Vox » movies

By 5 Votes

Vox — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:48:40 +0000

Remember that scene in Elizabeth, where Walsingham ‘detains’ the bishops he suspects will vote the wrong way – thus ensuring the queen wins her argument before the council?

Not sure why I thought of that in the midst of the ObamaCare debate….

(I wonder if there is a basement under the Capital building where possible “Yes” votes might find themselves passing the time? Who is our Walsingham? )

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Woman’s Work

Vox — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:34:02 +0000

In honor of Big Mike pulling this song out on American Idol tonight, I give you the original.

Kate Bush – This Woman’s Work
as featured in John Hughes’ She’s Having a Baby

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The Conscientious Objector

Vox — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:34:07 +0000

(cross posted at Word of Mouth Scale)

The Conscientious Objector

D has a great talent for finding small movies, indie gems and documentary gold. This week he found the compellingly told story of a Medal of Honor winner that NetFlix was streaming. When he put it on, I didn’t expect to be sucked in to the narrative. Boy was I wrong.

If Hollywood were to make a feature based on the heroics of Desmond Doss during World War II, most viewers would dismiss it as far-fetched nonsense. Terry L. Benedict’s documentary about Doss, “The Conscientious Objector”, illustrates how truth can often outdo fiction.

It’s hard to imagine a greater combination of morality, religious faith and courage than that which emerges in this story of an aging Virginian who received a Congressional Medal of Honor from President Truman.

I found myself exclaiming “Wow” out loud, more than once. Truly a story that sounds like the stuff of a dime-store WWII paperback novel, told here by the men that actually lived through it.

If you want to know the specifics of the CMH citation, you can read it here, but I would recommend watching the film. So much more compelling to make the full journey with Doss from childhood through “outstanding gallantry far above and beyond the call of duty”.

A rare 5 of 5 on the Word of Mouth scale because I can’t imagine anyone in my circle who would not appreciate this well made flick.

No Rotten Tomatoes ratings available.

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We Have A Winner

Vox — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:16:21 +0000

Many, many names were put on the table for our new babies – some good, some bad…some ridiculous. We tried out several combo/pair names, we tried individual names, I drove people crazy with everything that popped into my head. Which worked out for us in the end, as I apparently became annoying enough that ExurbanJon opened a twitter hashtag for suggestions – #VoxAZpuppyNames.

Because he is followed by everyone who is anyone, and many of his followers are witty, as well, there were some fun suggestions. I figured I would share them here, in case anyone else is looking:

@Anthropocon: “Smith & Wesson”
@CLTPatriot: “Blue” “Jake” “Newt” “Lippy” “Roscoe” “Jasper” Augustus “Gus” & “Woodrow” (all from Lonesome Dove) “Houston” “Bandit”, as a pair “Blue & Bandit” (good fit for them) “Waylon & Willie”
@cprater: “Hope & Change”, “Itchy and Scratchy”, “Cain & Abel”, “Starsky & Hutch”, “Rand & Galt”, “Castor and Pollux”, “Lock & Load”, “Shock & Awe”, “Uday & Qusay”, “Bisbee & Phoenix” (love the place name names), “Cap & Trade”, “H1 & N1″, “Digg & Reddit”, “Pete & Repeat”*
@dahwg: “Smith & Wesson”
@ExurbanJon: “Bait & Switch”, “Siegfried & Roy” <--so not happening, “Cap & Trade”, “Created & Saved”, “Smoot & Hawley”, “Tango & Cash”
@GreatSatanInc: “Wally & Roo”
@IrishSpy: “Stan & Oliver”
@nuclear_cowboy: “Kermit & Fozzy”, “Chaos & Destruction”, “Malcolm & Jane”, “Punky & Brewster”, “Beta & Gamma”, “Ford & Zaphod”, “Dresden & Murphy/Mouse”, “Tavi & Sextus”
@paulvalach: “barney & fred” “starsky & hutch” “splish n splash{ ok those were my beta fish”
@sceptress: “Sun(ny) & Moon(shine)”, “Quisp & Quake”
@VoxAZ: “Kiwi & Bonzer”, “Ruff & Tumble”, “Cheney & Rumsfeld”, “Bud & Lou”, “Pancho & Cisco”, “Frank & Jesse”, “Jake & Elwood”, “Butch & Sundance” (that was D, not me), “Brisco & Green”, “Benson & Stabler”
@vrtsflipflop: “Tweet & Retweet” <--LOL
@Wrymouth: “Statler & Waldorf”, “Mason & Dixon”
@5280tweety: “Lex and Mia” – hard to explain… anyone speak OPS5?

In the end, the names @ExurbanJon suggested to start the thread were the ones that stuck – Tango & Cash. I was trying to come up with something from one of D‘s favorite movies (like Wyatt & Doc from Tombstone). How could I completely forget Stallone & Russell in a flick that is definitely among his favorite not-so-guilty pleasures? The names work for me since they are a great combo, but also stand on their own, they are short and easy to understand/differentiate for humans or dogs. They also fit these pooches perfectly.

Thanks, Jon

* For sheer volume and humor value, @cprater has to be the winner. I think she could have kept at it for days

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What’s in a Name?

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Paranormal Activity

Vox — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:41:32 +0000

Decided to spend Halloween out of the house to avoid the sugar beggars, so we caught a showing of Paranormal Activity.

I’ve heard a lot about it, including hearing it was the “scariest movie ever”. I don’t think I would go that far, but it was definitely creepy.

The thing is, it was also funny – for a couple of reasons.

The couple was really good; the way they played off each other was very believable, the little benign interactions, even the looks she gives him when he’s a jerk. There were a lot of laugh lines.
We saw it in a theater filled with people, predominantly Hispanic. There was a lot of reaction to what was happening on screen – hearing the guy at the end of the row say, “Duuude” was pretty amusing.

All-in-all, definitely worth seeing, though I would like to know what the original, non-Spielberg’d ending was.

And you’ve gotta love a $15,000 investment that pays off with over $9 million the first weekend of release.

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More PC Maintenance

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Seems Only Fair

Vox — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:47:56 +0000

I love having such quick & easy access to the Wall Street Journal, especially at the Kindle price (much more affordable than the dead tree version) One of the best parts is the letters to the editor; whether our locals are not as articulate, or our paper just chooses not to print the good letters, we see nothing of this quality (in humor, in depth) in the AZ Repugnant. This one is even written by an Arizonan:

Time to Cap Pay of Subsidized Actors
I’m outraged after reading about actors making millions of dollars for movies that lose money (“Hollywood Squeezes Stars’ Pay in Slump,” page one, April 2), and this, after the studios receive taxpayer subsidies from film locations in the form of tax waivers, among other things. They’re allowed to walk away with millions from a failed movie. Where was the oversight?
I hope Congress reacts with another 90% tax on anything actors make over $250,000. That would only be fair.

Cecily Buell
Flagstaff, Ariz.

It would only be fair, after all. Most of the celebs seem to be in favor of increased taxes, anyway…though it seems they would prefer not to pay them themselves (much like Obama’s intended appointees)

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Let’s Go To The Movies

Vox — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:46:17 +0000

Thanks to AMC’s $5.00 early showings, D and I have gotten back to catching some new releases. In the last few weeks we have seen:
Gran Torino – See it
The Wrestler – See it
Taken – See it on the big screen.
Too tired to write more now, maybe full reviews on the Word of Mouth Scale later

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A Slight Vindication

Vox — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:29:21 +0000

David Edelstein, reviewing The Dark Knight:

Even if the death of Heath Ledger hadn’t already draped it in a funeral shroud, this sequel (now being rereleased) would be a morbid affair. Christopher Nolan’s tense, realistic style is a shock-but then the novelty wears off and the lack of imagination, visual and otherwise, turns into a drag.

That’s even harsher than my critique
(His response to those angered by his original review)

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So Sue Me

Vox — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:49:31 +0000

Heath Ledger won The Golden Globe which reminds me of something. I’m sure this will get me no end of flaming comments, but here goes….
I saw The Dark Knight, and it was fine. It was a Batman movie, it was enjoyable – but it was nothing near what the hype suggested it would be.
* I can’t stand Katie Holmes. I think her acting is just fine, but her personal life has rendered her nearly intolerable. However, replacing her with Maggie Gyllenhaal was ridiculous. Gyllenhaal was nowhere near appealing enough to have us believing the major characters were both in love with her. Holmes is much more attractive physically and as Rachel Dawes.
* Christian Bale is one of my favorite actors, ever since his appearance in Empire of the Sun. He is a performer who you can count on to deliver a quality performance, and in Batman Begins, I think he did. For some reason, this time out, he decided to adopt an odd verbal style. While in the suit, he was nearly unintelligible. His first foray as Batman was great, this time I wanted to smack him upside the head and yell, “spit it out!”
* And, this will really get me in trouble, Heath Ledger . . . not that great. Much like his performance in Brokeback Mountain, where he did a poor imitation of Karl Childers, Ledger relies on affectation rather than acting. It is tragic that he died, but that doesn’t make his performance better – it makes it poignant and sad, but not better. I didn’t feel anything for this Joker but confusion – as to whether it would have gotten anywhere near the positive press if Ledger hadn’t died. I have nothing against the guy, but seriously, if you watch that performance objectively, does it truly deserve to effusive praise that has been heaped upon it?
All in all, The Dark Knight was full up to the brim with overacting. The early Batman films were big, cartoony movies – overacting fit. These latest films seemed to be aiming at more grown-up, more serious – the performances should be tailored to fit.
In the words of another comic book hero, “Flame on”

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An American Carol

Vox — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:24:29 +0000

An American Carol $5.00
Sunday October 12th, 10:55 a.m.
AMC Westgate, Glendale
Be there or be a big doody-head
UPDATE: Apparently my readership consists of a mixture of church-goers and doody-heads. I went alone, but I enjoyed it anyway – more later.

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Vox » movies

By 5 Votes

Woman’s Work

The Conscientious Objector

We Have A Winner

Paranormal Activity

Seems Only Fair

Cecily Buell Flagstaff, Ariz.

Let’s Go To The Movies

A Slight Vindication

So Sue Me

An American Carol

Cecily Buell
Flagstaff, Ariz.