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500 Days of Summer

September 4th 2009 04:10

"Let me start by saying that this is not a love story."

500 Days of Summer Poster

Let me actually start by saying that this movie was BRILLIANT. Everything about it was done right. I think it was pretty much the best movie of 2009 so far.

I'll start at the acting, like always. The acting in this was sublime. I don't see how either Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Zooey Deschanel could not have their careers skyrocket after this movie. Even all the extras and people with small roles were perfect. The irony of the main character's little sister and her use of humor was brilliant. The protagonist's friends were also very well played. Everything was great about the acting. Usually you can pick out one thing you didn't like in a movie (or in a movie like GI Joe's case....everything), but in this, I had a hard time not liking anything.

The directing was also brilliant, and perhaps, even more. Watching this was a bit like a Christopher Nolan film (consistently out of order), but it was very organized and clear. The order and the juxtaposition of scenes and tones, and the creativity of it all was so refreshing and powerful. The best things about this movie are the understated details, like the comparison to the first scene and The Graduate (I'm trying really hard not to spoil any of it for you). The situational irony, the use of the sets and script was perfect. Everything looked, felt, and sounded good about this movie.

The story was amazing. This was like a revolution in Romantic comedies. Honestly, I think it transcends the genre, like so many great movies do. A great Sci-Fi, like Star Wars really shouldn't be called a Science Fiction movie. A great action movie like Die Hard, that has real characters and a story shouldn't be put in the same category as most action movies. This film was great because it was so true. A lot of the people I saw it with were in relationships, and were very naive, and were in their first relationship, so they still assumed that things like what happened in the movie don't happen. Not to people like them. I think the movie struck a chord with them then, and their natural reaction is to just think that it's, and I quote, "stupid." It's a tough one to wrap your head around, but when you realize the twist and you see the ending, you'll realize that this movie is brilliantly written.

In short, this movie, was perfect. It was the most original and creative thing to come out of the box office all year, and is hands down the best romantic comedy I've ever seen.

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Posted By: Fremen - Category: Movies

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I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell Review and Premiere Tour Experience.

September 3rd 2009 05:55

I just came back (literally, like, an hour ago), from Boston to see Tucker Max's much hyped movie, I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, which shares its name with the New York Times Bestseller by the same name. About the book.

Just like the signed poster I got at the Premiere

This movie was ok, and I think I'll review the movie itself first.

Now, I'm a huge fan of comedies, and a huge fan of Tucker Max. I discovered his stuff at the end of my junior year of high school and read his whole website over the course of 6 days. Recently, my friend, who knows I'm a huge fan, bought his book for me (I'm surprisingly stingy when it comes to buying books that aren't sci-fi...).

I felt that the script was TOO good. It was nearly impossible for the acting to live up to that script. In a way, I feel bad for the actors, because while they tried to act as well as they could, some moments were not written to be performed. Specifically, the end of the first bar scene wasn't done well, but the rest of the movie played pretty well. Even though some of the comedy felt off, the serious parts, and the characterization was done very well.

The directing, casting, and the sets all were nearly perfect. All the little things fell together very well. I can see how people loved this movie, but I hate to say it, it just felt a bit average. It looked and sounded like a cheap indie. The only problem is that it was written and could've been so much better.

That said, while Tucker Max might not be an Oscar winning movie maker, it was VERY good. It was no Star Trek, or sadly, Hangover. I wanted it to be better, but I just felt that Hangover was so much more ridiculous and funny. IHTSBIH was a better whole movie, but as a comedy, it just wasn't of the same caliber. That said, the dialogue was better in IHTSBIH.

Along with the good movie was a GREAT premiere. TONS of free stuff (posters, pint glass, pull string bag, livestrong bracelet, bumper sticker, bottle opener, pen, and a T-shirt to top it all off), all branded of course. The premiere tickets cost 10$, but for what we got, including a pre show from the audience members and Tucker and Nils (the writers), Q&A after the show, and pictures plus signature session after the movie (you can see me in the Boston premiere tour stop on the flickr site, have fun trying to figure out who I am).

It was a really fun experience, and the friend I went with, who isn't a Tucker Max fan, or a huge fan of comedy (not like me), actually thanked me for bringing him along. Tucker knows how to do a premiere, and I have to say that the whole premiere tour idea, along with the videos, and blog are genius. His hard core fans loved it for sure, and I talked with a bunch in the line, and there were even protesters.

The premiere was one of the highlights of my summer and was my first premiere. I'm glad to say it was a great experience.

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Posted By: Fremen - Category: Movies

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Why to (not) Watch Funny People in Theaters

August 10th 2009 04:01

Click on image for official movie site.

CAUTION: SPOILER IN SITE ABOVE (none below)

Let me start off by saying that I liked this movie. Given that, I have to admit that it was undeniably too long and in some parts, excessive. There was just too much story, too many details and too many jokes that I think they didn't' want to throw away.

This was made to be a comedy showing a little more about the people that are great stand up comedians, kind of like Adam Sandler, career-wise. I found that while being hilarious, it just tried to do too much, and tried to cover too much ground.

The directing was great, and felt really natural. It flowed well with the humour, and I didn't notice any shots or techniques that stood in the way of the movie. Sometimes this is done badly in comedies, but this movie played smoothly enough.

The storyline was the main problem. Like I said above (twice), it was too long. The movie was hilarious, and in comedies like this, I feel that the storyline should exhibit the comedy. Instead, they tried making a movie where the comedy enhances the storyline, and that didn't play too well.

That said, the humor and the acting was terrific. This movie had a great cast (Sandler, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Eric Bana, and Leslie Mann star). I loved the acting of the supporting characters also, like the children and the third friend of Seth Rogen's character.

There are a couple of scenes, and lots of references to inappropriate things as well as horrible language, so it definitely earned its R rating. I wouldn't show it to anyone under 17 or 18.

All in all, for stand up and comedy fans, I'd suggest this movie, but don't watch it in theaters. If you are a true geek, then you probably watch all movies with subtitles on, and since there is so much dialogue in this movie that is quieter and more subtle, I'd love to rewatch it just for that (since the audience was laughing so much).

Funny People Wiki Page

Funny People IMDB

I can't believe I forgot to say this (no more writing entries at 1AM), but my favorite part of the movie was the cameos. The cameos are all extremely awesome and funny, and I think add a bit of legitimacy to the movie. I'm not going to wreck any of it, but my favorite scene involved my favorite rapper, Eminem. It was hilarious.

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Posted By: Fremen - Category: Movies

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