Moviedrome
Hi, I’m Ronan and I’m British. Sorry about burning down the White House in 1812, but you’ve got to admit, you kind of deserved it. My fingerprints abound in the Mormon blogs, and I snark about expat life in Murdermore, Maryland at headlife. I think George Bush is poo.
Pop culture CV:
I love horror movies and weird Asian films (favourite movie of 2005: OldBoy); my music life is stuck in a pre-mission timewarp (early 1990s Britpop and Seattle grunge); the best thing in the whole wide world is to lie on the couch and watch TV, either super-charged Yank shows like 24, or marvellously-Limeyish stuff from the BBC (like Extras).
Anyway, I’m here at Le Blog de Culture to run a new feature: the Kulturblog Moviedome. Kind of like the thunderdome but with movies. The idea is to pick three similarish movies, give a few weeks for people to watch them, then have a vote. Easy. So ideas might include:
Non-Star Wars George Lucas: THX-1138, Howard the Duck, American Graffitti
Multiple-storylined movies: Pulp Fiction, Magnolia, Crash
Movies where people eat a live octopus: Er, OldBoy….
etc.
Suggestions, please.
[Mentioning "George Bush" and "burning down the White House" is sure to get this blog on an NSA blacklist. Apologies. Bloody foreigners.]
Posted on January 10, 2006, in Movies. Bookmark the permalink. 70 Comments.
Steve Evans
RJH
Scott B.
John C.
Susan M
Aaron Brown
ninemoons
John Harrison
kulturblogadmin
Kyle M
Brad
KulturBlogGuest
MCQ
Wm
Rebecca
Ivan
Geoff J
btdgreg
Clark Goble
Aaron R.
Tim J
Ben
Marcus
Brad Williams
gibsonbn
Hmm, sounds fun. Is there a prize? I’ll win it, of course…
I think doing this every other week is a good concept: announce the three, let people watch, then vote. It would also be good to announce the movies, link to IMDB, and talk about them a bit. Fun.
D., there’s no prize for you, since your collection doesn’t include The Cat From Outer Space, Escape To Witch Mountain, or Flash Gordon (1980).
Are you sure about that?
well, you MIGHT have Flash Gordon.
Well, I have SEEN all those movies — 2 of them (Escape and Flash) in the movie theater in their original runs.
I’m superior to you in every respect, Super — you might as well cry uncle right now.
Except that you have a job, a wife, and a life, of course.
This will be fun. I’m not sure I’ll be able to watch the three movies in the two weeks (if I haven’t seen them before) to be able to make an educated vote, but whoopie!!! MOVIES ARE FUN!!!!!!
I doubt I’ll watch any, but this is a great idea. Am I disqualified from voting if I haven’t seen all three movies listed? What if I’ve only seen two?
You’ve gotta include a set of black comedies.
Susan: like “Soul Plane”, “Friday” and “Kentucky Fried Movie”?
You’re not disqualified, just like in the regular T-dome: but of course your opinion is worthless and will be mocked heartily.
I’ve got Kentucky Fried Movie. And Groove Tube. And Amazon Women on the Moon.
I actually think it might be better to simply suggest a double feature, two movies that work well together.
3 is a lot, for most of you.
OK, “new rule” (said with Bill Maher voice):
Only one of the movies can be obscure (for the sake of my Netflix account).
And again, suggestions please. We can range from the obvious (films by Shyamalan) to the weird (films that involve cricket). Keep ‘em coming.
Actually, D’s right. 2 is enough.
I’d be a great programmer for film festivals, because I just love to put 2 movies together. Here’s my first suggestion:
Election
Rushmore
Famous Japanes directors:
Rashomon by Kurosawa
Tokyo Story by Ozu
Spirited Away by Miyazaki
Charlie Kauffman movies
Being John Malcovich
Adaptation
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Conspiracy Theories
The Manchurian Candidate (Sinatra version)
Conspiracy Theory
JFK
Documentaries about kids
Spellbound
Shall We Dance?
Hoop Dreams
Faith
The Seventh Seal
Signs
Saved!
Civil Rights Biopics
Ghandi
Malcolm X
Ali
Nuclear Holocaust
Dr. Strangelove
The Sum of All Fears
Thirteen Days
Abandoned Japanes Kids
Nobody Knows
Grave of the Fireflies
Tokyo Godfathers
War
Fog of War
Patten
The Lord of the Rings
Black comedies:
Heathers
Harold and Maude
Parents (does that count? if not, Ed and His Dead Mother)
This is a great idea! I need a few minutes to collect my thoughts on this. Are R-rated movies allowed?
D., I am shocked, simply shocked, that you own Kentucky Fried Movie and Groove Tube. I saw those as a young teen (in the theatre) and they scarred me for life. Hrmmph.
Harrison Ford Movies:
Star Wars
Raiders of the Lost Ark
The Fugitive
Best Twist-Ending:
Sixth Sense
Usual Suspects
Se7en (probably one a little better than this one)
Best Hitchcock film:
Vertigo
Rear Window
North by Northwest
Submarine Movie:
U-571
Hunt for Red October
Crimson Tide
Best English “Comedy”:
The Full Monty
Waking Ned Devine
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Ronan, I thought you were looking for groups of three films. Lagaan, Bend it Like Beckham, and ?
I’ve posted here before about what I think is a great double feature: In the Mood for Love and Hero Both are intense love stories starring Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung, but are very different types of movies.
European films about a child opens up the world of the solitary artist: Kolya (Czech) and Mostly Martha (German).
Asian films starring food: Tampopo and Eat, Drink, Man, Woman
Early Whit Stillman: Metropolitan and Barcelona
Same story, different take: Emma (1996) and Clueless
Offbeat documentaries from rural America: Okie Noodling (about the practice of fishing for catfish with your bare hands) and Hands on a Hardbody (chronicles a contest where contestants attempt to win a truck by being the last person to remove their hand from it).
Rock School and School of Rock. I haven’t seen Rock School, which is a documentary about a rock school for kids, but this might be a fun double feature. I definitely want to see School of Rock again sometime.
High school sports in small towns: Hoosiers and Friday Night Lights. Two superb movies that provide a contrast in styles.
Inspired lunacy: Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and Monty Python’s The Quest for the Holy Grail.
This is fun!
Bryce, I’ve seen most of those movies and they’d be great double features.
Spellbound and Word Wars (documentaries featuring geeky but lovable champs) would also be a good double feature.
Is the object of the movie dome to vote for one movie over another, or just compare and discuss?
Is the object of the movie dome to vote for one movie over another, or just compare and discuss?
Allison, the idea is to present two movies, watch them, discuss them, then vote (like the thunderdome).
Bryce, the absence of a third cricket film is why I think we should have two instead!
There’s a whole cricket match in Maurice.
I prefer double features of movies that complement each other in some oblique way, not just 2 movies made by the same filmmaker, or starring the same actor.
How about two of my favorite movies:
The Spitfire Grill
The Journey of August King
Not sure how I can make them relate to each other, though!
Here are some of my faves:
Woody Allen
Annie Hall
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Husbands and Wives
Lawyer Movies
A Few Good Men
My Cousin Vinny
Inherit the Wind/Twelve Angry Men
Political thrillers
All the Presidents’ Men
In the Line of Fire
Patriot Games
Daniel Day-Lewis
In the Name of the Father
The Last of the Mohicans
My Left Foot
Oh, what about best remake?
War of the Worlds
Manchurian Candidate
All the Kings Men (soon to be released with Sean Penn as Willie Stark)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Cape Fear
Sabrina
Ocean’s Eleven
The Italian Job
Alfie
Elisabeth:
Best remake? Sabrina? Manchuran Candidate? The Italian Job?? Wow, some real clunkers there. I’m surprised you didn’t throw Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes in there at the same time!
No, I think we should view this as a double-feature movie club, where two movies are announced, we watch them over the course of a couple of weeks and then judge. But no horrible remakes, unless you’re talking The Ring and Ringu (two FREAKY HOLY CRAP SCARY movies).
LOL- I was going to put “Planet of the Apes” down, but Helena Bonham Carter freaked me out in that movie. Even more than “The Ring”. And “Sabrina” was good! Both times!
“Sabrina” was so-so. Harrison Ford, while oozing machismo, is terrible at romantic comedies. TERRIBLE.
I don’t know that Harrison Ford is so terrible at romantic comedies. Ever see Star Wars or Raiders of the Lost Ark?
But Sabrina, the Remake is indeed terrible.
Hey, I thought it was the Canadians and a few British rejects the crown was getting out of Europe during the Napoleonic wars that sacked Washington D.C. Let’s give credit where credit is due.
Thankfully, Dolly Madison was able to save that portrait of George Washington in the nick of time. And lend her name to some tasty junk food desserts.
D., I don’t think people watch SW or ROLA for the romance. Besides, once actually in a relationship, Ford sucks (ROTJ, anyone?)
Ringu didn’t scare me nearly as much as The Ring. Plus it didn’t have Naomi Watts.
The Harrison Ford Sabrina wasn’t that awful. The first movie was all about Audrey Hepburn; the seocnd was more about Harrison Ford. The story doesn’t work as well with the male lead being the star, but let’s face it, his job was to be a rich, passionless businessman. NOt too much of a stretch is it?
I haven’t seen the original of The Italian Job, but the remake was a good movie.
Are we going to get a first set of movies lined up so it can start this weekend?
Here are some ideas:
Modern Film Noir:
Taxi Driver
L.A. Confidential
Chinatown
Food Movies:
Tampopo
Babette’s Feast
Chocolat
Dystopias:
A.I.
Blade Runner
Minority Report
More Dystopias:
Clockwork Orange
Farenheit 451
Logan’s Run
Even More Dystopias:
Brazil
12 Monkeys
Fifth Element
Music:
Laurel Canyon
Banger Sisters
Almost Famous
Concerts:
Last Waltz
Woodstock
Stop Making Sense
Prison:
Shawshank Redemption
Midnight Express
Murder in the First
Romanticized Italy:
8 1/2
Roman Holiday
La Dolce Vita
Quirky French Cinema:
Diva
Amelie
Delicatessen
Movies About Hollywood:
Ed Wood
The Player
Barton Fink
Superhero Movies:
Spiderman
Superman
Batman
Reasons to Love New York:
Manhattan
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
When Harry Met Sally
American Fun:
Wag the Dog
The American President
Dave
Primary Colors
Adolescent Angst:
Thirteen
Rebel Without a Cause
Group angst:
Quadrophenia
The Outsiders
Breakfast Club
Great American Playwrights:
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Streetcar Named Desire
Revenge:
Working Girl
First Wives Club
9 to 5
Freedom:
Shawshank Redemption
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Poseidon Adventure
Journey/Redemption:
Shawshank Redemption
Taxi Driver
Apocalypse Now
Contact
Alternate Realities:
Contact
Matrix
Being John Malkovitch
Government Bad:
In the Line of Fire
Manchurian Candidate
JFK
School:
Dead Poet’s Society
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
The Emperor’s Club
I Wanna Be In Love:
You’ve Got Mail
Sleepless in Seattle
While You Were Sleeping
I Wanna Be In Love in London:
4 Weddings and a Funeral
Notting Hill
Bridget Jones’s Diary
I Wanna Be In Love in Paris
French Kiss
Sabrina
Forget Paris
Hanging Out:
Ghost World
The Big Lebowski
High Fidelity
Dysfunctional Families:
American Beauty
Ordinary People
Secrets and Lies
Whew! Hope there’s something to pick from there!
Hmmm. Noticing “Taxi Driver” as a recommendation makes think whoever is in charge of the Movie Thunderdome (Mad Max Ronan? Master Blaster Supergenius?) should give some kind of disclaimer with the nominated movies for MovieDome.
“Taxi Driver” is by many accounts a classic, but can be quite disturbing and (for 1970s standards) fairly graphic. Ditto for movies like “Requiem for a Dream” – which hasn’t been nominated, but is an excellent (but horribly graphic) movie about drug addiction.
Anyway, I’m sure Kulturblog readers can figure out by themselves whether they want to participate in MovieDome, but it might be helpful to point out the movie rating for each movie and give a brief explanation as to why (or whether) the rating is warranted (language, sex, blah, blah, blah).
P.S. I really liked “Laurel Canyon”, by the way. Not very many people have seen this movie – great flick.
Sorry if I offended anyone by suggesting Taxi Driver! It is very graphic – violence and language. American Beauty is also a great film, and moved me much in the same way as Taxi Driver, but I recommend that those who watch proceed with caution due to language and sexual themes. Again, sorry!
I liked Laurel Canyon too. That guy is really attractive in it.
Hey, meems – you didn’t offend me! I was just thinking aloud, really. Maybe trying to head off the surprise of someone, who, upon Master Blaster’s recommendation, turns on “Taxi Driver” thinking it’s going to be something starring Tony Danza (or Queen Latifah).
P.S. The guy in “Laurel Canyon” was Christian Bale (the new Batman). Maybe we should have a Christian Bale Movie Thunderdome – “American Psycho” vs. “Batman”. Or “Empire of the Sun” vs. “Swing Kids”. Which reminds me – we could have a MovieDome on the actor with the most extreme character switch. (i.e., Patrick Bateman in “American Psycho” vs. Tom Berger in “Swing Kids”).
Elisabeth, don’t forget Newsies. Christian Bale as a singing and dancing teenager!
Newsies is a great movie! I forgot that one. Christian Bale was also in a very strange movie I haven’t seen called The Machinist, where he starves himself (literally). Anyone seen that?
Yeah, I saw The Machinist. Quite good, and yes, he does starve himself. Literally. He’s an odd bod: despite being from Wales (the town of Haverfordwest), Bale insists on speaking with an American accent. Why? Because he is “Batman” right now, and doesn’t want to confuse his fans.
I agree, a Welsh Batman would be quite confusing!
On of my favorite Welsh jokes: I went to Cardiff last week and had a run in with the Welsh Mafia; they made me an offer I couldn’t understand…
Meems,
If you’re going to recommend Laurel Canyon for its hottie content, you ought to at least give a nod to the other half of your readership. I.e.,
“Laurel Canyon. For women and gay men, Christian Bale (nuff said). For straight men, Kate Beckinsale swimming in her underwear — although it’s a major tease as far as skinnydipping scenes go.”
Kaimi – I hope KB’s devoted lesbian readership isn’t offended by you leaving them out.
E.,
Sorry about that — I have more gay male friends than lesbian friends, and as a result I don’t have as good a sense of what would draw lesbian viewers to a movie. I suppose I should have included them on the Kate Beckisale side. Please convey my apologies to them.
Hey, there’s a category for you — best “lesbian chic” flick. Say, Better Than Chocolate versus Kissing Jessica Stein versus Bound.
Movies likely to result in 80+ comments at M*
Brokeback Mountain
A Clockwork Orange
Taxi Driver
Movies starring gay (or at least bi-curious) hobbits
Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers (talk about your phallic titles!)
Return of the King
Best Stephen King, Part 1 (the good ones)
The Shining
Shawshank Redemption
Carrie
Stand by me
Best Stephen King, Part 2 (the okay ones)
The Green Mile
Secret Window
The Running Man
hmm, list could go on for a while . . .
Best Philip K. Dick
Blade Runner
Minority Report
Okay, that one’s pretty much a 2-horse race — you could add Total Recall for #3, I suppose
Best Lesbian Chick Flick double feature: Kama Sutra and Fried Green Tomatoes.
Kaimi,
Re: Philip K. Dick
Didn’t he do “Paycheck” and “Starship Troopers”? Not that they’re good movies–but there’s gotta be one Affleck fan willing to vote–okay, maybe not.
This is a great idea. Although I have a hard time believing that anyone besides me will have four hours to watch movies just to discuss with their bloggernacle buds. I guess most people will probably already have seen at least one of the movies.
I feel I must also correct Ronan’s enthusiastic recommendation of “The Machinist.” Christian Bale’s emaciated form is the only interesting thing about that movie. Now I am suspicious, Ronan. I was going to put “Oldboy” on my Netflix queue, but how do I know you’re not the Mormon Jeffrey Lyons?
Wait a minute – here’s a Christian-Bale-as-English-guy movie — Velvet Goldmine! Now that’s another warning: content matter! movie, but it’s pretty good if you like grungy UK sleeze stuff. (!)
Kaimi:
Besides Shawshank Redemption, Best best BEST Stephen King movie (that no one remembers) is Dolores Claiborne. If you haven’t seen it, do!
Dolores Claiborne is a good movie. I agree.
Yes, a third on Dolores Claiborne.
Hmmm. Best Stephen King movie? I think “Misery”.
“Cujo” being a close second.
Dolores Claiborne…Misery… How about a Kathy-Bates-a-thon?
Ned,
OldBoy is so freaky, awesome, horrible, you have to see it. I only said The Machinist was “quite good.”
Well, no one has mentioned Pedro Almodovar yet – he has made some wonderful movies – Talk to Her, All About My Mother, Live Flesh, etc.
Also, Crash (2005) vs. Hustle and Flow. Terrence Howard is my favorite new actor.
Starship Troopers was Robert Heinlein, but I think Paycheck was PKD.
Spoof movies:
Spy Hard vs. Spaceballs
80s John Cusack:
Better Off Dead vs. One Crazy Summer
Submarine movies (no contest):
Hunt for Red October vs. Crimson Tide
BTW, is it MovieDome or MovieDrome?
Crash vs. Grand Canyon vs. Short Cuts?
Calendar Girls vs Waking Ned Divine
I haven’t seen either of these, but 50 First Dates and My Date With Drew
Soon we will be able to add A Scanner Darkly to the Phillip K Dick list. Should be worth seeing just for trippy rotoscoping.
Starship Troopers was definitely Heinlein. Hey, we could have a Heinlein one: Starship Troopers vs Puppet Masters.
Movies from a guy named Mel
Passion of the Christ vs Blazing Saddles
Movies with a guy named Woody
Annie Hall vs White Men Can’t Jump
Battle of the Kates
Almost Famous vs Laurel Canyon
Sepia-Tone Special
The Wizard of Oz vs O Brother, Where Art Thou
Jailbait Special, or, She told me she was 18, officer!
Dangerous Liaisons vs American Beauty
It’s the End of the World as we know it (and I feel fine)
Independence Day vs Tommy Boy
We love our Spanish-language Ballads!
A Walk in the Clouds vs Speechless vs Tommy Boy
The Nose knows all
The Hours vs Chinatown vs Roxanne
You can never have too many brunettes in tight leather
Electra vs Underworld
Good Stephen King additions — I had forgotten a few, obviously.
Good call on the lesbian double feature, Allison. Perhaps we should add Mulholland Drive and make it a triple feature.
Hmm, movies featuring someone names Allison (or Alyson):
Wings of the Dove vs American Pie
Battle of the Confusing titles
Crash vs Crash
Kicking and Screaming vs Kicking and Screaming
hmm, there are more of these, but I can’t think of them offhand
High-school angst (chick edition):
Bend it like Beckham vs Sisterhood of the Traveling pants vs Bring it On
Oh, and nice call on Almodovar, E. How about a battle of the Spanish-language auteurs?
Talk to Her vs Y tu mama tambien
more movies featuring cricket:
Crying Game
Hum Aapke Hain Koun (complete with musical number about cricket)
MovieDome theme idea:
the Drag movies:
Some Like it Hot vs. Victor/Victoria
March of the Penguins and Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (and Winged Migration if youw ant three).
Don’t forget Sam Peckinpah’s “Salad Days.”
Pingback: Kulturblog » Moviedrome #5: Back to School