I'm Still Here.

As you may have noticed nothing has been posted in a while. Don't let this fool you into thinking I haven't been watching any movies. It's like the more schoolwork I have/do, the more media I consume. I guess it's like the drug that propels me on. Like Dextroamphetamine or somethin'. I've pretty well found that I couldn't keep up with the constant reviewin', given the state of things, so I've really just being using the old tumblr and it really fits into my grad-like timetable well. So for the time being, I will be mildly retiring Shangri-La until other "things" get sorted out. A.K.A: M.A. (That's code for I'm working hard at not working hard enough, wondering what it will be like to not be a student for the first time in my life.)

In the meantime, here's a short update on some of the wondrous trash I've consumed:

The Incredible Hulk (2008) - 3/5 stars


I thought it was an okay action movie and really it only worked because of Edward Norton's performance, and yes, that was apparently good enough for me. PLUS RDJ makes an appearance at the end. WHO KNEW?? I was also led to watch it to see the hilarious things they did with U of T (making it look like it's in a forest) and Yonge St.; the side with Zanzibar and the Sam's sign.

Election (1999) - 4.5/5
I had been waiting to watch this mother for years and I regret not seeing it sooner. I think Payne is the greatest dark-comedy writer since Allen. And what it really boasts is some great characters who you route for but kind of don't want to, so imagine that. It's often hard to figure who's the bad guy, ultimately making a statement on just how hilarious humans can be. Mind you, I kind of sypathized with Tracy Flick probably more than I was supposed to.

Wolf (1994) - 5/5 stars

I find it amazing that the most exciting and inspirational film I've seen in months is a creeper feature/allegory of aging from the mid-nineties starring Jack Nicholson and James Spader. What does it say about me? What does it say about movies of today? But I guess it should be no surprise. Lo and behold, it also has an awesome score by (WHAT!??!) Ennio Morricone.

And it also rekindled my mid-nineties adoration of Michelle Pfieffer. She is a thrice nominated actress, you know. I have to admit I did forget how great she is:

And she is aging better than anyone I've seen her age.

Also, have I mentioned how True Blood is amazing?!??! Here is a lovely portrait of Jason Stackhouse to express my deep feelings of true gratitude for the show:

AND VAMPIRE BILL RECYCLES.

With that I bid this Shangri-La a temporary farewell, and will leave it with this thought via a magical magical musical video by those pop poets the Pet Shop Boys, to remind you that despite minor disengagements, rest assured I am never being boring.

The Strangers (2008)

3.5/5 stars

While I'm sure everyone whose seen or heard of this has noted that it is a bloody great edge-of-one's seat cat-and-mouse thing--total suspense mode--I'm sure not everyone noted how smart it is for other reasons:

1 - A long time before anything horror related happens, as the psychological tension is built up around the relationship between the two protagonists, which really comes to a head in a serious motherfucking way by the end of the film. A total new layer to a horror narrative I've never before seen used.

2 - GEMMA WARD IS ONE OF THE KILLER PEOPLE HOLY COW BRILLIANT. And when you see her you can barely see her face and it is one of the spookiest moments I've seen onscreen since probably, like, Signs (whatever that means). Her character's name is Dollface so how smart is that?? Anyone who knows Gemma knows that she's basically the dollface of the fashion world.

3 - Killer peeps have NO REAL MOTIVATION which makes it ALL THE MORE EERIE and post-9-11 all the way.

One of the best horror films I've seen in the past ten years and literally must-see viewing for anyone who appreciates a creeper.

Wendy & Lucy (2008)

4/5 stars

A beautiful portrait of a little girl lost, when she's lost her dog. It's quite gripping, moving, and ultimately satisfying. But seriously without Michelle Williams I don't know if this movie would even have worked; that's how serious her f*cking performance is.

Angels & Demons (2009)

2/5 stars

An intriguing trainwreck of a picture. It was like after 15 minutes in, it was just one climax every three minutes which got soooo tiresome sooooo quickly. But the cast was hilarious and the priests and cardinals and all that were just such a perfect joke. It was doomed from its inception to never be taken seriously by me. I hope it does offer Ewan some kind of comeback because really he was the most engaging character (however absurd), whose dialogue wasn't limited to spewing out ridiculous facts about "Illuminati" like a hailstorm of bullets, but it was in that territory. Oh well.

So no shocker here I guess. I got what I asked for.

Star Trek (2009)

3.5/4 stars

I think this film succeeds so strongly becuase it fully accomplishes what it obviously set out to do: make me want to purchase the entire Star Trek series on DVD and watch the whole thing. Aside from that, it really is fully a well-formed action picture, with the action scenes so well plotted throughout the film without feeling forced or too long. They are all incredibly exciting and engaging.

For me the highlight is the cast, and their great characters; it is a testament to the franchise that they are apparently so infinitely compelling with cross-generational appeal and all that. Here they're each given at least one scene in the spotlight, and their relationships are really what is at the fore of the film's plot. Being recast by younger gorgeouser versions of the original cast, I found everyone in the film to be excessively beautiful with practically perfect faces that I still cannot get out of my head two weeks later. And they all gave performances TO MATCH.

To say I am looking forward to the next ones is an understatement. For now, you can watch the whole original show on YouTube!! And not in parts, FULL EPISODES.

Cassandra's Dream (2007)

4/5 stars

A totally overlooked gem. Woody really reaches new heights (or should I say depths?) of existentialism with this little ditty that totally skipped under the radar for some reason.

What a multilayered script! We're talking pokerplaying and dreams (of all kinds). The actors are all brilliant. Ewan and Colin are brothers and Tom Wilkinson is their hot uncle. I was particularly blown away my Colin; in one scene he actually makes himself turn PALE like at WILL. I've never seen an actor do that. So spectacularly spine-tingling.

ALSO A SCORE BY PHILIP GLASS, HELLO!

The Bucket List (2007)

3/5 stars

I wanted to watch this since I first saw the trailer and while led by two of the most charismatic leading men ever, it's ultimately a bit of a snoozer. Just a bit rushed and just a bit too maudlin at times. Jack is still as amazing as ever and the subtle nuances he brings to every performance I've ever seen him in are always fresh and delightful. However one major problem with the script was the lack of convincing development between the two characters and their unique relationship. It almost seemed like a formulaic romantic comedy at one point. Still was hilarious, though.

One good thing though, the film also got me thinking about the idea of the "bucket list" and if I would actually compile one for myself, and if I did, what would I put on it? I don't know--I think I'd do a lot more hilarious things than these boys did (visit various exotic places etc.). For example, I'd definitely be up for being arrested for public indecency, like for streaking or something. I'd risk getting arrested for that sort of thing if I knew the clock was ticking. I wonder why the guys in the movie didn't take it that far. Morgie's character didn't even get a tattoo! What a letdown. I mean, the filmmakers had a great opportunity for some hilarious stuff, but they totally passed it up. God I wish I directed this movie. Most of the stuff on their list should be done by most people by the time they're 25. But honestly, the racing car scene was pretty terrifying, easily bringing the characters to the border of psychotic, just the way it was edited.