Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: Beautiful Images

62 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 Newer→ Last

  • mark taslov,

    Saw 'Up' yesterday in 3D It was a great family film, recommend it. ALso was quite excited to get home and discover that not only do pixar make movies but they sell the software (renderman for maya) that they use.

    I'd imagine Cameron can better that stylistically. But 'Up' was certainly as good a story as the Avatar script that has been online for years as one of the 10 great unmade movies. regardless of his shortcoming Cameron is a certainly a master of action/special effects..

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    Yes, Sharlto Copley, the producer-turned-actor who plays Wickus van der Merwe in D9, is astounding as the lead. He makes a full and convincing transformation from bumbling office bureaucrat to action hero (with various intermediary phases). He also has some of the best comedic lines, like "Get your fookin' tentacle out of my face!"

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    I thought 7 days was fantastic - all the comedians were very funny. I was a little disappointed that Irene Pink was a bit quiet - I l love her to bits - but otherwise thumbs up. I think Penny Ashton's on it this week? Can't beat juicy, luscious Pink Bits.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Otherwise, Tarantino since Jackie Brown (sinfully under-rated, IMO) is like being a tone-deaf blind man trying to make sense of Wagner's Ring Cycle.

    I dunno... he still does cool-looking, violent things, but where I think he's lost his way is the ear for dialogue. He was always stylised but now it doesn't even ring true as clever schtick. That scene in Death Proof where all the gals sat around shooting the shit was *painfully* long and cringe-inducing. The comparison between that and the opening 'Like a Virgin' scene in Reservoir Dogs is telling.

    I still thought some scenes in Kill Bill were totally, totally awesome, though. And when the talking stopped, Death Proof was really fun.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Andre,

    would have been willing to give "7 Days" a go except for the fact that both Dai Henwood and Jeremy Corbett make me break out in hives...

    That sounds uncomfortable... I imagine you running from the room screaming when caught by surprise "7 Days" promos while watching other TV.

    I haven't seen Inglourious Basterds or District 9 but unfortunately am more likely to be next in a theatre seeing Up. The boys are already responding positively to the promotional ads and I imagine they will be in a collectively bad mood with an increasing level of pleading until they are wearing 3D glasses camped out eating Pixar...

    District 9 sounds like the better of the two BTW...

    New Zealand • Since May 2009 • 371 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I still thought some scenes in Kill Bill were totally, totally awesome, though. And when the talking stopped, Death Proof was really fun.

    Indeed -- but I also understand people who find QT way too film-wanky to be interesting. I get the nods to Sergio Leone, Brian De Palma, Kinji (Battle Royale) Fukasaku, various film versions of Kazou Koike's manga Lady Snowblood and Lone Wolf and Cub, Pam Grier's pedigree as the black queen of the killer-Bs, Monte Hellman's Two Lane Blacktop, some 70's rape-revenge films I'm not sure its prudent to even admit having seen... and on and on and on.

    But when you get right down to it, the one QT film that I'm moved by is Jackie Brown -- a relatively straight up and down adaptation of a good Elmore Leonard novel. And what gets me there is Pam Grier finally get to play a human being -- and a middle-aged black woman who isn't an earth mother or a crack whore.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Saw 'Up' yesterday in 3D It was a great family film, recommend it.

    Pixar has some seriously good shit filters in place. I like some of their stuff more than others -- Wall*E and The Incredibles are pure genius. Cars and A Bug's Life not so much -- but there's no outright rubbish in their catalogue. Looks like Up is continuing in the tradition.

    Pixar CCO John Lassiter also gets serious points from me for his sensitive and intelligent stewardship of the English language releases of Hayo Miyazaki's recent films.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • JoJo,

    I really enjoyed 7 Days, and, like Jackie, I'd have liked to hear more from Irene Pink. I just hope as they film more episodes the panellists realise they don't have to repeat each witticism ten or twelve times.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Some more on Chris and New Artland, from the what's-up-with-Chris-Knox blog:

    Gemma has posted this season's New Artland lineup.

    And there's some brilliant news about Chris's progress:

    Aug 20:

    Chris is doing well. Words are still difficult but walking is improving all the time. He does get very tired at times & we’re learning to read those moments to try and avoid him getting into trouble. Still lots of singing going on – in fact when he’s bored Chris does a sort of Beatle-esque scat be-bop thing and occasionally he looks at me in the expectation that I recognise a certain tune, there’s one in particular he keeps hitting me with …. but I’ve no idea. …. sounds kinda like an Italian opera to me!

    We’ve been talking about finishing the Tall Dwarfs album that we were just about to complete before Chris’ stroke. Chris’s melodic sense is still intact & we think we can see a way it could work.

    Aug 24:

    Chris is much more stable on his legs now – in fact he’s made us permanently remove the wheelchair from his room! He had a very quiet weekend, which is good ‘cos last week we overdid it and exhausted him for the following week’s therapy. He’s been playing piano and watched a film with John & Liesha. We also spent some time Beatling out to The Anthology series. Next weekend I’m going to try & set-up some sorta recording/playback system so that Chris can start getting some ideas down for the Tall Dwarfs album – or, at the minimum, to give him a creative outlet for a while. His drawing continues to improve & we get some fantastic written sentences ala ‘In His Own Write’ – I’ll stick some on the blog soon.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Yay! Simultaneous happy thoughts for Chris, everyone!

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Apropos 3D movies, I'd like to put in a good word for Coraline . 3d was not obtrusive but definitely added to the film. It was also a very successful adaptation as these things go.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Yay! Simultaneous happy thoughts for Chris, everyone!

    Indeed. And apart from being very cheering, it's a fascinating lesson in how brains work. The maths-and-music part seems to have taken less of a knock -- hence the many hands of poker played in the early weeks, and his melodic musings. But the idea that he'll be writing and recording a new album before he can actually speak again is incredible.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis,

    Am I correct in thinking you still need special glasses to see these 3D films, and the only advance is they are polarised instead of different colours.
    Deja Vue all over again!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Jose Barbosa,

    Am I correct in thinking you still need special glasses to see these 3D films, and the only advance is they are polarised instead of different colours.

    You are correct on both points.

    My socks were blown off by the Avatar preview. Although I do wish Cameron would get off his military kick.

    I would have been willing to give "7 Days" a go except for the fact that both Dai Henwood and Jeremy Corbett make me break out in hives...

    I know what you mean, but Corbett was actually amusing. Am now rethinking everything I thought I knew.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 64 posts Report Reply

  • Jose Barbosa,

    And great to hear Chris is doing well.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 64 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Am I correct in thinking you still need special glasses to see these 3D films, and the only advance is they are polarised instead of different colours.

    Yes, but every part of the process -- glasses, projector, screen, original photography -- has begun to get really good. I've seen 3D movies before, but the Avatar stuff was an eye-opener.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I know what you mean, but Corbett was actually amusing. Am now rethinking everything I thought I knew.

    Having shared panels with him, I think he's one of the most naturally funny people I've ever met. The trick is getting him in a different context than commercial breakfast radio.

    It's a bit the same with Dai Henwood -- he's actually really smart, and that becomes more obvious when he's not doing his dirty-jokes-for-the-kids thing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jose Barbosa,

    It's a bit the same with Dai Henwood -- he's actually really smart, and that becomes more obvious when he's not doing his dirty-jokes-for-the-kids thing.

    No disagreement there. I've got a lot of time for Dai.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 64 posts Report Reply

  • Kerry Weston,

    At last! 7 days - a genuinely funny kiwi show. Loved it. Been wondering for years why Off the Wire never made it to the telly, when it was plainly the funniest show around.

    Saw District 9 last night, but... nah, didn't do much for me. I found it a bit incoherent, possibly not well edited and i just didn't care about any of the characters or outcome. I'm not a great sci-fi fan tho.

    Manawatu • Since Jan 2008 • 494 posts Report Reply

  • James W,

    I laughed out loud at 7 Days, so it did its job. I did find it a bit weird how dated a lot of the jokes were however - seriously, Judy Bailey? I could see some younger viewers not getting the jokes they were so old.

    Since Jul 2008 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Rex Widerstrom,

    Would someone consider Youtubing 7 Days so expats can see it? Like TVNZ, TV3 have this IP sniffing "piss off if you're not from NZ" thing going, which is bloody annoying.

    Yes I know I could munge my IP (thus making their cultural xenophobia even more pointless) but I'm not sure if it's worth the effort :-/

    Perth, Western Australia • Since Nov 2006 • 157 posts Report Reply

  • Sue,

    7 Days was just brilliant
    i hope it gets to stay on tv for ages

    and so nice to see kiwi comics allowed to just run wild

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Hide like a rhino... a single bounder!
    Is it just me... but ever since TV3 started using the Suoerman logo as their graphic iteration for the "Super City" - Rodney Hide has been looking more like Lex Luthor!

    if TV3 persists witth this blatant copyright infringement will it lead to Auckland blowing up or being placed in a bottle?

    And look at the way the Superman franchise is being carved up currently...
    Warners lose their rights to make movies in 2013 they better fast track any new movies...

    ...and the estate of co-creator, Jerry Siegel,

    now control depictions of Superman's origins from the planet Krypton, his parents Jor-El and Lora, Superman as the infant Kal-El, the launching of the infant Superman into space by his parents as Krypton explodes and his landing on Earth in a fiery crash.

    While DC comics retain

    ...other elements like Superman's ability to fly, the term kryptonite, the Lex Luthor and Jimmy Olsen characters, Superman's powers and expanded origins

    bugger this fantasy lark for a game of soldiers then - Rodney best be careful what he wishes for... and the rest of us mere mortals must be grateful and hope for as little collateral damage
    as possible...

    yrs kryptonically
    Lars Lane
    Why Mr Kent you look
    lovely with your glasses off...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Ballantyne,

    Am I correct in thinking you still need special glasses to see these 3D films, and the only advance is they are polarised instead of different colours.

    Actually the Avatar screening in Auckland didn't have a silver screen or polarised glasses – instead it used the Dolby 3D process, which (I think I may have mentioned this before) uses expensive dichroic filters to separate the left and right images.

    The glasses were good, but a little like welding goggles and less suitable for spectacle wearers than bigger, cheaper polarising filters. Also, the picture would have been better on a silver screen because you need all the brightness you can get when you're watching a movie through glasses that cut the overall brightness by a minimum of 50%.

    One lesson from the screenings on Saturday and Sunday: Cinema 6 at St Lukes presumably has a big expensive digital projector and therefore may be the best place to see shot-on-digital films. Or should I say 'films'?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    7 days made me laugh out loud in places... I hope it gets even better with practise?

    Dai Henwood -- he's actually really smart,

    All the really funny people I know (not famous comedians) are also rather clever... but not all the clever people I know are funny.

    In general, every time I've seen a (good) comedian interviewed, they all seem to be not lacking in the brains department.

    I'm drawn to the conclusion that perhaps intelligence is actually a pre-requisite to ...comedy-ness(?) ...comedian-ship(?).. comedic talent.

    If you can think of anyone famous who's funny but not especially bright you could disprove this.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.