![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Dec. 15th, 2005
Ceci n'est pas un exit
Dec. 15th, 2005 11:00 pmAt the Saratoga Film Forum, there is a door that leads to the outside, with a large illuminated EXIT sign above it. Taped to the door is a sign saying "This is not an exit." I can only assume it's an existential object lesson of some sort.
I was there to see Howl's Moving Castle tonight. It's a tiny space, 70 seats or so, with a tiny screen, but the sound system is decent and the projector is a real projector—platters and everything. $6.00 is a little steep for the experience, but snacks are all only $1.00, so I suppose it evens out. I had to watch the movie while canted over to the right, because the tall pretty-haired girl who sat down in front of me turned around to ask if she was blocking my view, and of course she was, but I couldn't very well say that, because of the pretty hair. So, 30° off-vertical was I, and I have a crick in my neck.
It was a pretty wonderful movie. ( But frustrating as well... ) In the end, it was lovely to look at, and deeply comforting—and I can't complain about a movie with such a cute dog in it. If any Diana Wynne Jones fans want to explain it to me, please feel free.
I must be in a moviegoing mood, since I've also watched The Translator, Re-Animator, and The Brain from Planet Arous over the last few days. The Translator is a workmanlike political thriller set in the U.N.; the plot was fairly unadorned, so they tried to rely on Deep Emotional Significance to carry the audience along. Yes, genocide is bad, but one still needs to tell a good story, 'kay?
I'd somehow never seen Re-Animator. It's probably the goofiest Lovecraft adaptation out there (loosely based on Herbert West: Re-Animator), and it's just swimming in 80s goodness. And blood. Lots of blood to swim in. It stars Jeffrey Coombs, future Star Trek alumnus, as Dr. West, and he adds surprising character depth to what is basically a silly horror movie; he constantly reacts in ways one wouldn't expect. This is deservedly a classic of the genre, with probably the best (and funniest) severed-head makeout scene I've seen.
The Brain from Planet Arous is promising MSTie-fodder from the 50s, hosted (on this tape) by Elvira; I hadn't seen it since I was just a wee critter. The plot: evil space-brain takes over John Agar, good space-brain takes over his girlfriend's dog, radiation is spilled all over everything like ketchup on a Texan's steak. Add an "e" to the end of the title to learn the Secret Moral Message—turns out space-brains got the earth girl fever, and they turn otherwise upstanding scientists into blouse-ripping cavemen. Bonus points for ending on an abrupt laugh line and leaving most major plot threads unresolved.
I still have the promising Yokai Monsters to watch tonight. Tomorrow there should probably be kind of a lot of Christmas shopping, as I have been a slacker-boy on that front.
I was there to see Howl's Moving Castle tonight. It's a tiny space, 70 seats or so, with a tiny screen, but the sound system is decent and the projector is a real projector—platters and everything. $6.00 is a little steep for the experience, but snacks are all only $1.00, so I suppose it evens out. I had to watch the movie while canted over to the right, because the tall pretty-haired girl who sat down in front of me turned around to ask if she was blocking my view, and of course she was, but I couldn't very well say that, because of the pretty hair. So, 30° off-vertical was I, and I have a crick in my neck.
It was a pretty wonderful movie. ( But frustrating as well... ) In the end, it was lovely to look at, and deeply comforting—and I can't complain about a movie with such a cute dog in it. If any Diana Wynne Jones fans want to explain it to me, please feel free.
I must be in a moviegoing mood, since I've also watched The Translator, Re-Animator, and The Brain from Planet Arous over the last few days. The Translator is a workmanlike political thriller set in the U.N.; the plot was fairly unadorned, so they tried to rely on Deep Emotional Significance to carry the audience along. Yes, genocide is bad, but one still needs to tell a good story, 'kay?
I'd somehow never seen Re-Animator. It's probably the goofiest Lovecraft adaptation out there (loosely based on Herbert West: Re-Animator), and it's just swimming in 80s goodness. And blood. Lots of blood to swim in. It stars Jeffrey Coombs, future Star Trek alumnus, as Dr. West, and he adds surprising character depth to what is basically a silly horror movie; he constantly reacts in ways one wouldn't expect. This is deservedly a classic of the genre, with probably the best (and funniest) severed-head makeout scene I've seen.
The Brain from Planet Arous is promising MSTie-fodder from the 50s, hosted (on this tape) by Elvira; I hadn't seen it since I was just a wee critter. The plot: evil space-brain takes over John Agar, good space-brain takes over his girlfriend's dog, radiation is spilled all over everything like ketchup on a Texan's steak. Add an "e" to the end of the title to learn the Secret Moral Message—turns out space-brains got the earth girl fever, and they turn otherwise upstanding scientists into blouse-ripping cavemen. Bonus points for ending on an abrupt laugh line and leaving most major plot threads unresolved.
I still have the promising Yokai Monsters to watch tonight. Tomorrow there should probably be kind of a lot of Christmas shopping, as I have been a slacker-boy on that front.