movie thoughts

scoop: it's hard to adjust when woody allen puts on a new face. instead of fawning over scarlett johanssen, he makes fun of her and how she looks. says she looks like petunia pig! he is a good magician, not a schmuck for a change. that's really quite funny. was that hammersmith palais in the background? he's great at location shots, whether manhattan orlondon. nice extended, choreographed shot early on, with characters walking on and off, interacting. no cuts. he could have used more of that. when he makes a comedy, we anticipate there's a punch line or pay off in each scene. there isn't one in the poker playing scene, for example, no joke there. ultimately, it's a subtle and funny and -- like Lady in the Water -- ultimately watchable. it's too hot to judge and criticize. every movie doesn't have to be a blockbuster or masterpiece. both those movies are serviceable, enjoyable experiences. kudos.

clerks II: pasolini pere ubu homosexual donkey sex jesus t-shirts joyful michael jackson dancing a movie of philosophy light years better than average teen movies
(excerpt: lord of the rings trilogy is walking even the trees walk. first movie, walk. second movie, walk. third movie, walk and drop ring)
(review: when spontaneous laughter can be generated, one must immediately suspend judgment and go with it or be a grinch)

miami vice: nice shots of colombia.
no desire to be any of these people, to do what they do or have what they have
what is their motivation? they already have enough, don't they? why keep on?
how much money do you need?
isn't about the money, it's about the life of crime itself that propels them?
everybody has to work, even criminals.
nobody knows how to smell the roses.
not enough brakhage for my taste
the digital video photography either not compelling or abstract enough to engage by itself, i guess the mark of a good narrative filmmaker
(review: preferred clerks II)