Comments for Reel Time, by Will Sloan http://www.blogs.insidetoronto.com/reel_time ... Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:38:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 Comment on REVIEW: The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters by Louise http://www.blogs.insidetoronto.com/reel_time/reviews/review-the-king-of-kong-a-fistful-of-quarters/#comment-314 Louise Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:57:20 +0000 http://www.blogs.insidetoronto.com/reel_time/reviews/review-the-king-of-kong-a-fistful-of-quarters/#comment-314 We watched this movie and agree with your review. I enjoyed watching Billy's disciples and I was struck by how much time the dad (Steve)spent playing the donkey kong game in his garage. It was a real addiction. It was representative of any addiction, really, that takes a person away from their responsibilities. Learning Steve was a teacher helped redeem him. We watched this movie and agree with your review. I enjoyed watching Billy’s disciples and I was struck by how much time the dad (Steve)spent playing the donkey kong game in his garage. It was a real addiction. It was representative of any addiction, really, that takes a person away from their responsibilities. Learning Steve was a teacher helped redeem him.

]]> Comment on REVIEW: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days by Robert http://www.blogs.insidetoronto.com/reel_time/reviews/review-4-months-3-weeks-and-2-days/#comment-312 Robert Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:48:20 +0000 http://www.blogs.insidetoronto.com/reel_time/reviews/review-4-months-3-weeks-and-2-days/#comment-312 Well if we all leave appreciating movies for what they were trying to do, we really have to appreaciate/like everything then don't we? I mean I can make a movie called bag of crap and have an hour of me just filming a bag of crap, doesn't really make it art now does it? Well if we all leave appreciating movies for what they were trying to do, we really have to appreaciate/like everything then don’t we? I mean I can make a movie called bag of crap and have an hour of me just filming a bag of crap, doesn’t really make it art now does it?

]]> Comment on REVIEW: Funny Games (Early Review) by Robert http://www.blogs.insidetoronto.com/reel_time/reviews/review-funny-games-early-review/#comment-311 Robert Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:43:58 +0000 http://www.blogs.insidetoronto.com/reel_time/reviews/review-funny-games-early-review/#comment-311 First things first let's clarify on what is and isn't indie. Indie is a status not a genre. If you have big studios, mtv, and the like backing you, you can't, and indeed I stress this, can't be indie. Same goes for an indie film who's budget is that of hundred grands at most. My problem with this film is that rather than trying to be a movie it's just trying to be cool. Rather than telling a story, it's just trying to be cool. I don't know, personally I feel it would have been better off in an installment of a three extremes, masters of horror, etc. (Miike has what very few directors can say and that is variety. I used to hate his films/fans when I saw Ichi, Audition, Visitor Q, and the like. Then I saw some of his family films, drama films, etc and noticed he actually has a lot of range. He's good when he isn't trying to be shocking for the sake of shocking.) First things first let’s clarify on what is and isn’t indie. Indie is a status not a genre. If you have big studios, mtv, and the like backing you, you can’t, and indeed I stress this, can’t be indie. Same goes for an indie film who’s budget is that of hundred grands at most. My problem with this film is that rather than trying to be a movie it’s just trying to be cool. Rather than telling a story, it’s just trying to be cool. I don’t know, personally I feel it would have been better off in an installment of a three extremes, masters of horror, etc.

(Miike has what very few directors can say and that is variety. I used to hate his films/fans when I saw Ichi, Audition, Visitor Q, and the like. Then I saw some of his family films, drama films, etc and noticed he actually has a lot of range. He’s good when he isn’t trying to be shocking for the sake of shocking.)

]]> Comment on REVIEW: Funny Games (Early Review) by Will Sloan http://www.blogs.insidetoronto.com/reel_time/reviews/review-funny-games-early-review/#comment-310 Will Sloan Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:50:34 +0000 http://www.blogs.insidetoronto.com/reel_time/reviews/review-funny-games-early-review/#comment-310 "Snuff film" is a pretty hideous dismissal of Haneke's brilliantly crafted and paced movie. Unlike any snuff film I can think of off the top of my head, Haneke's film is a technical masterpiece (cinematography, acting, set design - all top notch). As I mentioned, I also appreciated how Haneke subtly undercut the thriller genre, and how he evoked real suspense and tension. This in addition to his social commentary, which I found daring and admirable in its uncompromising refusal to let its audience off easy. Regarding your rule about mainstream and indie films, it strikes me as unbelievable close-minded. Why shouldn't mainstream filmmakers be allowed to learn from the innovations of independent film, and why shouldn't independent filmmakers be able do the same from mainstream directors? Mainstream and indie films do not exist in isolation of each other - and, indeed, to insist on referring to them as "mainstream" and "indie" is snobby. As far as I'm concerned, there exist only good movies and bad movies, not "mainstream" and "indie." (Anyway, I'm happy to say that I think we agree on "Ichi". I'm not the world's biggest Miike fan). “Snuff film” is a pretty hideous dismissal of Haneke’s brilliantly crafted and paced movie. Unlike any snuff film I can think of off the top of my head, Haneke’s film is a technical masterpiece (cinematography, acting, set design - all top notch). As I mentioned, I also appreciated how Haneke subtly undercut the thriller genre, and how he evoked real suspense and tension. This in addition to his social commentary, which I found daring and admirable in its uncompromising refusal to let its audience off easy.

Regarding your rule about mainstream and indie films, it strikes me as unbelievable close-minded. Why shouldn’t mainstream filmmakers be allowed to learn from the innovations of independent film, and why shouldn’t independent filmmakers be able do the same from mainstream directors? Mainstream and indie films do not exist in isolation of each other - and, indeed, to insist on referring to them as “mainstream” and “indie” is snobby. As far as I’m concerned, there exist only good movies and bad movies, not “mainstream” and “indie.”

(Anyway, I’m happy to say that I think we agree on “Ichi”. I’m not the world’s biggest Miike fan).

]]> Comment on REVIEW: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days by Will Sloan http://www.blogs.insidetoronto.com/reel_time/reviews/review-4-months-3-weeks-and-2-days/#comment-309 Will Sloan Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:43:16 +0000 http://www.blogs.insidetoronto.com/reel_time/reviews/review-4-months-3-weeks-and-2-days/#comment-309 Considering that "4 Months" is set almost in real time, I thought it did an amazing job evoking characters and trusting the audience to draw its own conclusions. Anyway, all I can really suggest at this point is that you considering appreciating a movie for what it was trying to achieve on its own terms. Considering that “4 Months” is set almost in real time, I thought it did an amazing job evoking characters and trusting the audience to draw its own conclusions. Anyway, all I can really suggest at this point is that you considering appreciating a movie for what it was trying to achieve on its own terms.

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