The Second mrbasehart Film Challenge!

[mrbasehart]

I saw Alvin in a loincloth.  A loincloth! I CAN'T UNSEE THAT.

[stansimpson]

The Chipmunk Adventure is... well, it's a movie.  It stars the Chipmunks and *sigh* The Chipettes, who through utterly retarded circumstances race each other around the world in hot air balloons for $100,000.  Little do they know that they're actually jewel smugglers too, ferrying the illicit gems to all corners of the world hidden in stuffed dolls, which prompts misunderstandings and run-ins with various underworld characters and some borderline offensive "native" people who try and sacrifice them to a volcano god, but through the power of tonally skewed pop music and montage, they all narrowly escape doom and return home safely.  I really hated this movie.  I'm not a fan of the Chipmunks in the first place - aside from their voices, I think Alvin is an asshole, Theodore a glutton and Simon a bore - so enduring my third feature length movie with them involved was just about enough for the mild discomfort of the furry chappies to tip into outright loathing.  That aside, the cartoon is beautifully made, with some scenes rivaling anything Disney were doing at the time for elaboration.  Pity about everything else.

I actually like the Chipmunks (and own several albums; my taste in music is quite bizarre btw).  Anyway, I have fond memories of seeing this in the theaters.  The songs are surprisingly well-crafted imo.  And the Wooly-Bully scene was my favorite part as a kid.  Glad you picked up on the animation.  They purposefully wanted to stay away from Saturday morning animation, so they hired literally every animator they could hire across the entire globe that Disney hadn't picked up (and it almost broke their budget).  I forget the exact details but they got the best in the non-Disney business and I think it really shows.  Esp since Disney's top notch animation at the time meant Great Mouse Detective and Oliver & Co.

Having said that, I think it's odd someone would recommend it.

Now are you ready to have your mind blown.  The connection between Blackmail and The Chipmunk Adventure?  Ross Bagdasarian (the creator of The Chipmunks [aka David Seville]) was the musician neighbor in Hitchcock's Rear Window!  

[Relaxing Dragon]

Now are you ready to have your mind blown.  The connection between Blackmail and The Chipmunk Adventure?  Ross Bagdasarian (the creator of The Chipmunks [aka David Seville]) was the musician neighbor in Hitchcock's Rear Window!  

It's a small world, after all.

[mrbasehart]

The Chipmunk Adventure is... well, it's a movie.  It stars the Chipmunks and *sigh* The Chipettes, who through utterly retarded circumstances race each other around the world in hot air balloons for $100,000.  Little do they know that they're actually jewel smugglers too, ferrying the illicit gems to all corners of the world hidden in stuffed dolls, which prompts misunderstandings and run-ins with various underworld characters and some borderline offensive "native" people who try and sacrifice them to a volcano god, but through the power of tonally skewed pop music and montage, they all narrowly escape doom and return home safely.  I really hated this movie.  I'm not a fan of the Chipmunks in the first place - aside from their voices, I think Alvin is an asshole, Theodore a glutton and Simon a bore - so enduring my third feature length movie with them involved was just about enough for the mild discomfort of the furry chappies to tip into outright loathing.  That aside, the cartoon is beautifully made, with some scenes rivaling anything Disney were doing at the time for elaboration.  Pity about everything else.

I actually like the Chipmunks (and own several albums; my taste in music is quite bizarre btw).  Anyway, I have fond memories of seeing this in the theaters.  The songs are surprisingly well-crafted imo.  And the Wooly-Bully scene was my favorite part as a kid.  Glad you picked up on the animation.  They purposefully wanted to stay away from Saturday morning animation, so they hired literally every animator they could hire across the entire globe that Disney hadn't picked up (and it almost broke their budget).  I forget the exact details but they got the best in the non-Disney business and I think it really shows.  Esp since Disney's top notch animation at the time meant Great Mouse Detective and Oliver & Co.

Having said that, I think it's odd someone would recommend it.

Well, it's a challenge.  I don't expect people to give me all good films to watch.  Honestly, I can't stand the Chipmunks' voices.  They are well produced, I agree, but when I hear them sing, it's like nails on a chalkboard.

Now are you ready to have your mind blown.  The connection between Blackmail and The Chipmunk Adventure?  Ross Bagdasarian (the creator of The Chipmunks [aka David Seville]) was the musician neighbor in Hitchcock's Rear Window!  

Raymond Burr should've totally murdered THAT guy then. 

[stansimpson]

The Chipmunk Adventure is... well, it's a movie.  It stars the Chipmunks and *sigh* The Chipettes, who through utterly retarded circumstances race each other around the world in hot air balloons for $100,000.  Little do they know that they're actually jewel smugglers too, ferrying the illicit gems to all corners of the world hidden in stuffed dolls, which prompts misunderstandings and run-ins with various underworld characters and some borderline offensive "native" people who try and sacrifice them to a volcano god, but through the power of tonally skewed pop music and montage, they all narrowly escape doom and return home safely.  I really hated this movie.  I'm not a fan of the Chipmunks in the first place - aside from their voices, I think Alvin is an asshole, Theodore a glutton and Simon a bore - so enduring my third feature length movie with them involved was just about enough for the mild discomfort of the furry chappies to tip into outright loathing.  That aside, the cartoon is beautifully made, with some scenes rivaling anything Disney were doing at the time for elaboration.  Pity about everything else.

I actually like the Chipmunks (and own several albums; my taste in music is quite bizarre btw).  Anyway, I have fond memories of seeing this in the theaters.  The songs are surprisingly well-crafted imo.  And the Wooly-Bully scene was my favorite part as a kid.  Glad you picked up on the animation.  They purposefully wanted to stay away from Saturday morning animation, so they hired literally every animator they could hire across the entire globe that Disney hadn't picked up (and it almost broke their budget).  I forget the exact details but they got the best in the non-Disney business and I think it really shows.  Esp since Disney's top notch animation at the time meant Great Mouse Detective and Oliver & Co.

Having said that, I think it's odd someone would recommend it.

Well, it's a challenge.  I don't expect people to give me all good films to watch.  Honestly, I can't stand the Chipmunks' voices.  They are well produced, I agree, but when I hear them sing, it's like nails on a chalkboard.

Yeah... even when asking myself, I wonder "Why am I not horribly bothered by their voices?"  I must have some sort of immunity or something.

Now are you ready to have your mind blown.  The connection between Blackmail and The Chipmunk Adventure?  Ross Bagdasarian (the creator of The Chipmunks [aka David Seville]) was the musician neighbor in Hitchcock's Rear Window!  

Raymond Burr should've totally murdered THAT guy then. 

HA!  That is funny.  That got an audible laugh from me!

[mrbasehart]

4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days is a Romanian drama set over the course of one day in the mid 80s during the country's Communist rule.  It concerns 2 women, Elena and Gabita, the latter of whom is going to get an abortion, but as its illegal, needs help from her friend.  That's all I'll really say plot-wise, but it's an intense, fascinating film with a great eye for period and some superb performances.  I was taken by how damned tense some of the everyday scenes were, because the subtext gave the surface action so much more meaning and depth.  The director's choice to never cut in a particular scene is also pretty interesting (and one I didn't actually notice until I watched an interview with the director) and does help build suspense, especially in the penultimate scene, which while not a lot happens, so much is suggested.  Not hearing a whole lot about the movie other than its premise, I thought it would be a depressing, harrowing account of the brutality of communist rule in the 80s, and while the movie is shot through with glimpses of an overall picture of life at that time and place, it's actually a much more personal story of friendship and solidarity. 

[iv3rdawG]

I'm glad you liked both of my movie suggestions. I really think 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days just capped off one of the best years of film last decade, 2007. That year was just packed with great movies, and having that in December along with There Will Be Blood and right after The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was just crazy that three films that good could come out so close together.

Also, I don't know if you're still taking movie suggestions or not but if you are I'd like to recommend checking out the 2009 indie horror film The House of the Devil (pictured in my avatar):

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172994/

Fantastic movie. Includes one of my favorite opening credit sequences.

[gojikranz]

4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days is a Romanian drama set over the course of one day in the mid 80s during the country's Communist rule.  It concerns 2 women, Elena and Gabita, the latter of whom is going to get an abortion, but as its illegal, needs help from her friend.  That's all I'll really say plot-wise, but it's an intense, fascinating film with a great eye for period and some superb performances.  I was taken by how damned tense some of the everyday scenes were, because the subtext gave the surface action so much more meaning and depth.  The director's choice to never cut in a particular scene is also pretty interesting (and one I didn't actually notice until I watched an interview with the director) and does help build suspense, especially in the penultimate scene, which while not a lot happens, so much is suggested.  Not hearing a whole lot about the movie other than its premise, I thought it would be a depressing, harrowing account of the brutality of communist rule in the 80s, and while the movie is shot through with glimpses of an overall picture of life at that time and place, it's actually a much more personal story of friendship and solidarity. 

truly a great film.   we watched this in film studies class, which is really hte worst way to watch movies cause it kind of makes it a chore and you are forced to watch a movie which tends to be less conducive to appreciating it then picking it out yourself, and classrooms are uncomfortable.  but it really blew me away.  and yes best to just watch without knowing whats happening i didnt and it makes it more interesting i think.

[mrbasehart]

What I found slightly odd after watching the film and going onto the interviews was that the main girl speaks perfect English.  I mean, perfect.  She has this slightly plummy accent that makes you think she's upper class English.  She's also much, much cuter. 

[mrbasehart]

The Holy Mountain: This is why I don't need hallucinogenic drugs.  Alejandro Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain is a complete trip of a movie, full of seemingly incomprehensible imagery that challenges its viewer to decipher its meaning (if any).  The plot, loosely, is about a a group of powerful individuals who come together under the guidance of one man to undergo a journey to the top of a mountain where they can gain immortality from the beings that reside there, and incorporates all manner of religions and esoterica (specifically the Tarot) that doesn't seem to come to a specific overall meaning. Clearly shot on a bigger budget than El Topo, it's visual flair is unrestrained in neither its grandeur or explicitness (the amount of male scrota in this movie is probably a record for a non-porn film) and it's at once a vibrant and baffling affair that is clearly the work of an individual, unique vision.   

[gojikranz]

The Holy Mountain: This is why I don't need hallucinogenic drugs.  Alejandro Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain is a complete trip of a movie, full of seemingly incomprehensible imagery that challenges its viewer to decipher its meaning (if any).  The plot, loosely, is about a a group of powerful individuals who come together under the guidance of one man to undergo a journey to the top of a mountain where they can gain immortality from the beings that reside there, and incorporates all manner of religions and esoterica (specifically the Tarot) that doesn't seem to come to a specific overall meaning. Clearly shot on a bigger budget than El Topo, it's visual flair is unrestrained in neither its grandeur or explicitness (the amount of male scrota in this movie is probably a record for a non-porn film) and it's at once a vibrant and baffling affair that is clearly the work of an individual, unique vision.   

I love this movie its one of those movies i saw in theatres before the released the dvd and i walked out and the world seemed different.

my favorite part has to be the introduction scenes.  just great little slices of social commentary in those little scenes.

[mrbasehart]

Do The Right Thing is a day in the life of a predominantly black section of a neighbourhood in Brooklyn, where racial tensions, through petty deeds and misunderstandings, culminate in tragedy.  Understandably Spike Lee's most acclaimed film, it's been imitated but never bettered dozens of times since and though its not without its flaws, it's probably essential viewing for anyone interested in modern and independent cinema.  Aided by some superb performances - Ossie Davis, Danny Aiello, and the ever present Sam Jackson - it manages to view both sides and not make a judgement about either one, leaving the viewer to make up his own mind about who actually did "the right thing."  The boldness and vibrancy of Lee's direction is still evident today, capturing both the culture and cadences of the black community, but doesn't shy away from its unpleasant aspects either.  It can be a little too flashy sometimes, where simplicity would've provided a greater impact, and Spike Lee isn't a terribly good actor either.  Still, pretty damned good.

[mrbasehart]

Kicking this challenge's ass this past few days!

Death Wish III is an ugly, ugly movie, from its look to its message: that violence is the only answer to...well, basically any problem.  Charles Bronson plays the vigilante when yet another person he loves is murdered by "filthy creeps" who look like they've come from the set of The Warriors and he a bunch of surly oldies decide to fight back.  When it's not bad, it's laughably bad, with some ridiculous plot twists, a disturbingly wide gap in the love interest (I looked it up - 34 years difference!) and final 10 minutes that have to be seen to be believed.  Bronson mowing down waves of oncoming gangsters like a shooting gallery, before dispatching the boss with a bazooka.  For pervy Trekkies, Marina Sirtis shows off her boobs, but she's kinda being raped and murdered at the time, which takes all the fun out of it.

[stansimpson]

Kicking this challenge's ass this past few days!

Death Wish III is an ugly, ugly movie, from its look to its message: that violence is the only answer to...well, basically any problem.  Charles Bronson plays the vigilante when yet another person he loves is murdered by "filthy creeps" who look like they've come from the set of The Warriors and he a bunch of surly oldies decide to fight back.  When it's not bad, it's laughably bad, with some ridiculous plot twists, a disturbingly wide gap in the love interest (I looked it up - 34 years difference!) and final 10 minutes that have to be seen to be believed.  Bronson mowing down waves of oncoming gangsters like a shooting gallery, before dispatching the boss with a bazooka.  For pervy Trekkies, Marina Sirtis shows off her boobs, but she's kinda being raped and murdered at the time, which takes all the fun out of it.

Ha.  I was just explaining to a Trekkie friend of mine that if it weren't for Next Generation, Marina Sirtis might just forever be known as "That Raped Girl From Death Wish 3".

[mrbasehart]

Miracle on 34th Street is, I expect, a film that you Yanks have grown up with (just the like ubiquitous and over-rated Charlie Brown Christmas) though my only exposure to the film was its 90s remake with Richard Attenborough in the lead role.  I'm sure you all know the story well, so I won't bother with details about the plot, other than the two films are - unsurprisingly - similar to each other.  This 1947 version is quite wonderful, with a gentle charm radiating from Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle to the rest of the movie.  What I also liked about it was the hints of cynicism running through the movie: the manager of the Macy's store will hire someone who he thinks is mentally deranged because its good for business; the "good will" program the store embarks on is only done for publicity; and the Judge who presides over the final case only takes the time to listen because he knows it will be bad for his reelection campaign if he declares there's no Santa.  This version also loses a couple of the silly things that the remake has, like the overt allusions to Kringle actually being Santa, or the "In God we Trust" ending.  It may have some mighty plot holes, but in their places are a great big heart and a genuine sense of magic.