An Orlando weekend...
Lessee...
I watched KoH on the smaller of our two TVs and I have to say the movie does lose something from big to small screen. I was feeling that the beginning was a bit slow, because the majesty of the cinematography that riveted me in the theater was diminished by squeezing it into that letterboxing. Argh.
But once it got rolling, I was all caught up all over again. I even cried again, but of course I'm a big mush. :P I just really like that fucking film, and it was fun to watch some of the extras and learn a few things and listen to the actors talk about the movie. I just hate that this film didn't do better. I don't understand people at all; I'm starting to feel really distanced from the rest of the world these days.
The production grid option on the extras is pretty cool. It's nice being able to get to exactly what you want w/o trying to guess where that might be. I chose actors in pre-production and got to see Orli and Liam script-reading together and laughing and Orli has his Troy hair, I think. And then in later interviews he's got the POTC look going...it's startling how different he can look.
I watched one of the little costuming blurbs and it is sooo cool...the clothes in that film are so perfect. And Liam made a good point, that all the knights with him have their own distinct look, and that's true. A lot of period films, when there's a group of men you often mix them up or can't tell who's who, but in this case they all had their own personal style and that was really awesome. Orlando was so damn sexy in chain mail and those blue robes on Jeremy Irons are just delicious. And Sibylla, of course, her costumes were luscious and I loved the intense make-up, too. You know, watching it again I think I liked her character even more. I think when you watch a film a few times, if it's good enough, you start to be able to read between the lines more and understand the arc of the character better. I'd reallllly be interested in seeing some of those cut scenes. Argh. As much as I hate having to buy a second DVD, I do hope Scott makes an extended edition.
~~
I enjoyed Etown just as much the second time, though in a completely different way. The laughs weren't as big as the first time because of course, you knew what was coming. But I also knew that the movie was long and knew when it was going to end, so I was able to just sit back and enjoy the journey more. And I actually got a lot more emotional this time. Hubby gave me a bit of a teasing smile because I started sniffling right at the beginning, but it was funny how it struck me--when Drew is on the plane and Claire takes the suits from him. She gets them up to the front to hang them up and when she looks at them her whole face suddenly changes, and I realized it was then that she knew that his father had died. For some reason that made me all choked up...I think it's a sort of empathy for her empathy, you know? I think she played that moment really well.
And I cried much more when Drew broke down in the car this time. I think on first viewing I had been expecting the movie to end before the car trip and so I was a little disoriented. But now, knowing the journey was coming, I was able to savor that part of it more, and it was really amazing. I know a lot of reviewers said it could have been a movie in itself and I agree. I think he definitely could have trimmed some events leading up to it and given the audience more time to absorb the journey with Drew and his father. Watching Drew go on this trip, talking to his dad, telling him everything, and then finally, finally breaking down...argh...I'm getting teary just writing about it. Told you I'm a mush. But I know thingsunseen will understand. :P
As for what to leave out, I thought of two things. Firstly, the morning after Claire and Drew spend the night together, there's the discussion they have in the parking lot. Where he tells her about his failure and she makes him feel bad for not thinking of her more. It doesn't play right, because it makes her seem almost unsympathetic--I know the point is supposed to be that he shouldn't be thinking about superficial things like the success or failure of a shoe, instead he should be thinking about life and love. But his father's just died and he's so very vulnerable, and her ranting about needing some attention seems wrong. I almost think you could have gotten away with cutting it altogether, but definitely you could whittle it down to get the point across about being creative and being proud of what you've done and not letting some stupid profit margin get you down. Which is sadly something Orlando can use as advice for his real life, doing wonderful creative work in films that get dismissed unfairly.
On the first viewing I had thought that maybe they could cut the whole memorial service--much as I love Susan Sarandon, I thought her scene went on a bit. But again, revisiting it I got it a lot more, I understood what was happening there. And yes, I cried. Again.
This time out I thought they should just end it after Drew's mom's tap dance. But then I realized his cousin needed to perform with his band, because it was important to have closure with that, and to show his dad finally accepting/understanding him a bit more. And Claire doing the airline thing with directing people towards the exits is hilarious. On a purely aesthetic and emotional level, it's a beautiful moment when you see Drew with the sprinklers raining down on him and he has those dark, dark sad eyes and just...gahhh...
So, hubby and I were talking, and saying the problem was that the whole thing just went on too long. Too much with the burning bird, they could've just had it fall out and burn up and cut a good five minutes out of the middle. The feel of the scene as it was shot just didn't fit with the rest of the picture, so I think that's one of the little spots he went wrong.
It follows what I felt the first time around, that there was just so much in this that was wonderful, and Crowe found it difficult to cut any of those scenes out. Watching it a second time, I was able to invest more in the things I didn't have room for the first time. Etown is kind of like a buffet...hee...each time you visit you try another part of it but if you try to digest all of it in one sitting you get too full and overwhelmed. :P
So, I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it muchly the second time and found new little gem moments. And that Orlando was still as lovely as ever, and I have decided that my favorite moment is--no wait, I think Drew and Claire kissing is my favorite moment. Because OMG the way Orlando kisses!! *melts and essplodes all at once* I love the way he attacks and envelops but it's not sloppy or overbearing...it's just...intense. What Claire says about that kiss being more personal than a lot of sex she's had is the perfect description, because that was definitely a perfect, personal, intimate kiss. *writhes*
So okay, my second favorite moment is Drew on the phone, dancing down the hallway, chanting "Chuck and Cindy" in that sing-songy way before going to steal a beer...OMG...it just makes me laugh and squee all at the same time. Drew is so much the sort of boy I like (just ask perseph2hades about my hubby...hee!) and I just adore him in that scene. Especially the way he just goes with it when Chuck gets all smooshy...god, the outfits those two had on and the clanking beer bottles!!? Priceless! LOL!
Well, I've prolly done enough babbling on that so I'll just close on a pure Orlando lust note and talk about the way those tee-shirts hugged his body...oh my...his arms and pecs are incredible, and I love watching him move...rowrrr. I did giggle and cheer inwardly when Drew's aunt asked who had been feeding him! Hee! That's right, honey, give him some fried chicken, please!! With gravy on his mashed potatoes!! *G*
*hearts*
(I'm crabby enough these days as is so I'll try not to think about the fact that The Fog was number one this weekend. The only thing is that Etown is the sort of movie older adults will go see and they don't necessarily run out on opening weekend. Hopefully word-of-mouth will be good and then the longevity of the film will prove its worth. At least I'm hoping.)
~~
I also started writing a bit of a very silly Sean/Orli, but I've no idea if it will go anywhere...ergh...
I watched KoH on the smaller of our two TVs and I have to say the movie does lose something from big to small screen. I was feeling that the beginning was a bit slow, because the majesty of the cinematography that riveted me in the theater was diminished by squeezing it into that letterboxing. Argh.
But once it got rolling, I was all caught up all over again. I even cried again, but of course I'm a big mush. :P I just really like that fucking film, and it was fun to watch some of the extras and learn a few things and listen to the actors talk about the movie. I just hate that this film didn't do better. I don't understand people at all; I'm starting to feel really distanced from the rest of the world these days.
The production grid option on the extras is pretty cool. It's nice being able to get to exactly what you want w/o trying to guess where that might be. I chose actors in pre-production and got to see Orli and Liam script-reading together and laughing and Orli has his Troy hair, I think. And then in later interviews he's got the POTC look going...it's startling how different he can look.
I watched one of the little costuming blurbs and it is sooo cool...the clothes in that film are so perfect. And Liam made a good point, that all the knights with him have their own distinct look, and that's true. A lot of period films, when there's a group of men you often mix them up or can't tell who's who, but in this case they all had their own personal style and that was really awesome. Orlando was so damn sexy in chain mail and those blue robes on Jeremy Irons are just delicious. And Sibylla, of course, her costumes were luscious and I loved the intense make-up, too. You know, watching it again I think I liked her character even more. I think when you watch a film a few times, if it's good enough, you start to be able to read between the lines more and understand the arc of the character better. I'd reallllly be interested in seeing some of those cut scenes. Argh. As much as I hate having to buy a second DVD, I do hope Scott makes an extended edition.
~~
I enjoyed Etown just as much the second time, though in a completely different way. The laughs weren't as big as the first time because of course, you knew what was coming. But I also knew that the movie was long and knew when it was going to end, so I was able to just sit back and enjoy the journey more. And I actually got a lot more emotional this time. Hubby gave me a bit of a teasing smile because I started sniffling right at the beginning, but it was funny how it struck me--when Drew is on the plane and Claire takes the suits from him. She gets them up to the front to hang them up and when she looks at them her whole face suddenly changes, and I realized it was then that she knew that his father had died. For some reason that made me all choked up...I think it's a sort of empathy for her empathy, you know? I think she played that moment really well.
And I cried much more when Drew broke down in the car this time. I think on first viewing I had been expecting the movie to end before the car trip and so I was a little disoriented. But now, knowing the journey was coming, I was able to savor that part of it more, and it was really amazing. I know a lot of reviewers said it could have been a movie in itself and I agree. I think he definitely could have trimmed some events leading up to it and given the audience more time to absorb the journey with Drew and his father. Watching Drew go on this trip, talking to his dad, telling him everything, and then finally, finally breaking down...argh...I'm getting teary just writing about it. Told you I'm a mush. But I know thingsunseen will understand. :P
As for what to leave out, I thought of two things. Firstly, the morning after Claire and Drew spend the night together, there's the discussion they have in the parking lot. Where he tells her about his failure and she makes him feel bad for not thinking of her more. It doesn't play right, because it makes her seem almost unsympathetic--I know the point is supposed to be that he shouldn't be thinking about superficial things like the success or failure of a shoe, instead he should be thinking about life and love. But his father's just died and he's so very vulnerable, and her ranting about needing some attention seems wrong. I almost think you could have gotten away with cutting it altogether, but definitely you could whittle it down to get the point across about being creative and being proud of what you've done and not letting some stupid profit margin get you down. Which is sadly something Orlando can use as advice for his real life, doing wonderful creative work in films that get dismissed unfairly.
On the first viewing I had thought that maybe they could cut the whole memorial service--much as I love Susan Sarandon, I thought her scene went on a bit. But again, revisiting it I got it a lot more, I understood what was happening there. And yes, I cried. Again.
This time out I thought they should just end it after Drew's mom's tap dance. But then I realized his cousin needed to perform with his band, because it was important to have closure with that, and to show his dad finally accepting/understanding him a bit more. And Claire doing the airline thing with directing people towards the exits is hilarious. On a purely aesthetic and emotional level, it's a beautiful moment when you see Drew with the sprinklers raining down on him and he has those dark, dark sad eyes and just...gahhh...
So, hubby and I were talking, and saying the problem was that the whole thing just went on too long. Too much with the burning bird, they could've just had it fall out and burn up and cut a good five minutes out of the middle. The feel of the scene as it was shot just didn't fit with the rest of the picture, so I think that's one of the little spots he went wrong.
It follows what I felt the first time around, that there was just so much in this that was wonderful, and Crowe found it difficult to cut any of those scenes out. Watching it a second time, I was able to invest more in the things I didn't have room for the first time. Etown is kind of like a buffet...hee...each time you visit you try another part of it but if you try to digest all of it in one sitting you get too full and overwhelmed. :P
So, I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it muchly the second time and found new little gem moments. And that Orlando was still as lovely as ever, and I have decided that my favorite moment is--no wait, I think Drew and Claire kissing is my favorite moment. Because OMG the way Orlando kisses!! *melts and essplodes all at once* I love the way he attacks and envelops but it's not sloppy or overbearing...it's just...intense. What Claire says about that kiss being more personal than a lot of sex she's had is the perfect description, because that was definitely a perfect, personal, intimate kiss. *writhes*
So okay, my second favorite moment is Drew on the phone, dancing down the hallway, chanting "Chuck and Cindy" in that sing-songy way before going to steal a beer...OMG...it just makes me laugh and squee all at the same time. Drew is so much the sort of boy I like (just ask perseph2hades about my hubby...hee!) and I just adore him in that scene. Especially the way he just goes with it when Chuck gets all smooshy...god, the outfits those two had on and the clanking beer bottles!!? Priceless! LOL!
Well, I've prolly done enough babbling on that so I'll just close on a pure Orlando lust note and talk about the way those tee-shirts hugged his body...oh my...his arms and pecs are incredible, and I love watching him move...rowrrr. I did giggle and cheer inwardly when Drew's aunt asked who had been feeding him! Hee! That's right, honey, give him some fried chicken, please!! With gravy on his mashed potatoes!! *G*
*hearts*
(I'm crabby enough these days as is so I'll try not to think about the fact that The Fog was number one this weekend. The only thing is that Etown is the sort of movie older adults will go see and they don't necessarily run out on opening weekend. Hopefully word-of-mouth will be good and then the longevity of the film will prove its worth. At least I'm hoping.)
~~
I also started writing a bit of a very silly Sean/Orli, but I've no idea if it will go anywhere...ergh...