tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post789728206185203635..comments2023-09-15T04:27:57.129-04:00Comments on Commentarama: Film Friday: The Core (2003)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-66438604118875762292011-04-22T18:28:12.544-04:002011-04-22T18:28:12.544-04:00Ed, I'll have to ask. I know Scott's been...Ed, I'll have to ask. I know Scott's been wanting to prepare a list.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-72262628020560662952011-04-22T16:31:32.389-04:002011-04-22T16:31:32.389-04:00Andrew, I like Armageddon, but I agree it's no...Andrew, I like Armageddon, but I agree it's not a great movie. I just like it. It's on my guilty pleasure list. I can't wait to see your guilty pleasure list. Is Scott going to do one too?Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-65709619643318128492011-04-21T17:23:38.035-04:002011-04-21T17:23:38.035-04:00Kosh, Agreed about Deep Impact, I was cheering for...Kosh, Agreed about <i>Deep Impact</i>, I was cheering for the apocalypse in that one or just the magic words "the end."<br /><br />On <i>Armageddon</i>, you're right that its heart was in the right place, it was just the execution that killed me. But I do have to admit that I did like the idea of shooting Ben Affleck a lot. :-)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-795184997810107252011-04-21T17:16:23.844-04:002011-04-21T17:16:23.844-04:00Can't believe you're so down on Armageddon...Can't believe you're so down on Armageddon. There are so many more films I would rather stab my eye with a pencil than watch, including Deep Inpact. It was soooo boring. Sort of a bad thing for an "action thriller." In Armageddon, the heros are regular working guys with all their faults, not some muscle bound hunk with inhumane abilities or some politician. As for Ben, my favorite part was Bruce trying to shot him in the beginning. Brainless? A little, ok, ok, alot, but at least put Americans in a positive light. We saved the world while still giving it to the French. The finale is probably the cheesiest ending of all time. Favorite line: "Get off the nuclear warhead."Koshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-1534474837116258512011-04-20T23:46:53.051-04:002011-04-20T23:46:53.051-04:00T_Rav, I remember, it was the episode where they h...T_Rav, I remember, it was the episode where they had to get through the hippie crowd to put Slayer in the CD player so they would disperse. That was a good one! LOL!<br /><br />On agreeing to disagree, ok, we can agree to disagree this time.... but I've got my eye on you! ;-) (just kidding)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-264114972017137872011-04-20T23:12:44.947-04:002011-04-20T23:12:44.947-04:00Andrew, that's fair. But I still like the movi...Andrew, that's fair. But I still like the movie all right. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. <br /><br />Back to The Core; there was a really funny South Park episode some years spoofing it. I think the most hilarious part was when they selected Chef for the "mission" because they needed a token black guy to die heroically halfway through; sure enough:<br /><br />Cartman: Chef, you don't have to do this.<br /><br />Chef: What are you talking about? I didn't volunteer to sacrificing myself! <br /><br />Cartman: Good luck, brother. We'll never forget this.<br /><br />Chef: This is bull$#%&!T_Ravnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-50820795898981240322011-04-20T22:49:54.063-04:002011-04-20T22:49:54.063-04:00Jed, Thanks! And I think that's right, I think...Jed, Thanks! And I think that's right, I think you need to give the audience enough to believe what they are seeing and all the rest is negotiable. I'm not sure there is a particular bright line that always needs to be drawn, but I would think the rule should be "when in doubt, include."<br /><br />I haven't seen "Unforgettable" or "Echoes in the Darkness," but like I said, I did like him in "Sphere." I think he does do creepy well and he does angry bureaucrat well. I've also heard him do the voice work in numerous documentaries.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-23559440045225811802011-04-20T22:06:19.714-04:002011-04-20T22:06:19.714-04:00Andrew - I never meant to imply Coyote isn't a...Andrew - I never meant to imply Coyote isn't a decent actor. I was merely drawing on an eery similarity between your viewing experience with "The Core" and my experience last night viewing "Unforgettable." He also played a role in a film about one of the most gripping murder case in the history of suburban Philadelphia, "Echoes in the Darkness." Developed from a true crime book by Joseph Wambaugh, it involved the slaying of a high school teacher Susan Reinhardt and her two children by fellow teacher William Bradfield. Coyote can do "creepy" really well.<br /><br />On the character information thing, it is hard to define, but I actually think you once put your finger on it correctly. In addition to a compelling plot, you have to develop just enough information about the characters to at least somewhat rationally and believably explain their actions.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-24648999394767724282011-04-20T21:04:52.486-04:002011-04-20T21:04:52.486-04:00Scott, Bruce Campbell! Now there's a man who c...Scott, Bruce Campbell! Now there's a man who could populate the list all by himself! LOL!<br /><br />Give me a couple weeks and I'll put something together.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-79287528869168911442011-04-20T20:58:22.554-04:002011-04-20T20:58:22.554-04:00I forgot about Congo!!! That would be #1. I even w...I forgot about <i>Congo</i>!!! That would be #1. I even went to a sci-fi convention and sat in on a Bruce Campbell Q&A but I didn't even think to ask him about his little cameo until I was in the car on the way home.<br /><br />I'll have to stop this conversation now or we'll be here all night. I guess what I'm asking is, should I wait for your article or write my own (presumably in the next week or so)?<br /><br />P.S. I saw <i>Commando</i> for the first time just last year. When I read that Schwarzenegger's character was named John Matrix, I knew I'd be hooked!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-67743777312718094472011-04-20T20:43:59.046-04:002011-04-20T20:43:59.046-04:00Scott, That might be as a good a definition as any...Scott, That might be as a good a definition as any -- a film you personally think is not good, but you like nevertheless.<br /><br />In truth, <i>The Stupids</i> and <i>Trapped in Paradise</i> made no impression on me.<br /><br />Others I would consider include <i>Alien Resurrection, Predator 2, Beerfest, Krull, Congo, Blue thunder, Xanadu, Hackers, Leviathon, Doom, Deep Blue Sea, Commando,</i> and more.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-48877776382626251972011-04-20T20:25:52.925-04:002011-04-20T20:25:52.925-04:00Andrew -
Just for the record, the five guilty pl...Andrew - <br /><br />Just for the record, the five guilty pleasures I came up with earlier are <i>Executive Decision</i>, <i>Alien 3</i>, <i>Trapped in Paradise</i>, <i>Dick Tracy</i>, and <i>The Stupids</i>.<br /><br />Hmm... I guess the operative phrase is "Movies I like in spite of myself." :-) We all try to seek out great films but when one comes along that is less than great but we react as if it were great, well, maybe that's the key idea here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-53907769722526523242011-04-20T20:20:44.761-04:002011-04-20T20:20:44.761-04:00Jed, I agree. It seems to be a very thin line ind...Jed, I agree. It seems to be a very thin line indeed and I don't honestly know exactly how you define it. It's probably one of those things were you will know it when you see it. I guess it depends on what is truly essential to understanding the story?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-20873629684731748892011-04-20T20:18:12.633-04:002011-04-20T20:18:12.633-04:00Scott, The problem is there may not be any more cr...Scott, The problem is there may not be any more criteria than (1) was it considered a bad movie and (2) how much do you like it despite realizing it's a bad film.<br /><br />I wasn't a big fan of <i>Executive Decision</i>, but it seems to me it was pretty popular. <i>Alien 3</i> would sound more like a better candidate as it was roundly panned, yet it lives on these days on cable.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-18944550031142659172011-04-20T20:15:20.415-04:002011-04-20T20:15:20.415-04:00Hawk - Coyote is a stage name. His real name is Je...Hawk - Coyote is a stage name. His real name is Jewish as I recall, something like Mosha ben Coen. My point about San Francisco and you is he was a friend of Emmett Grogan and a member of his his acting troupe the Diggers as well as the S.F. mime troupe. I figured that since that was back in your radical 60's Berkley heyday, you might have been familiar with him.<br /><br />Andrew - yes I think your distinction between the two films are spot on, and I agree that the minimalist technique was not purposeful. As I mentioned, it can be a thin line . . . give just enough information to draw the viewer/reader in to draw while leaving plenty of room to either wonder or make up their own backstory.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-38168216765569389452011-04-20T20:15:18.441-04:002011-04-20T20:15:18.441-04:00Ed, That seems to be the general consensus.
Yep, ...Ed, That seems to be the general consensus.<br /><br />Yep, I'm working on something for Friday, but first I need to put together an article for tomorrow morning... nothing is coming to mind yet.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-59251139206830031752011-04-20T20:13:18.685-04:002011-04-20T20:13:18.685-04:00I don't mind having this film on in the backgr...I don't mind having this film on in the background, but I can't sit and watch it.<br /><br />Are you still doing a review on Friday?Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-72531707865797807382011-04-20T20:13:03.851-04:002011-04-20T20:13:03.851-04:00Andrew -
It's tough, actually. So tough that...Andrew - <br /><br />It's tough, actually. So tough that this is my second attempt at a reply. At the end of the day, I guess it's all about movies where the general consensus is that the movie wasn't good or memorable or, to put it another way, it failed to meet expectations.<br /><br />I keep coming back to <i>Executive Decision</i> and <i>Trapped in Paradise</i>. Neither is well-remembered (<i>E.D.</i> ain't exactly <i>Die Hard</i>) but I find both immensely entertaining in their own ways. <i>E.D.</i> airs on TV all the time.<br /><br />And don't get me started on my love of the much-maligned <i>Alien 3</i>. (Extended cut only.) :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-70349991916231109822011-04-20T20:05:33.752-04:002011-04-20T20:05:33.752-04:00T_Rav, You are correct that callin Armageddon a bo...T_Rav, You are correct that callin <i>Armageddon</i> a bomb would be entirely unfair. It was meant to be a mindless summer film, and in that context, it does what it is supposed to do quite well. It pulled in a lot of people with its glitz and made Bruckheimer very rich. So it is indeed, impossible to call it a bomb.<br /><br />And you're right that it still remains on television, so it's got some staying power -- though less so as the years pass. And while I would normally use that as a measure of it being a great film, there is another category of films with longevity that are not great films -- guilty pleasures. I would put this in that category (though I personally don't count it as a guilty pleasure).<br /><br />And I agree that it compares favorably to <i>The Core</i>, but that's not saying much.<br /><br />That said, I personally cannot stand the film. Here are my reasons. (1) I see it as promoting attention deficit disorder. The constant quick edits were so annoying that I actually found myself motion sick at times -- kind of like with the vomit cam they use so much these days. And sadly, its success made that style more prominent. (2) I see the film as uber-cynical. Each scene is literally built to give you shiny distractions, none of which make sense. You basically have to turn your brain off to enjoy the film, and I can't do that -- it requires a level of disbelief I can't achieve, especially since I get the feeling the whole movie was made by marketing people rather than creative people like some paint by numbers painting.<br /><br />And my biggest complaint is that this crown jewel in the Bruckheimer empire was really the film that opened the door to mindlessness in films. Before this, even summer films had to have some story to keep you watching, even when the main point was to see stuff blow up. But Bruckheimer (especially through this film) opened the door for Hollywood to abandon plot entirely and just go with an assault of imagery. In other words, I trace the current horrid state of summer blockbusters back to this film.<br /><br />So while I can't call it an bomb, I also can't call it a good film, and on a personal level I despise it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-58471676410173441542011-04-20T19:29:08.410-04:002011-04-20T19:29:08.410-04:00Okay, look. I don't think Armageddon is a grea...Okay, look. I don't think Armageddon is a great movie by any means; if all the characters had been subjected to those Ben Affleck/Liv Tyler romance scenes, I think they probably would have been okay with death-by-asteroid. <br /><br />But my problem with all the rips on the movie is this: it was never designed to be a four-star epic, it was designed to be a summer action flick. Within the parameters that inevitably sets, I think it works. The basic story line obviously has holes in it, but it's set up in a way that's not too unbelievable if you're anything other than an astrophysics wonk. It is Hollywood science, I admit; but it follows the rules of that science.<br /><br />Also, you'll have to admit that some of the actors give their characters more feeling than is the case in "The Core." Bruce Willis is, well, Bruce Willis; but the relationship with his daughter is kind of touching, and you also get that gruff-but-loving vibe between him and her boyfriend (ironically, Affleck and Tyler relate to Willis better than they do to each other). There are a few other characters for whom this is the case, but more generally, Armageddon does do some of the things you dock "The Core" for not doing. Is it a great film? No, but it's not the bomb so many people like to say it is. <br /><br />Finally, riddle me this. Per the movie-to-TV rule you laid down some time back, why is "Armageddon" still easy to find on the tube twelve or thirteen years after it's release, if it's that horrible?T_Ravnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-1482686675710491962011-04-20T19:28:54.342-04:002011-04-20T19:28:54.342-04:00Scott, Five would be very hard to do. The problem...Scott, Five would be very hard to do. The problem is the criteria. I can't think of a criteria that doesn't get me around 20 films pretty quickly.<br /><br />My current top, by the way, would probably be <i>Predator 2</i>. That's an awful, awful film full of horrid cliches, bad acting, repeated contradictions, loss of continuity, inexplicable moments, and downright stupidity.... but I watch it whenever it's on television. Go figure?!<br /><br />What are you using as criteria? Nolte's criteria, if I remember correctly, was just "bad movie that I really like."AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-90621017728996092402011-04-20T19:22:57.992-04:002011-04-20T19:22:57.992-04:00At work earlier (and this should show you just how...At work earlier (and this should show you just how exciting it is), I was thinking of my own guilty pleasure list, should I later decide to write an article on the subject. I would limit it to 5 and explain my reasoning (<i>Armageddon</i> wouldn't be on it).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-46704352200783297592011-04-20T19:18:46.090-04:002011-04-20T19:18:46.090-04:00Scott, Thanks for the link. They actually make a ...Scott, Thanks for the link. They actually make a good point. On the one hand, it's fiction, so who cares. But on the other hand, as they point out, people internalize this information and begin to think it's real. So when it comes time to talk to people about real science, you end up having to cut through all the garbage before you can even begin discussing the truth.<br /><br />It's actually a similar problem with legal thrillers, though I would argue legal thrillers are even more insidious because people tend to base their views of the justice system on what they see in the films. There almost isn't a film (including the "based on a true story" legal thrillers) that are anywhere near real. They create fake conflict using fake law and fake procedures. So when people internalize that, they end up opining about how unfair our system is when they are really talking about the fake system created by Hollywood.<br /><br />FYI, I'm still working on a guilty pleasure's list. I'm just not sure how to rank them at this point. And, for the record, <i>The Core</i> might even creep onto that list, but I'm not sure.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-32921770723916155182011-04-20T19:13:20.276-04:002011-04-20T19:13:20.276-04:00Scott, It was in the spam filter. It's out no...Scott, It was in the spam filter. It's out now.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-58466761046964543152011-04-20T19:12:57.547-04:002011-04-20T19:12:57.547-04:00Lawhawk and Jed, Coyote does have a good voice. A...Lawhawk and Jed, Coyote does have a good voice. And the one film I actually liked him was <i>Sphere</i>.<br /><br /><br />Lawhawk, I think "background noise" is a good way to see the value of <i>The Core</i>, which is sad for a $60,000,000 film. I like Eckhardt too and have been pretty pleased with his acting in most films. He did an excellent job in <i>Dark Knight</i>. Swank, on the other hand, really strikes me as a horrible actress. She doesn't seem to have any sense of rhythm, she reads poorly, and she doesn't seem capable of playing off other actors.<br /><br /><i>Armageddon</i> did have excellent effects, but most of the visuals are faked. Take a look sometime at the scene where they are walking to the space shuttle. Check out the fake collection of uniforms, the helicopters flying right over the crowds' heads and facing each other -- in what would be a highly dangerous maneuver if it were real (Bruckheimer loves rotating blades and fans), and all of the other silliness in the staging. It's the pageantry equivalent of putting naked girls in the background to distract from poor writing.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.com