Mt. Molelog

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You

Kottke points to an interesting Grauniad article on movie trailers. The whole article’s worth reading, but a few of the more interesting tidbits are:

• Y’know that generic trailer voiceover voice? It’s not generic at all; it’s Don Lafontaine’s: he’s done about 4000 trailers over the past 40ish years.
• Under “US industry regulations”, trailers must be 2 1/2 minutes or less. Who sets these regulations, I wonder? The MPAA? If so, do they apply to movies released by non-MPAA members, or to trailers shown before such movies?
• The people creating the trailer for Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events wanted to remind people of Edward Scissorhands — so they licensed the music.
• The score from a 1991 movie called Come See the Paradise has been used in trailers for at least 24 other films.

2005-06-10 21:25:33 | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | CopyrightCartel::Movies

Ken Park

For some odd reason, I'm a high hit for various Ken Park-related google searches.

I wouldn't normally give explicit pointers to something like this, but seeing as how an ostensibly free country is currently censoring this movie, here goes.

First, download an eDonkey 2000 client if you don't have one; if you're using Mac OS X, there's a command line client available.

Start it up and connect to the eDonkey network (with the OS X command line client, that's the 'c' command); next, tell it to download this URL:

ed2k://|file|Ken.Park.DVDRip.XViD.EPiC.SvcdPlaza.avi|714821632|533E5EA09A8A5EC2B5F8EDE6D0F32FE9|/

(with the command line client, that's 'dllink ed2k://....').

Wait. Watch. Give the censor board the finger.

2003-07-15 05:16:00 | Comments (20) | TrackBack (0) | CopyrightCartel::Movies

Movie Ticket Stubs In My Box Of Ticket Stubs

Mistakes on the stubs are marked like this; information not actually printed on the stubs is marked like this. Movie titles where I couldn't figure out what movie it was are marked with "(???)". Years which couldn't be extrapolated are marked as "0000".

date	time	price	theatre	title
00000000	0000	0.50	northpark	(???)
00000000	0000	0.50	northpark	(???)
00000000	0000	0.50	northpark	(???)
00000000	0000	1.00	northpark	(???)
00000000	0000	1.00	northpark	(???)
00000000	0000	1.00	northpark	(???)
00000000	0000	3.75	gcc brixton	(???)
00000529	1300	3.75	litchfield	ave114 (???)
00000623	1215	3.50	litchfield	Hanger(???)
00000624	1615	3.50	ua	(???)
00000730	1300	3.50	litchfield	(???)
00000730	1300	3.50	litchfield	Sun (???)
00000827	1240	3.50	litchfield	Head (???)
19910310	2010	5.75	amc northw	Flight of the Intruder
19920117	2120	6.00	penn square	Cape Fear
19920515	1600	3.75	quail springs	The Player
19920627	1415	3.75	penn square	Batman IIReturns
19920815	2145	5.50	amc memorial	Stay Tuned
19921125	1950	5.00	ua	Passenger 57
19921219	1720	2.50	amc robins	Toys
19930103	1430	3.75	amc northw	The Bodyguard
19930108	2200	5.00	ua	Chaplin
19930114	1600	3.75	penn square	Seccent of a Woman
19930117	1450	3.50	litchfield	Body of Evidence
19930123	1540	3.50	amc robins	Hexed
19930130	1710	3.50	litchfield	Matinee
19930205	1720	3.75	gcc brixton	Loaded Weapon
19930212	2200	5.00	ua	Groundhog Day
19930213	2200	6.00	penn square	The Temp
19930219	1650	3.50	litchfield	The Crying Game
19930219	1650	3.50	litchfield	The Crying Game
19930226	1630	2.75	amc memorial	Howards End
19930306	1640	3.50	litchfield	Amos and Andrew
19930409	1530	3.75	penn square	Born Yesterday
19930421	1725	2.75	amc memorial	Peter's Friends
19930427	1400	3.75	amc memorial	This Boy's Life
19930429	1450	3.75	gcc brixton	The Judas Project
19930501	1935	5.50	amc memorial	Three of Hearts
19930501	2015	5.50	amc memorial	Howards End
19930513	2035	5.00	ua	Splitting Heirs
19930521	1400	3.75	quail springs	Like Water for Chocolate
19930522	1955	5.00	ua	Hot Shots! 2Part Deux
19930529	1735	2.75	amc memorial	Lost in Yonkers
19930609	1230	3.75	amc memorial	Life with Mikey
19930618	1115	3.75	amc memorial	Last Action Hero
19930621	1925	6.00	gcc brixton	Ethan Frome
19930625	1200	3.75	amc northw	Sleepless in Seattle
19930814	1640	3.75	penn square	The Fugitive
19930901	1225	3.75	gcc brixton	Son of the Pink Panther
19930904	1450	3.00	ua	Fortress
19930911	1515	3.75	penn square	Undercover Blues
19930915	1425	3.75	penn square	True Romance
19930917	1230	3.75	penn square	Much Ado About Nothing
19930923	1935	5.00	ua	Searching for Bobby Fischer
19930925	1155	3.75	gcc brixton	Boxing Helena
19930925	1935	5.50	amc memorial	Age of Innocence
19930930	1330	3.75	penn square	The Good Son
19931008	2155	5.00	ua	Money for Nothing
19931011	1300	3.75	penn square	Gettysburge
19931017	1725	2.75	amc northw	Mr. Wonderful
19931020	1240	3.75	penn square	Judgement Night
19931105	1455	3.00	ua	Dazed and Confused
19931105	1455	3.00	ua	Dazed and Confused
19931124	1300	4.00	penn square	Addams Family Values
19940121	1415	3.75	litchfield	Intersection
19940128	1645	2.75	amc memorial	Short Cuts
19940227	1410	4.00	gcc brixton	Body Snatchers
19940304	1500	3.50	amc memorial	Angie
19940310	1700	4.00	quail springs	What's Eating Gilbert Grape
19940312	2140	6.25	gcc brixton	Rome is Bleeding
19940401	1330	3.50	amc memorial	House of Spirits
19940402	1400	4.00	gcc brixton	Sirens
19940408	1245	4.00	penn square	Threesome
19940408	1600	4.00	penn square	Four Weddings and a Funeral
19940409	1330	3.50	amc northw	The Paper
19940416	1510	4.00	penn square	Cops and Robbersons
19940416	2205	5.75	amc northw	Threesome
19940422	1330	3.50	amc memorial	Bad Girls
19940509	1340	3.50	amc memorial	Belle Epoque
19940513	1405	4.00	gcc brixton	The Crow
19940515	1330	3.50	amc northw	Chasers
19940516	1510	3.50	amc memorial	Clean Slate
19940520	1500	4.00	penn square	Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
19940604	1715	2.75	gcc brixton	Like Water For Chocolate
19940612	1430	3.50	amc memorial	Four Weddings and a Funeral
19940617	1545	2.75	penn square	Wolf
19940618	1925	3.50	amc memorial	Wolf
19940708	1315	4.00	gcc brixton	Widows Peak
19940715	1630	2.50	amc robins	True Lies
19940720	2145	6.25	penn square	Forrest Gump
19940721	2150	5.75	litchfield	The Client
19940730	1520	4.00	quail springs	It Could Happen to You
19940730	1520	4.00	quail springs	It Could Happen to You
19940826	1430	3.75	litchfield	Natural Born Killers
19940901	1200	4.00	penn square	Milk Money
19940904	1200	4.00	penn square	Barcelona
19940916	1400	4.00	penn square	Time Cop
19941008	1315	4.00	penn square	Quiz Show
19941014	1200	3.50	amc memorial	Exit to Eden
19941022	1445	4.00	gcc brixton	Priscilla Queen of the Desert
19941027	1440	4.00	gcc brixton	Radioland Murders
19941029	1500	3.75	windsor hills	Pulp Fiction
19941105	1210	3.75	windsor hills	Stargate
19941123	1205	4.00	gcc brixton	Star Trek: Generations
19941125	1215	3.50	amc memorial	The Professional
19941125	1945	6.25	gcc brixton	Bullets over Broadway
19941209	1445	4.00	gcc brixton	Clerks
19941215	1245	4.00	penn square	Discluosure
19941221	1230	3.50	amc memorial	Mixed Nuts
19950106	2225	3.50	amc northw	Nell
19950113	1400	4.00	gcc brixton	Higher Learning
19950204	1715	3.25	penn square	Death and the Maiden
19950210	1250	3.50	amc memorial	Before Sunrise
19950210	1500	3.50	amc memorial	The Quick and the Dead
19950216	1340	4.00	gcc brixton	Red
19950217	1325	4.00	penn square	Just Cause
19950218	1330	4.00	quail springs	The Brady Bunch Movie
19950220	1400	4.00	quail springs	Pulp Fiction
19950303	1320	4.00	penn square	Madness of King George
19950311	1705	3.25	penn square	The Browning Version
19950312	1340	4.00	quail springs	Outbreak
19950317	1310	4.00	penn square	Last Seduction
19950318	1450	3.50	amc memorial	Bye Bye Love
19950324	1215	3.75	windsor hills	Dolores Clairborne
19950325	1055	2.75	amc memorial	Exotica
19950326	1345	3.50	amc memorial	Muriel's Wedding
19950422	1230	3.50	amc memorial	Kiss of Death
19950428	1350	3.50	amc northw	Village of the Damned
19950429	1700	3.00	amc northw	Destiny Turns On the Radio
19950429	1700	3.00	amc northw	Destiny Turns On the Radio
19950512	1235	5.75	amc memorial	Crimson Tide
19950521	1700	3.00	amc northw	Die Hard: With a Vengeance
19950526	2005	5.75	amc memorial	Johnny Mnemonic
19950527	1030	3.00	amc northw	Mad Love
19950529	1515	3.50	amc memorial	While You Were Sleeping
19950617	1330	4.00	penn square	Batman Forever
19950707	2145	5.00	ua	Judge Dredd
19950714	1715	3.25	quail springs	Species
19950715	1520	3.50	amc robins	Nine Months
19950715	1520	3.50	amc robins	Nine Months
19950729	1720	3.25	quail springs	Clueless
19950730	2215	5.75	amc memorial	The Net
19950804	0045	5.75	amc memorial	Something to Talk About
19950825	2115	6.25	gcc brixton	Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love
19950901	2210	4.75	amc robins	The Usual Suspects
19950902	1245	4.00	crossroads	Prophecy
19950915	2155	6.25	quail springs	Clockers
19950917	1410	4.00	gcc brixton	Little Odessa
19950923	1055	3.00	amc northw	Showgirls
19950920	2100	6.25	gcc brixton	Belle Due Jour
19950923	0035	5.75	amc memorial	Seven
19950929	2225	5.75	amc memorial	The Brothers McMullen
19951007	1715	3.00	amc memorial	To Die For
19951020	1945	5.75	amc northw	Mallrats
19951024	1925	5.75	amc memorial	Crumb
19951118	1345	4.00	gcc brixton	Goldeneye
19951215	2030	5.75	amc memorial	Heat
19960224	2220	4.75	amc robins	Mary Reilly
19960512	1445	3.50	amc memorial	The Truth About Cats and Dogs
19960512	1445	3.50	amc memorial	The Truth About Cats and Dogs
19960512	1445	3.50	amc memorial	The Truth About Cats and Dogs
19960615	1210	4.00	penn square	Mission Impossible
19960703	2010	4.75	amc robins	Eraser
19960703	2010	4.75	amc robins	Eraser
19960810	2045	4.75	amc robins	Multiplicity
19960810	2045	4.75	amc robins	Multiplicity
19990803	2155	4.75	evergreen	American Pie
19991228	1525	4.00	tinseltown usa	The Talented Mr. Ripley
20000423	1445	4.75	movies on tv	Gossip
20000423	1630	4.75	movies on tv	Rules of Engagement
20000728	1745	4.50	koin center	Blood Simple
20010508	1940	7.00	fox tower	Memento
20010703	1910	7.75	evergreen	Shrek
20010706	1910	7.75	evergreen	Shrek
20010714	2035	7.75	movies on tv	Legally Blonde
20011226	1450	5.50	amc quail	Not another Teen Movie
20011229	1330	5.50	amc quail	Vanilla Sky
20011229	1330	5.50	amc quail	Vanilla Sky
20020622	1415	5.50	eastport	Minority Report
20020622	1715	4.75	eastport	Sum of all Fears
20020628	1930	8.00	eastport	Spider Man
20020703	1315	5.50	eastport	Men in Black II
20030130	1930	8.00	lloyd center	Darkness Falls
20030519	1510	5.75	eastport	Matrix Reloaded

Total ticket price: $760.50

Theatre notes:

• amc memorial - AMC Memorial Square 8; this theatre is evidentally closed; it was in Oklahoma City on Memorial Avenue east of May Avenue. At the time it was one the two nicest theatres in the city.
• amc northw - AMC Northwest; this theatre is evidentally closed; it was in Oklahoma City on the Northwest Expressway, adjacent to the outlet mall.
• amc quail - AMC Quail Springs 24; this is a newer AMC theatre, the only current AMC theatre in Oklahoma City
• amc robins - AMC Robinson Square; this theatre has either closed or changed ownership; it was in Norman OK at Robinson Crossing, just off I-35 at Robinson.
• crossroads - GCC Crossroads; this theatre is now WTC Crossroads 8.
• eastport - Century Eastport 16; this is the only non-Regal first-run theatre in Portland
• evergreen - Regal Evergreen Parkway
• fox tower - Regal Fox Tower
• gcc brixton - GCC Brixton Square 8; now evidentally Wallace Theaters: Hollywood - Brixton Square 8
• koin center - Regal KOIN Center 6
• litchfield - Litchfield theatres ticket stubs don't ID a particular theatre. Most of these are from Windsor Hills prior to Regal buying it, but some may be from Kickingbird.
• lloyd center - Regal Lloyd Center 10
• movies on tv - Regal Movies on TV 16
• northpark - a discount theatre in Oklahoma City's Northpark Mall; the tickets don't include dates or titles.
• penn square - GCC Penn Square 8: now evidentally Dickinson Penn Square 10
• quail springs - GCC Quail Springs 6; this theatre is evidentally closed; it was adjacent to Quail Springs theatre (not in the mall as the new AMC Quail Springs 24 theatre is)
• tinseltown usa - Cinemark Tinseltown USA
• ua - United Artist theatres; the ticket stubs don't indicate which particular theatre it is; most of these would be the United Artist theatre in Norman OK on Robinson about half a mile west of I-35; I can't remember the name of the theatre and it seems to be closed now.
• windsor hills - Regal Windsor Hills

2003-06-17 03:02:00 | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0) | CopyrightCartel::Movies

Garfield, Jesus and Satan

Ken "Тату Kissing" Williams points to the rather creepy mirroring of Bill Murray supplying the voice for the live-action Garfield (a role originally performed in cartoon form by Lorenzo Music), given that Mr. Music earlier played the Bill Murray part in the cartoon The Real Ghostbusters.

Have you got that straight? If not, read it again, we'll wait.

Ken goes on to say:

I enjoy the feeling of balance that this predicament has to it. I mean, you have to ignore the fact that a LIVE-ACTION MOVIE is being made out of the Garfield comic... but once you cleanse your mind of all that, all that remains is a creepy balance that can only add fuel to the Creationist's fire. How else can you explain it? Jesus is alive, and sending us hints of His existence via movie/TV casting decisions. It's the only possible truth.

I think he skips way too easily over the central fact, even as he capitalizes it.

A LIVE-ACTION MOVIE is being out of the Garfield comic.

And he attributes this to Jesus?! It's obvious to me who's really behind this, and he's got a pitchfork and a forked tongue, he does.

2003-06-02 02:58:00 | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | CopyrightCartel::Movies

Malèna

I finally got around to watching Malèna today, and...I'm speechless.

I rented it just because the lovely Monica Bellucci is in it, and she's just as stunningly gorgeous as ever, or more so. But she also gives life to a fascinating character, even as we see her only through the eyes of a 13 year old.

It's a story at time heart-touching and at times infuriating (and yes, at times a little meandering and slow, but isn't that what life is like at times?). This version is 92 minutes long, while the director's intended version is 17 minutes longer; apparently most of the cuts were in the dream sequences, but it's not clear if they were just to tighten up the pacing or to appease the US censors at the MPAA. I'd like to see the original version at some point.

2003-05-31 15:24:00 | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0) | CopyrightCartel::Movies

Amélie

As I'm probably the last person in the world to know first-hand, Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain is a delightfully charming happy film. It doesn't particularly feel French to me, but it is very much non-American, or at least non-Hollywood. A Hollywood version of this would have to be cynical, even if it still had a happy ending; this isn't cynical at all.

The translation is curious, though, at least the one I saw (the English subtitles on the Region 1 DVD release). A quote shows up several times in the movie; the last time we see it written, thankfully.

Sans toi, les émotions d'aujourd' hiu me seraient que la peau morte des emotions d'autrefois -- Hipolito

That may not be quite right -- it's hand-written, and I don't read French so the normal context clues don't help much for a couple ambiguous letterforms.

The English translation given is

Without you, today's emotions would be the scurf of yesterday's.

"Scurf"? What's "scurf" mean? Evidentally it means 'dead skin', but it's not a word I knew. Did I just have a shocking hole in my vocabulary, or did the translator choose to use a truly uncommon word? If the latter, was it an intentional choice?

(And for the record, Audrey Tautou is shockingly cute and obviously of elfish descent.)

While I'm on the subject, why is it that my name gender detector fails so routinely French names? "Raphaël" is obviously male, as is "Claude", while "Dominique" is just as obviously female. Except that I'm wrong on all of those.

2003-03-21 05:20:00 | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | CopyrightCartel::Movies

Kangaroo Jack's PG rating

How did a mobster chase movie end up being marketed as a talking Kangaroo movie? And how did it get a PG rating despite the sex, language and violence? All good questions, some with answers.

The real villain here is the Jack Valenti-controlled MPAA. Its "Kangaroo Jack" ruling is another nail in the coffin for a ratings board that has shown itself to be wildly out of touch with parental standards and totally capricious in its judgments, having given an R rating, for example, to "Billy Elliot," preventing scores of kids from seeing a truly inspirational movie.

2003-02-03 12:57:00 | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | CopyrightCartel::Movies

Top 10 Nude scenes, 2002

Scoopy has a list of the top 10 nude scenes of the year (well, that's what he says; by my count, he's got 20 listed). I have, alas, seen exactly zero of these. So far.

2003-02-02 19:04:00 | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0) | CopyrightCartel::Movies

Top 10 Nude Scenes, Year 2002

http://www.scoopy.com/top10_2002.htm

2003-02-01 00:00:00 | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0) | CopyrightCartel::Movies

Spoilers Galore

This isn't the list I remember from usenet days of yore, but it's pretty close. Have a spoiler for a movie, any movie, every movie!

2001-09-07 00:00:00 | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | CopyrightCartel::Movies