Hey folks, Harry here... I'm not at ShoWest this year, cause I've been told it isn't nearly as cool as it used to be... sniffles... I've fond memories of Moriarty and I in Vegas... I'll never forget Moriarty's encounter with Viagra and the blue balls that raged the long night that followed. That being said... This is the first ShoWest that Tim League and the Alamo Drafthouse are attending and showing off their brand of theatrical exhibition... You see, my beloved Drafthouse is going National!!! That being said, the studios still show off some wares for folks and Sticker is here to tell us all about em. Here ya go...
Hey Harry,
Some items from ShoWest.
1) Metallica: Some Kind of Monster. I'm a huge Metallica fan, so I was looking forward to this documentary. The documentary focuses on the band after their bassist left and through the making of their current album, St. Anger. All in all, it just didn't work for me. There were parts that were funny, it was interesting to see their lives outside of music and see their creative process, but I really don't want to see their therapy sessions. They are a HEAVY METAL BAND, they are supposed to drink, do drugs, break things, fight, enter rehab, drink, break things, fight some more and above all else PLAY GREAT MUSIC. I do not like the St. Anger Album, I think the therapy sessions hurt them. However, that said, it was interesting to see them with their kids especially since I am the same age and now have a 2 year old. From a business stand point, I'm not sure this can make any money in the theatre except with their fan base.
2) The Punisher: Only saw the first half. Unfortunately, ShoWest is a business trip for me and business interfered with me seeing the second half of the movie. I liked the first half and will probably see it when it comes out but only as a matinee. I have not read the Punisher comics, so I can't comment on whether the movie is true to them. I think Thomas Jane does a good job (I wasn't able to see Stander, again business interfered). MINOR SPOILER (although, everyone knows what happens) I know this is a comic book movie and they are trying to tone down the violence, but when you use shotguns and automatic weapons to wipe out a whole family it usually results in a lot of gore (not that I know from experience, but come on!). It just felt too fake. They would show people being shot, falling and flying through the air but only the furniture looked like it was actually taking damage. There has to be a better way to film that pivotal scene. Example, when his wife and son are killed, they cut away and then they show them dead when he finds them. This had more emotional impact because it let your imagination fill in the gaps. In the initial scene where everyone else is wiped out, they could have done the same. Show the initial set up, have a character hearing it offscreen and then show snapshots of the aftermath focusing on faces, some blood, bring the lighting down etc. When I see a body flying through the air because it has been shot by five automatic weapons but only the furniture explodes, my imagination does not kick in. I'm only thinking, wow that looks silly and fake. Ahhh, nothing like armchair directing.
3) The Incredibles: John Lassiter spoke for a while, I think he loves the movies almost as much as you Harry. He showed an extended scene with Mr. Incredible and "E", who makes super hero outfits. Very funny. E's whole explanation for why capes are bad and the scenes showing why capes are bad was great. Then he showed the rough cut of the new trailer that is coming out in May. It introduces you to more characters. There is a scene where one superhero is running around the house looking for his superhero outfit and screaming at his wife for help (imagine when your wife has lost the car keys and just found out Macy's is having a Winter Sale), this was very funny, especially the interplay between the husband and wife as to why he needs his outfit. This movie will make tons of money, but what's new with the great Pixar.
4) Bridget Jones Diary: They showed extended scenes from the new Bridget Jones movie. Same characters. If you liked the first one, you'll like this one. There is another classic fight scene between Hugh Grant and the boyfriend (can't remember the actor's name), looks to be as funny as the last one. In this movie, Bridget and boyfriend have a falling out, she travels with Hugh Grant, trouble ensues, boyfriend bails her out, she is caught between boyfriend and Hugh Grant etc. Hugh Grant does play a self-absorbed prig perfectly.
5) Spider-Man 2 Trailer Event: I wasn't there, so I am suffering just as much as everyone else who was not there. As soon as I hear from the people who saw it, I'll give you an update.
That's it for me until next year.
Sticker