Whole 9 Yards

Donna Grayson wrote:

MP's getting good reviews. Roger Ebert and whoever it was in the other seat liked the film, and the <New York Times> reviewer, while lukewarm about the movie, went out of his way to praise Mr. Perry's acting skills.

I still haven't watched the film because I opted to watch Hanging Up instead, but I was disappointed to read the following in the L.A. Times:

"The Whole Nine Yards" ends up on the undernourished side. The films deficiencies are not his fault, but if the likeable Perry had a bigger, more dynamic presence, it might help. There are certainly some laughs there, but it could use some assistance.

Adriana Ross: I don't know if anything is ever going to happen with us again, ever, but I don't want to know that it never could. So I stopped it, and she got mad and broke my projector. -TOW Chandler Can't Cry

In article ,

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Don't despair. My general rule of thumb with movies is: the only critical opinion that counts is your own. I have seen too many moves that I liked being slammed by professional critics - so much so that I have largely discarded their opinions all together. Some of their arguments are actually warranted. But other critics just delve too far into the mechanics of film and story-telling and somehow lose the whole point of watching a film (at least for me).

After all, I already know from the get go that a Jackie Chan movie is going to be badly dubbed and very formulaic in its use of plot. And, similarly, I knew that every Chris Farley movie (up until his death) was going to be one shot after another of him falling over, getting struck by something, or just generally making an ass of himself. Yes, while this brand of "Fatty Fall Down" movie is pretty formulaic, unoriginal, and does not represent great film-making or literature, that doesn't necessarily detract from its value IMO. When I go to see these movies, I go for a laugh (or for action or whatever). And usually I can get it in some form. I try to be very liberal with my opinion and see the good points in almost any movie, no matter how bad it is (although I still can see nothing of value in that last Batman movie; yuck!).

The critics are, of course, entitled to their opinion but, then again, so am I. It is after all the nature of humankind to disagree. So, I generally just go and see whatever interests me, in spite of what critics say. I get burned sometimes (again, that Batman movie, and the recent "BATS"; see a trend here?). But the fact is I generally like a lot more movies than the critics do. And if I went to films based merely on their choice picks, I would probably be watching only a select few each year.

So just go see what you want to see, not what the critics suggest you see. And on a related note, I'll be taking in "The Whole Nine Yards" tonight. ; - )

And on a final funny note, Natasha Henstridge (who plays the hitman's wife in the film) is actually from my neck of the woods - although she probably doesn't remember it (or refuses to admit it). She lived here in good ol' Newfoundland, I believe, until she was about 5 and then moved out west to the Canadian praries. Could be wrong on a point or two here but she definitely has "Newfie" blood in her gene pool somewhere. Of that, I am certain. ; - )

Oh definetely. I don't watch movies based on what they say, I was just saying that it's disappointing to hear the cast get bad reviews. I'm sure my taste in movies is very different from that of a 50-year-old film critic anyway. =)

Adriana

Ross: I don't know if anything is ever going to happen with us again, ever, but I don't want to know that it never could. So I stopped it, and she got mad and broke my projector. -TOW Chandler Can't Cry

It was really good! I just saw it. although I loooooove Matthew, Me and My friend had fun making fun of his hair(Just in one scene) and Dancing(Ending Credits)

~Ashley* Matthew Perry Luver.

Sean Hoyles wrote:

I have always made an exception for Siskel and Ebert, though I don't just go to a movie because they suggest it. It starts with my own interest in a movie, then if Siskel or Ebert gives it a definite thumbs down, I'll reconsider.

In article , James Squire wrote:

Jim, don't you know that Gene Siskel is dead?

Tennant Stuart

I already answered that question in another post, did you not see it?

In article , James Squire wrote:

Sorry Jim, no I didn't - blame the Texas Spammer. :-(((((((((

What did you say?

Tennant

Apparently I only thought I answered it. I can't find it in my "posted" file. I do recall that you have asked this twice.

*of course* I know that Gene Siskel is dead. The fact is that when he was alive, he and Ebert were a team. I was describing my movie-going behavior past *and* present, which has not changed. Notice that I said, "I have ALWAYS...." That points to the past tense and also implies continuation into the present. I didn't think I needed to point out that today Siskel is dead because a) surely everybody knows it and b) it would have made what I was trying to convey tons more awkward to say.

My movie-going policy today is still the same: if Siskel or Ebert gives it a thumbs down I will reconsider. The fact that it is impossible for Siskel to perform this function anymore is irrelevant to the logic of that rule.

See what I mean?

In article , James Squire wrote:

Okay Jim, see do I.

In the UK we feel much the same about Barry Norman - who has not so much died as been bought up by a premium rate subscription channel, and for me his replacement does not carry the same cachet.

Tennant

Hellooooo!!! After getting drunk in Vegas, Tennant Stuart doodled cat whiskers on his/her face and miaowed this little lot at a statue...

I never much liked Barry Norman anyway - he was always far too 'artsy' for my tastes and never seemed to be willing to actually give any mainstream movie a chance. Although TBH, I tend to not take *any* critic's review of a movie seriously until I've seen the movie for myself.

OTOH, one of my favourite movies is The Truman Show, but I can't imagine the number of critics who, upon first hearing about it, probably thought it was going to be another Ace Ventura just because Jim Carrey was in it. The Matrix is also another goodie. (Yes, I like movies that make you think, *okay*?!) I want to see The Italian Job though, and one of these days I *will* catch it on TV when it's not almost over...

In article , Tina Nellis wrote:

The Matrix was my favourite movie of last year, and my big sister (who is ten years older than me & rarely goes these days) loved it too...

"Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead... only try to realise the truth - there is no spoon. Then you'll see, that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself."

What did Barry Norman say about it, then? Jonathan Ross loved it.

Tennant

Hellooooo!!! After getting drunk in Vegas, Tennant Stuart doodled cat whiskers on his/her face and miaowed this little lot at a statue...

I've got it on DVD anamorphic widescreen - oh yes, the picture is *beautiful* when you output it to a TV. :) Aside from the slimy goo bit, it was my favourite movie of last year as well. :)

I don't know, I don't listen to Barry Norman, remember? :)

In article , Tina Nellis wrote:

Yes, we bought the Region 1 DVD on the net, it arrived a week before going on sale in the USA, and it's beautiful on our widescreen telly too. :)

I take it you had no trouble with DVD-ROM glitches? (We didn't).

Oh, so for all you know he may have given the movie a chance, then? ;)

I was amazed by some reviews that claimed there was something wrong with the colour in the movie - then others, who knew the greenness of the Matrix & the blueness of the ship was deliberate, thought that the Wachowskis used coloured filters, whereas of course it was all just careful selection.

Tennant

Yeah, I've even heard someone say he's the "Charlie Chaplin of the new millenium" I can't wait to see it. I'm going tomorrow.

~Ashley*

Jonathan Roberts wrote:

The local reviewer here in Chicago thought the script was horribly unoriginal. He gave it 2 stars out of 4. But he's no Siskel or Ebert, so I always wait until I hear from one of them. The same local reviewer also thought that DeNiro/Crystal Mobster/Shrink comedy that LK had a bit part in (I think?) was not worth seeing, and I'm fairly sure I will enjoy that movie when I get a chance to check it out from the video store one of these days.

I thought Analyze This was pretty funny, but Lisa did have a very small role.

Adriana

Ross: I don't know if anything is ever going to happen with us again, ever, but I don't want to know that it never could. So I stopped it, and she got mad and broke my projector. -TOW Chandler Can't Cry

Adriana loves Matt wrote:

She had just had her baby three weeks prior to the taping and was still trying to breastfeed, so in a way, its good that her role wasn't too big...:) JRP

As Ross would say, "THANK YOU!" I just could not think of that movie title.

And as Ross also said (TOW Chandler Can't Cry =)) "You're welcome."

It's a good movie, though, I recommend it.

Adriana

Ross: I don't know if anything is ever going to happen with us again, ever, but I don't want to know that it never could. So I stopped it, and she got mad and broke my projector. -TOW Chandler Can't Cry

Adriana wrote...

role.

*Pretty* funny ??! Oh James you are soooo gonna love the movie. It's hilarious, don't miss it.

Adeline.

Sorry, I don't think I appreciated it as much because the sound at the theater was HORRIBLE and I missed half the jokes because of it. I have that kind of luck, when I watched Picture Perfect there was an earthquake!

Adriana

Ross: I don't know if anything is ever going to happen with us again, ever, but I don't want to know that it never could. So I stopped it, and she got mad and broke my projector. -TOW Chandler Can't Cry

In article , James Squire wrote:

Strange you should say that Jim, for Gene Siskel died exactly one year ago today, from a complication during brain surgery.

Tennant