-movie director Roger Corman, I actually found The Haunted Palace (1963) quite impressive. Nominally part of his Edgar Allen Poe series, it is really based on a short story by H. P. Lovecraft. Perhaps the fact that I was unfamiliar with the source material helped, but I really think this is one of the best of his movies that I've seen. Not a masterpiece, mind you, but good solid entertainment. Certainly it is better cast than most of the Poe films; besides the ever-present Vincent Price, it features such old school character actors as Lon Chaney, Jr. and Elisha Cook, Jr., not to mention the lovely Debra Paget. It is also beautifully designed and photographed considering the small budget. I'm not exactly sure what to think of the music. The main theme is haunting and memorable, but there is perhaps too much of it—it seemed to be blaring throughout most of the final 20 minutes. Vincent Price, who I had not previously thought of as a great actor, gives a very fine performance here, or rather a pair of fine performances. The way he switches between the two characters, by simply changing his voice and expression, is quite incredible. Note that there are a few moments of genuine horror in this one, all the more effective because they are underplayed. It is certainly not for the youngsters, as their is also one near-rape scene that is still a little shocking today.

Then there is the same director's The Terror (1963). This movie is just BAD. The title is bad (originally it was to be Lady of the Shadows, which fits the subject matter much better). The dialogue is bad. The acting is bad. The plot was probably bad too, but they appear to have scrapped that. I had almost as much fun watching the film as I did reading the posts made by the film's few defenders on IMDb. One of them suggested Criterion remaster it and release it on DVD. Oh dear. You know you've got a bad film when Boris Karloff does nothing for the last half of the film but get all weepy next to his dead wife's tomb. Of the young Jack Nicholson I will not deign to speak. Most horribly, this film may have the worst plot twist of all time, something to the effect that

Now we're getting into holiday movie territory.

A few nights ago my family was looking for something on the TV to watch, and I was roped into watching Elf (2003). I really, really did not want to watch this movie, but I ended up enjoying it in spite of myself. I still find it utterly ridiculous that the students in my Masterpieces of Film class rated this as the Greatest Holiday Movie of All Time (right before It's a Wonderful Life ). Parts of it are genuinely funny, but other parts are just stupid. Most of the North Pole scenes are a case in point. Overrated, but watchable.

Holiday Inn (1942)—ah, now here is a holiday movie I love. I think it's often unjustly overlooked in favor of the pseudo-remake White Christmas; though I haven't seen the latter in some time, this may very well be the better film. Though the plot is little more than a battle of the wills as Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire vie for the hands of two ladies in succession, the film is incredibly engaging. It's interesting: while Bing stoops to some pretty low deeds in the film, one can't ever help liking him, cheering or feeling sorry for him as the occasion requires. Meanwhile, Astaire does the best he can with a rather unsympathetic character. The concept of an inn that is open only on holidays is quite neat, and of course makes for some wonderful musical numbers by Irving Berlin. "White Christmas" is of course the most famous of these, followed closely by "Easter Parade," but I quite like the song composed for Lincoln's birthday, although it would be seen as quite racist today. And for amazing dancing, there's Astaire's 4th of July number, complete with firecrackers!

Last night TCM was airing a program titled Deja vu, in which they played various incarnations of the same story back-to-back. I caught the tail end of My Fair Lady, an old favorite, but was more interested in the earlier Pygmalion (1938). I should admit up front that this is not one of my favorite stories ever, and that my love for the musical probably stems more from an adoration of Lerner & Loewe (and Audrey Hepburn) than any admiration I have for Shaw. However, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film and comparing it with My Fair Lady. I can see why among certain circles it is regarded as superior—it's much more intimate and conservative in its storytelling. And it just "gets" some things that the later film misses totally, such as the early connection made between Higgins, Eliza, and the Eynsford-Hills, not to mention the setting up of the latter as prigs. This is IN the 60s musical, but totally glossed over. If you're not looking for it, you'll miss it. Additionally, I was much better disposed towards the ending in this version, largely because Freddy was such an idiot, but mostly because of Leslie Howard's masterful performance. His Higgins is still very much a misogynist, but passionate, youthful, and—as far as I could tell—very much in love with Eliza. Wendy Hiller was wonderful as well, but after Howard my favorite performance was from Wilfrid Lawson as her father.

I saw Elf.....it kinda weirded me out! it was funny in sme parts, but it was kinda silly in others......just my two cents!

Being a big fan of the Spidey Comics, I loved all the Spiderman films PC004. The Multiple Sub-Plots of Spidey 3 is fairly typical of the comics. And you can't blame the director (Sam Raimi) for stuffing it like a Christmas Turkey .

He didn't want to add Venom into the mix, but all the Fanboys (Yes, I'm guilty as charged ) demanded it. So Stan Lee, the Incorrigible publisher and creator of Spiderman leaned on Raimi to put Venom in.

Gwen Stacy was also a necessary complication in Spidey's love-life, as shall be The Black Cat in any future Spidey films. Peter Parker/Spiderman's life is supposed to be complicated; it's the very Essence of his story.

And by the way Lysander, that Emo dancing scene was awesome . It goes to the heart of Parker's character as such a nerdy Good Guy, that's his idea of being a "Bad Boy". It's about as Bad as the Poor Old Alien Symbiote can make him .

GB

@ Lys. Oh yeah! I was so carried away trying to dissect the rest of the film that I totally missed mentioning that!! Which dance scene are you referring to? The one on the street or the one in the club? They were both pretty..... bad.

@ GB. Coming at the film from a non-Comic loving angle, it's pretty bad. Of course, I can sit and defend some of (but not all of) the Japanese Godzilla films. Sooo, yeah.....

Coming from a fanboy (no offense meant by this!) standpoint, I can see where the film would be better. I still hold by my opinion though.

I still find it utterly ridiculous that the students in my Masterpieces of Film class rated this as the Greatest Holiday Movie of All Time (right before It's a Wonderful Life ).

Are you serious?? That's...criminal...

I liked Spiderman 3 overall, although I think Venom wasn't used nearly enough. His introduction into the film occurs relatively late, and you're largely stuck with the way-too-emotional Sandman and Green Goblin. And while I could understand that Peter was getting a little full of himself Mary Jane's behavior was grating to me.

Because I read a few comics in my day (not a whole lot, but enough to know what was going on at one time ), I'd say...

Spoiler

Peter would be better off with Gwen Stacy anyway, but it'd be shortlived because she ends up getting killed (I think by the Goblin, although I don't know how they'd work that in the film considering both Goblins are dead now) and he gets stuck with MJ in the end anyway. No win situation there...

Elf was a funny movie in some places, but like Ly said it was kind of goofy in others. I thought Bob Newhart's character was the funniest, but the dry wit thing always appealed to me more than slapstick anyway. It had its moments but some of it was kind of goofy too. And I felt a little uncomfortable when Buddy's girlfriend was singing there at the end, like I shouldn't have been watching or something.

They really shouldn't have even bothered with Gwen Stacy at this point. It's too late for her to be in the story. They've fused together the Ultimate Spidey and the 616 Spidey storylines for these movies, but both of them had already met Gwen long before their relationships with their Mary Janes had gotten that serious. The Ultimate Spidey went to high school with Gwen and she was

I think I must be one of the few that thought that Emo Spidey's dance routine down the street was funny.

I thought the Emo-Spidey dance was hilarious.

I went to see Elf in an IMAX theater and thought it was cute and funny. When I saw it again on DVD I thought it was dumb. Then I saw it with my dad and suddenly it was funny again because he laughed a lot. But yeah, I wouldn't call it the Greatest Holiday Movie of All Time. For that I'd pick Miracle on 34th Street or yeah, It's a Wonderful Life.

P.S."Brooklyn!"