I think I might be related to Jables. Check out this photo of my brother, Arvind, and note the similarity of goatee to JB’s. Henceforth I shall be known as Armand D.
Category Archives: Film
Explosivo!
Today was the D-Line.
When I got the Orange Wednesday text in after a hard day’s, erm, rockin’, I was pretty psyched. Very few people I know showed any sign of enthusiasm, mild interest, or even moderate contempt at seeing this film: even my most juvenile friends thought it would be rubbish. Naysayers. They didn’t bother me. Patty Y joined me for what was possibly the cinematic experience of the century (according to the trailer).
It was Destiny.
The movie is exactly as good as it should be. Completely true to everything that is the D: fast paced, funny, coherent in a trippy sort of way, and definitely rocking. Man, does this movie rock. And whilst it plays to the conventions very well… it does some things differently. Sometimes when you expect it to rock… it rolls. And when you’re expecting a patronising speech… you get a bizarre lesson about Satan being in everyone’s heart.
I am not sure that non-fans, or the weak of spirit, will really get this film. I mean, if you don’t like swearing, then you can ******* **** right off. If you don’t like rocking, well, you too, buddy. So I don’t know if I can, in good conscience, recommend it to everyone. But if you’ve ever chuckled at *any* of Jack Black’s songs, go see Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny, on a disappointingly limited release in the UK right now. It won’t make you laugh as much as Borat did, but it will make you laugh.
Oh, and that couple that was making out in the front of the cinema at the Trocadero? What was that all about? Mind you, I suspect the D would approve…
Aside: my ultimate team-up right now. For a band, project, comic book, whatever:
Jables & Cage
Kevin Smith
Neil Gaiman
John Cusack
Matt Stone & Trey Parker
Scarlett Johannson (because she should be in everything)
That would be great.
Armand’s 30 word reviews: Casino Royale
It is good. Lots of product placement. Good explosions. The Frenchman, Mathis, is slightly patronising if you know anything about poker. Eva Green is beautiful, but annoying.
That is all.
The Prestige
Saw this movie last night: starring Wolverine, Batman, Alfred, Ziggy Stardust and Scarlett Johansson (who gets to keep her real name), this is an awesome film. I don’t want to say too much — for those who don’t know its basically a Marvel/DC crossover with Wolverine and Batman feuding for the title of ‘greatest magician ever’ — but suffice it to say that Wolverine does get his claws out and Bats does at one stage sport a utility belt of sorts.
Awesome.
Who will come watch the D movie with me?
I don’t know how I missed that the Tenacious D movie opens this week. And I don’t know why it is that I can’t think of a single person who would pay money to come and see it with me. Which saddens me; as it either means that it is going to be a bad film, or that none of my friends have a sense of humour. I’m going with the latter for the moment, but if anyone does want to come see it with me, let me know.
There’s too many movies I want to see on. The Prestige, Casino Royale, and the D… can I do them all in one week?
Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny (CD)
My CD arrived.
Whoa.
It is a thing of awesome beauty and power.
On first listening, I wasn’t sure if they’d tried too hard with the whole comedy thing. I mean, there are some kickass funny tunes on there. But I was looking for music that rocked so hard that it would literally blow my mind. And a few listens in, I’ve realised that this is it. From the tuneful lyrical genius of ‘Dude I totally miss you’ to the adrenaline fuelled ‘Storm the gates’ to the final battle with Satan in ‘Beazleboss’… It’s all awesome. And there’s everything good about the eponymous track, too (video below).
This is truly the greatest rock band in all of human history. Jables is on my list of people I want to be like (alongside Neil Gaiman, Douglas Adams, Kevin Smith, Carl Sagan and John Cusack).
Borat is doing great…!
Check out the reviews! This pleases me.
The people in the small Romanian town Sacha Baron Cohen filmed in are complaining [paywall], though, as they weren’t really given enough, in their opinion, for the humiliation the film puts them through. The 73 year old woman who plays Borat’s mum was paid €30 and 200kg of concrete, which she is now using to make some repairs to her house.
If you get past the paywall for the FT, or have Saturday’s paper about, do read the full article. The mayor of the Romanian province’s comment was bizarre (and funny, given the film involved) – something like “If they got paid I am sure they are happy. Those gypsies would sell their own father.” A strange piece to read in the FT!
In the meantime, Borat is getting sued by the idiot students, has had an awesome opening weekend and you can make prank calls to your friends using the Borat soundboard. Deleted scenes are appearing on YouTube and the internet sensation continues to grow.
This movie is genius.
Borat opens this week
Regular readers will know I saw the movie back in September, and loved it. Been following the hype with some interest, from Borat’s response to the Kazakh government following their criticism, to his appearances at premieres, and more, and simply can’t get enough. There’s something very captivating about that silly man.
Interestingly, in my hunt for more Borat related content, I found a couple of relatively sane interviews with Sacha Baron Cohen (playing himself). I don’t think Sacha does interviews any more (only Borat, Ali G and Bruno), but its definitely interesting to see the man behind the mustache.
Kazakhstan the greatest nation in the world, all the other countries are run by little girls…
Lessons from Alan Bennett
Went to see The History Boys tonight, the movie. Saw the play some time back and was very moved by it, and so when I got the times wrong for Children of Men, I was not unhappy. I’ll make no comment on whether it was a faithful, or necessary adaptation of the play we saw at the National Theatre. I will say that it was entertaining, is an exceptional piece of writing, I’m glad its available for all to see, and that I’d like to share five things I took from it. They may not make a great deal of sense in isolation, but please, please go see the film. Then you’ll understand.
(1) The whole Words/Language/Literature thing. When I was younger I thought I loved these things, and said so. Hector’s frustrations at the boys for thinking that they did – and Felix’s complete misunderstanding of who and what Hector was – struck a chord. I realised a while ago — it’s not that I love words, language, literature, writing… I love stories. It’s not the point Hector was making, Hector was talking about knowledge, I think, about acquiring knowledge, having natural curiosity, trusting that understanding would come (“Most of the things they write about haven’t happened to us yet, sir!” … “but they will, and then you’ll have the antidote… poetry!”)… but still.
(2) They call Felix the advance warning. The need for substance beyond… well, sheen. Felix was fairly one-dimensional. But a warning for those whose ambitions exceed their character.
(3) Love. The whole inoculation speech. Utterly brilliant. Really made sense. The idea that a few broken hearts provide a defense against “half a lifetime” of loneliness. Cynical, perhaps. But spoken by Hector, it was the tragedy of the moment that gave it poignancy.
(4) History is just one f****** thing after another. Rudge is a genius.
(5) “The best thing about reading,” says Hector (and here I start to paraphrase) “is when you read something, find a thought, an idea, that was special to you… and its from a complete stranger. It’s like they are shaking your hand.”
Rewatching Clerks
The first Clerks was genius. After the weeks I’ve just had (busy as anything!) envy Randall’s job so much. Sitting around doing nothing but insulting people and watching movies. I could really do with a day of doing that. Or two.