More than once in the last two years, someone, somewhere - never the same person twice - has suggested that I check out EQUILIBRIUM. I'm always extolled its virtues, and told how underrated it is. Usually this is all concluded by the explanation that "THE MATRIX came out just before it and out-Equilibrium'd EQUILIBRIUM".
Well, last night I caught it at Toronto Underground during the Defending the Indefensible Series. Every one of y'all that told me I needed to see this over the years? You're stoned. This movie was laughably bad, and I would have called the whole night a miss if it wasn't for the fact that ten of my film geek friends all happened to be at the same showing. A night out to laugh with friends is never a total loss. Luckily I ditched out before they moved on to the second half of the evening's affairs - GHOSTBUSTERS 2.
For your listening and reading fulfillment, I give you...
Reel Insight came back this week! Funny thing - they were only of for a week, but it felt like a whole lot longer. What can I say, a week without Thurogers is like a week without sunshine.
Admit it folks - you've done this.
Wilde.Dash over at Love & Squalor plugged a hole in her pop culture database this week; Take a look as she experiences GHOST for the first time (Full disclosure: Part of this link is the hopes that I can convince Wilde to do me a solid).
Helms is working on some revisionist cinema. I want to contribute, but my brain is tapioca for such things these days.
A Fantasia film I heard good things about was William Eubank's LOVE. I'm hopeful that it turns up in my local scene sooner rather than later. Edgar at Between The Seats has a pretty swell write-up on it, stoking my anticipation even more!
In other film festival news, young Clift is taking in the sights at MIFF this week.
Enjoy!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Everybody's Talkin' 7 - 29 (Chatter from Other Bloggers)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
13 comments:
To quote a prolific, highly-respected, award-winning blogger...
"Watch it again."
Yay for linkage!
Oh and Huzzah, finally someone I can grumble about how cheapish and bleh Equilibrium is as I grump every time I see it on lists of "Best Sci-Fi Film of All Time." I really think it's one of those movies that is loved more for its concept than its execution. Because that's really what people talk to me about when they talk to me about it. They never really discuss any of the scenes, or the characters, or the story. All about the concept.
Thanks for the RI love! This week's episode will consist of lots of random laughing. You'll either love it or hate it.
As for Equilibrium, I'm with ya! I hear people going on and on about this flick and wonder if we watched the same one. I liked the concept and Bale and Watson (and the brief appearance by Mr. Bean in the beginning), but "Gunkata"? Seriously? It sounds like something a 12 year old boy came up with.
@ Sean... Eventually. But I was given a lot of discussion and context before the film even started, so it's unlikely to change my opinion.
@ Univarn... You're welcome. I get people liking it and all, but putting it on a list of "Best Sci-Fi Films" is a bit much.
@ Rachel... Is the random laughing in the episode yet to come? Because to my ears last week's episode sounded peachy.
Funny thing about the Gun Kata - the final scene in which it's used reminded me less of kung-fu, and more of two dudes having a bitch-slap fight.
It was amusing, but not at all for the right reasons.
Oh no, the silly episode is yet to come. We recorded this week's episode last night after a long hard day remedied by a few margaritas (on my end).
My immense thanks for the link.
As for Equilibrium, I agree with the comments here - the concept is intriguing, the execution is another story.
Is Equilibrium the Christian Bale movie where he dodges bullets by doing some version of the electric slide?
Loved that post about judging a friend by their DVD collection.
Short of the gunkata moments, I can barely remember a single thing about Equlibrium - I didn't hate the film and don't actually remember laughing out loud at its absurdity, but I think it's probably an even worse commentary on it to say that I can barely bring the film to mind when it's mentioned...
Wish I could've joined the fun last night Hatter (especially since I knew a lot of the 'crowd' would be there - sigh, I miss way too many of these events), but I had to bring a couple of 11 year-olds to see HP7 pt2. I enjoyed it, but have numerous issues with it too (the filmspotting guys covered a lot of them - essentially a lot of big moments not quite being as powerful as they should've been).
Oh, and I agree with Alan about Nicholas' post about judging someone else's DVD collection because 1) it's well-written, funny and indeed something I would do; 2) his opinions match up with mine for the most part; 3)he recognizes the brilliance of Ocean's Twelve and 4) he name checks me! B-)
Equillibrium is a dumb, derivative, poorly executed cheese-fest. If someone says to me that it's a "great, great" film, it takes every muscle in my body to not give them a look of abject horror/pity. If someone says "Watch it again..." I suspect they mean to do me serious harm and simply walk away.
@ Rachel... Lookin' forward to it!
@ Nicholas... Anytime mate. Next time somone recommends EQUILIBRIUM, I'll just re-read 1984 instead.
@ Alan... That's the film alright! Helps that the dudes shooting at him have the accuracy of Stormtroopers.
@ Bob... You were missed, and to summarize - Tye Always Awesome Sasha's best defense for EQUILIBRIUM was "Isn't the gunkata awesome?"
Now that you've seen Potter, I think there's a podcast you should listen to.
@ Yojimbo... This is the same screening series that has trotted out FREDDY GOT FINGERED. and admittedly, howling at the movie with a crowd was a lot of fun.
Hey Hatter. I missed this last week (trying to keep up with festival coverage AND read everyone’s blogs just isn’t doable), but thanks so much for the plug!
@ Tom... (Sorry for the delay) You're very welcome. Looks like you dug into a lot of awesome watches at MIFF...really got me primed and ready for my Cinematic Nirvana next month!
Post a Comment