DVD/Blu-ray: Choose a Dinosaur, Reenact a Movie
Monday, October 19, 2015 at 3:30PM It's that time of the week again. New DVDs and Blurays are out tomorrow which means it's time for a poll. Woohoo. Your answers are totally binding. We begin with the big one, Jurassic World.
More new releases / Questions for the comments...
Going Clear: Scientology & The Prison of Belief in which Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney takes on the Church of Scientology, its cadre of lawyers and imprisoned celebrities.
Q 1: Which famous Scientologist do you think is the actual craziest person IRL: Cruise, Travolta, or Kirstie Alley?
Paper Towns after the success of Fault in Our Stars everything John Green is going to get greenlit.
Q 2: Cara Delevigne. Yay or Nay?
Testament of Youth Alicia Vikander and Kit Harrington fall in love & despair during World War I. (Reviewish)
Q 3: Do you think Vikander called up Chastain for advice on how to survive a 7 film year?
The Wolfpack the popular documentary about a group of homeschooled brothers who learned about the outside world only from the movies. (Review)
Q 4: Which movie could you reenact/quote from heart?
Z for Zachariah the apocalypse is never going out of style at the movies. Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Chris Pine might be the only people left on earth. Good thing that when they repopulate the Earth all humans will be super duper beautiful moving forward. (Review)
Q 5: Which two movie stars would you be okay with as the last two people with you on Earth?
Peaky Blinders: Season 1 1920s set crime drama with Helen McRory, Cillian Murphy and Sam Neill
Q 6: If you've seen it is it worth our time?
Reader Comments (24)
Man the (filmmakers') murder of the babysitter in Jurassic World was the biggest "ew" moment for me. It was like they were giving her the "comedic well deserved death" ala the lawyer in Jurassic Park but with little of the "deserving" build up. She really wasn't a horrible babysitter. And it was the aunt who was ignoring her responsibilities. So the extended humiliating death for the character seemed unwarranted and even a bit misogynistic: "kill the hot young woman who unforgivably ignores boys while on her cellphone."
In other news Peaky Blinders is well-made if also a bit slow. I like the premise and performances. That said, I've only made it through a few episodes. It's extremely dark and self-serious so while there is a lot to admire you have to be in the right mood for it.
@catbaskets: yup, that gratuitous death was where the movie stopped being mediocre and started being malicious and gross. Can't believe Trevorrow is getting a Star Wars movie based on JW.
Q 1: Which famous Scientologist do you think is the actual craziest person IRL: Cruise, Travolta, or Kirstie Alley?
A: I can't honestly say I care about them as people to see who is the worst, just that I hate the Church and how far it goes. In many ways I feel sorry for them falling prey to it like that and letting it ruin their relationships with others (the poor Kubrick estate...), while recognizing that they had to have walked into it and put on those blinders willingly. Still if I had to pick Tom Cruise just has an on-off mood switch that he seems so desperate to keep at on and smiling for everyone. It's unnerving.
Q 2: Cara Delevigne. Yay or Nay?
A: I haven't seen her movies yet to be fair, but Paper Towns looks like a John Green work in all the worst ways and Suicide Squad looks like a David Ayer film in all the worst ways that my hand is hovering over that "Nay" button. On the other hand, I give her props as a person for handling that really ridiculous interview.
Q 3: Do you think Vikander called up Chastain for advice on how to survive a 7 film year?
A: Maybe. Really Vikander came out fucking nowhere for me and now she's killing it in pretty much every movie I've seen her in. Stole the show in Ex Machina from Isaac for me and Isaac is one of my favorite actors.
Q 4: Which movie could you reenact/quote from heart?
A: Every. Single. Silent Film. Try me. No, but seriously, I'm ashamed to say my cousin and I have seen You Don't Mess with the Zohan enough times to quote it to each other more than the rest of the world quotes Mean Girls or The Big Lebowski. But I'll offset that by saying I also know Casablanca and Raimi's Spider-Man by heart.
Q 5: Which two movie stars would you be okay with as the last two people with you on Earth?
A: Bruce Campbell and Margot Robbie. Let's go be badasses.
Q 6: If you've seen it is it worth our time?
A: I have not.
Q 1: Travolta. In every public appearance he makes, he just seems like a kid with Stockholm Syndrome.
Q 2: Cara Delevigne…nay.
Q 3: Yes, and then took it up a notch, cuz Vikander is actually the lead in most of her films (as opposed to Chastain who was mostly supporting in all of them).
Q 4: I could reenact Tootsie. Dustin Hoffman’s memorable performance makes it so easy to remember it.
Q 5: Hmm…Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Or Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig (and we can make fun of Tommy Lee Jones as much as we want)
1. Anyone who gets sucked in to a cult-like religion that demands they "disconnect" from their families and friends is cray-cray-crazy. (Forget the actual term Scientology uses for this, but that doc made me sick on so many levels.)
2. Nay. Something about her reminds me of Lindsay Lohan about the time of her first fall from grace. But re Green novels, there is such a dearth of decent films for the tween/young teen, his stories are the least horrible of other recent YA books that could be adapted.
3. Nope. She doesn't need advice from anyone, except how to continue to choose interesting projects. And she certainly doesn't need to get in to that self-promotion/social media game that Chastain plays.
4. Embarrassing--but--The Sound of Music, including all Julie's facial expressions and hand movements. Also, weirdly, Bachelor Party.
5. Ooh. Tough question, will have to think on it. They had better have something to offer beside good acting and nice looking parts!
6. I've seen two episodes, but because there is so much other great TV right now or other shows I'm catching up with (e.g., The Knick, Miss Fisher's), I haven't gone back to watch more. Narcissa Malfoy (McCrory) is pretty good in it.
1. Travolta seems relatively chill so I'll count him out. It's a contest between Alley and Cruise but Cruise wins for his dead inside movie star laugh.
2. Don't know enough about her to warrant any strong opinion. Meh-y? I totally identified with her in that interview but she also came off like a total brat when Richard Madden made a comment about it.
3. Everyone seems to think Jess is delightful so she probably gave her some advice anyways. Vikander looks like she can hold her own though so good for her.
4. Moulin Rouge. Easily. I'll do the singing and dancing too.
5. Let's go with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence. At least it wouldn't be too depressing.
Agree with catbaskets above: that death is appalling and bizarrely punitive. When an innocent woman whose worst crime is being distracted from babysitting awful children that aren't her own is given a horrible, prolonged and torturous death while the villain has an offscreen death by velociraptor? That is screwed up.
1) Cruise, if only because of the simmering...something I see banked in those eyes. I wonder now if that's what is responsible for that tight, clenched quality in all of his performances.
2) Nay for now on Delavigne, but willing to be convinced with the right vehicle. She has a funny, loose vocal presence in video game voice acting that I'd like to see translate on screen, if she's able to do so.
3) I hope Vikander and Chastain did have a conversation, because that would be awesome.
4) Two of the modern teenage film canon and one that should be: Mean Girls and Clueless for the former and Bring it On for the latter.
5) For sheer male beauty and potential awesome times when there's nothing left to do but each other, Matt Bomer and Tom Hardy.
6) Yes, because of Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy.
1. Cruise. Alley seems to be on it out of habit and Travolta seems to be using it as a way to stay in the closet, but Cruise seems to have the crazy gene. Still see his movies though.
2. Nay-that interview kind of did me on her. John Green is a delight, however, and I am a huge Vlog Brothers fan.
3. If she had called her, you know Chastain would have poached half of those roles, so no.
4. Clue, Titanic, and The English Patient. And probably Casablanca-I might get a little lost in Paris.
5. Michael Fassbender and any celebrity whom Fassy found less physically appealing than me. Don't really care who.
6. Haven't seen it, but love Helen McCrory!
@Jake D: It's not hard to see why Trevorrow got "Star Wars" considering JW's box office haul was roughly all the money in the world (including, regrettably, some of mine)
Q1: Kristie Alley, but also probably the most fun
Q2: Yay for calling out bi-phobia, as an actress she needs to be in something I'm even remotely interested in seeing to have an opinion
Q3: Calling up Chastain for advice would be a good idea for anyone and everyone
Q4: "Transformers: The Movie" and "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" shut up, they're great
Q5: Charlize Theron because obviously, and Ron Perlmian because he seems really cool and he'd have handy "Quest for Fire" experience
Q6: With all the great TV available now I haven't even checked it out but those I know who have seen it highly recommend it
Q 1: Travolta, cause I think the other two realize they're crazy, he doesn't.
Q 2: Nay, but I reserve the right to change this after suicide squad
Q 3: I hope so
Q 4: Musicals are probably the only movies I can quote, so like Hairspray. Non musical: The Avengers
Q 5: Angelina Jolie and Joe Mangianello
JJs Dinner - Q3. you is smart.
catbaskets. I can see that. you is kind.
Terence - Q1. spot on. you is important
"Moving foward! that's so funny.
4. All About Eve, A Place in the Sun, The Wizard of Oz, Beetlejuice, Cabaret.
5. Luke Evans and Chris Hemsworth.
Q6: https://reelcharlie.wordpress.com/2014/10/08/peaky-blinders-s1-e12/
1. Kirstie Alley, for sure, I reckon Although Travolta is the most deluded and Cruise the most manic. I can't stand to watch him.
2. Yay. I've heard good things about stuff that isn't Paper Towns. Which didn't do well, by the way, so maybe we won't be getting a lot of John Green stuff.
3. I like to imagine actresses chat on the phone or call each other on Skype all the time. Just to say "hey girl, that performance was so good!" Hopefully not as awkwardly as... was it Hilary Swank to Amy Adams in the roundtable? No, she won't ask for you to be cast in her next movie.
4. Scream.
5. TOO HARD! But if you insist... Jake Gyllenhaal and Chris Hemsworth? Jamie Bell, maybe. Henry Cavill? Only if there is a gym on hand though.
6. Never seen in, but people love it.
I am the same as Pam re. PB - have seen the first two episodes, and they're not bad, but they're not good enough to continue with when I still have so many other series to catch up with. It's interesting how discriminating I am getting now, in the age of streaming.
1. I love Tom Cruise, but he's probably crazy
2. Nay on Delavigne
3. I hope she did. They're both amazing. When will they be in a movie together?
4. The Lion King's the one I've seen the most times. I could probably do Star Wars also.
5. Alicia Vikander. One will do.
6. Haven't seen it.
1. That's easy: Tom Cruise. Kirstie Alley seems to have a great sense of humor (at least judging by her interviews on Howard Stern's show), and John Travolta seems to have a sense of humor and appreciation about his Grease glory days. That leaves Cruise, who apparently has no sense of humor at all (easy smile/laugh notwithstanding).
2. Cara Delavigne + St. Vincent = heaven; otherwise...meh.
3. Who gave advice to Jessica Chastain? Jude Law?
4. Drop Dead Gorgeous, Network, Reality Bites, and Working Girl (forever and ever and ever)
5. Penelope Cruz and Javier Barden (ding, ding).
6. Sadly, no.
Peaky Blinders is such a slow burn, but man the performances are blazing and the 2nd season w/ Tom Hardy is just so good.
Q 1: Which famous Scientologist do you think is the actual craziest person IRL: Cruise, Travolta, or Kirstie Alley? All of them.
Q 2: Cara Delevigne. Yay or Nay? Nay.
Q 3: Do you think Vikander called up Chastain for advice on how to survive a 7 film year?
Yes, but Chastain had already blocked her number.
Q 4: Which movie could you reenact/quote from heart?
Clueless.
Q 5: Which two movie stars would you be okay with as the last two people with you on Earth?
Kirsten Dunst as my bff and Chris Evans for sexy time.
Q 6: If you've seen it is it worth our time?
It's on my to-watch list.
Mareko -- Q5. but wouldn't you feel like an eternal third wheel?
Renton -- Q3 HAHA
Conrado -- Q5. Oooh, ready to commit already are you?
Q 1: Cruise
Q 2: YEY
Q 3: Nah, Harvey makes her calls for her.
Q 4: Probably Snatch
Q 5: Tom Hardy and Stephen Dillane. That is also my laminated celebrity sex list.
Q 6: Season 1 is better than season 2 but season 2 has Hardy. Very good show.
Sati -- Q5 Stephen Dillane? Your taste is impeccable.
Q 1: Which famous Scientologist do you think is the actual craziest person IRL: Cruise, Travolta, or Kirstie Alley?
A: Juliette Lewis. She’s just hiding it a lot better.
Q 2: Cara Delevigne. Yay or Nay?
A: Yay as a celebrity since she seems switched on and interesting, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen her act.
Q 3: Do you think Vikander called up Chastain for advice on how to survive a 7 film year?
A: She certainly didn’t call Jude Law, since that unfairly and prematurely sent his career into a bit of a skid for a while there.
Q 4: Which movie could you reenact/quote from heart?
A: Any favourites from my teen years, so Heavenly Creatures, Scream, Heathers. Finding Nemo, since I worked at the Disney Store at university and they played it on loop.
Q 5: Which two movie stars would you be okay with as the last two people with you on Earth?
A: Kate Winslet, for humour and common sense. Channing Tatum, because I could clamber up him to reach the juiciest fruit on the tree.
Q 6: If you've seen it is it worth our time?
A: Nope, but I know a couple of people who evangelise about it.