Two Movies, Polar Opposites

[tealin]

MOON


In short: Go see it. Or, as is probably more likely to result in success at this point in time, put it on your Netflix queue or whatever you do with movies that you need to catch as soon as they come out on DVD.

This movie is great. I don't want to describe it too much because a lot of the fun of it is in being led along by the gradual revelation. I went into it with this synopsis: Man literally finds himself while mining, alone, on the moon. That is exactly the right amount of prior knowledge to have: it doesn't give away anything important but it keeps one's interest through the opening ten minutes or so, which might otherwise lead one to believe that it was One of Those Movies that's all about Finding the Profound in the Mundane. It's not. It's surprisingly gripping. Big points to Sam Rockwell not just for basically carrying the entire film himself but also making his character sympathetic when he could have been an annoying schlub. Best of all, though, is that this film is smart, and it involves the audience in its smartness by presenting them with just enough information to figure things out for themselves. THANK YOU. By being judicious with its exposition, and thereby manipulating your expectations, it can spring surprises on you, too, which is doubly involving! Easily the best film I've seen this year!


THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN'S APOCALYPSE


SO SILLY. So. Silly. I had various* reasons for watching it in the first place but was surprised and delighted by the postmodern metafiction! Yes please, mess with the nature of reality some more! It was a silly and madcap and imaginative enough romp that I can completely forgive the sometimes vulgar humour. Once again an absurd British comedy had me actually caring what happened by the end, too ... I love it when that happens.

I've listened to the radio series a few times but never seen the TV show ... the only confusing thing was that Geoff had exactly the same voice as Babs the Transsexual Taxi Driver, but that was only confusing until I was sure they were not supposed to be the same person. Bonus points for the very well-done stop-motion monsters, which look better and realer** than any CG. And, for about 30 seconds, the moral of the movie, as plainly stated by one of the characters, is 'Don't kill Mark Gatiss!' which I can get behind 100%.

*one
**Firefox says this is a word ... ??

Comments

[putri-nih.livejournal.com]

Aah! Moon :D I saw the trailer when I was watching Departures. Wanted to see it quite badly. NEXT WEEKEND *prays*

[shadowmaat.livejournal.com]

Saw Moon. Liked it lots. I'd read spoilers but was still caught off guard. It's nice to see a movie that remembers that good storytelling actually means good story telling rather than throwing in lots of boobs, bombs, and flashy CGI and calling it a plot.

Might snag the DVD when it gets released. Would love to hear the commentary. And see the film again.

[veronikamg.livejournal.com]

"Don't kill Mark Gatiss". Tee hee! Maybe there will be a film about not killing Lee Ingleby too, some day. :D

[twirlynoodle.livejournal.com]

You kidding? I think it's part of his contract that whatever character he plays has to die. The universe might become severely unbalanced if not dying became a rule!

That said, I haven't seen Wind in the Willows yet ... I don't remember Mole dying in the original but they might have made an exception...

Actually, that might make an interesting film ... Lee Ingleby, going through life, constantly in peril and saved at the last minute by a band of dedicated rescuers until they realise that in order for time to progress he has to die. Oh wait, that was an episode of Doctor Who. Nevermind!

[veronikamg.livejournal.com]

Oh, my bad! I forgot about that particular part of his contract. However, I think a film where he doesn't die does exist, because in Place of Execution he plays the *younger* version of a character, thus must have survived. However, this film also includes David Tennant, who we know has been The Doctor, so you never know...

[twirlynoodle.livejournal.com]

He also doesn't die in the episode of Cadfael he appeared in (Pilgrim of Hate?), though a)this was early in his career, probably before he had enough of a reputation to make any demands contract-wise and b)he is saved from the claws of the ravening crowd only by the intervention of Bro. Cadfael.