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Our first review of Michel Gondry's BE KIND, REWIND starring Jack Black and Mos Def!!!

Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. Yes, the review is very positive and yes, the reviewer wants to be called "Plant! Plant!" but having read the script for this, I tend to believe everything "Plant! Plant!" says. It sounds like what I read was translated perfectly to the screen. The script was incredibly sweet and funny and it sounds like that's exactly what we'll end up with the finished film. Enjoy this very early look at Michel Gondry's BE KIND, REWIND!

PS For you LA readers, I'm told that Michel Gondry will be doing a signing of the SCIENCE OF SLEEP DVD at the Virgin on Sunset at 7pm! Don't know for how long, but you might want to look into it!!!

Hey, I saw a test screening of "Be Kind Rewind" last night in Pasadena and thought it was great. It's not what I expected, because the film's premise is a little one note. For anyone not in the know, it's about Jack Black and Mos Def as two guys from a run down little vhs video store who accidently expose their library to magnetism, and destroy all their tapes. In an effort to keep from going under, they decide to remake a bunch of the films using a camcorder and a little elbow grease to keep renting them out to people.

Michel Gondry hasn't made a movie like this before, I'm so used to his romance films and focus on what makes our minds work. This is as close to a "studio picture" as he's going to make, but there are no fart jokes here. It's very classy and weird, but mainstream audiences can definetly get into it. Jack Black is pretty standard Jack Black, but Mos Def is great. He and Black's friendship is very fun to watch and is remiscent of the best onscreen duos we've seen in the past. There's a lot of physical comedy, probably inspired by the old time Laurel & Hardy type shorts from the 30's. If they still made those kinds of shorts today, this plot could fit perfectly for one.

I was surprised that Danny Glover was in it. He plays the owner of the video store. It's no wonder he doesn't want to make any more Lethal Weapon movies and wants to make small stuff like this. He's really great in it, and it's probably my favorite role he's had so far. The recreations of the movies were classic Gondry makeshift lunacy. I wish they would've shown more of them, but he seemed to know when enough was enough. The scene where they remake GHOSTBUSTERS will have film geeks rolling in the aisles, this I will promise you. It's the hardest I've laughed in the theater since BORAT. The ending was great, I thought from it's build up that it was going to fall flat, but ended up being the sweetest part of the film.

It's not a think piece, but it left me very satisfied. I think for the hard core film geek, they'll get a little bit more out of the movie because the love for cinema in this movie isn't portrayed as a casual hobby, or a prentious academic analysis. It's more about the fun that comes from the making and watching them. It doesn't have a release date yet, but I think it might come out this summer. The version I saw was pretty complete.

If you post this, call me "PLANT! PLANT!"


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First, who gives a shit....
by dead000
Feb 22nd, 2007
08:52:35 AM
Can't wait, looks good
by Andy Dufresne
Feb 22nd, 2007
08:54:16 AM
GONDRY!!
by Scenester_Intern55
Feb 22nd, 2007
08:57:40 AM
To re-purchase VHS tapes costs (at most) $4 per tape
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:01:39 AM
Straight to dumpster release
by Baron Karza
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:02:06 AM
It would HAVE to be a period piece...
by Abin Sur
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:07:27 AM
YackBacker
by aicmb
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:13:16 AM
VHS Tapes
by Semprini98
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:18:41 AM
I'm fine, I just am pointing out this lazy premise
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:18:59 AM
That's been my problem with this premise from jump...
by Childe Roland
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:20:01 AM
Maybe...
by Randall Flagg
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:24:23 AM
If they had a thing where Black and his pals
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:25:20 AM
Perhaps the title of this movie and Bacon's
by just pillow talk
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:28:07 AM
Guys, why can't the characters just be IDIOTS?
by FluffyUnbound
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:30:04 AM
ANOTHER FINE MESS
by ImJustSaying
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:31:50 AM
God you people suck
by knowledge1027
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:33:12 AM
Well, Fluffy, it is a Jack Black movie...
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:34:07 AM
knowledge1027, with all due respect
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:37:24 AM
yackbaker
by knowledge1027
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:39:50 AM
I like this Mos Def...
by Franklin T Marmoset
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:43:37 AM
just wondering..
by knowledge1027
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:45:40 AM
Wow, what a thrilling title... "Be Kind, Rewind"
by Daddylonghead
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:51:47 AM
The concept for comedy does not have to be logical
by Bobo_Vision
Feb 22nd, 2007
10:10:04 AM
Wow you guys are cynical.
by Lovecraftfan
Feb 22nd, 2007
10:11:28 AM
Rappers shouldn't use their stupid rap names...
by IAmJack'sUserID
Feb 22nd, 2007
10:14:28 AM
or are some too optimistic?
by just pillow talk
Feb 22nd, 2007
10:14:36 AM
Something the lord made
by Garbageman33
Feb 22nd, 2007
10:24:53 AM
Yeah, Billy Madison and Half Baked= not my brand
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
10:25:04 AM
How do Billy Madison and Half-Baked...
by Garbageman33
Feb 22nd, 2007
10:45:28 AM
Go look up Michel Gondry on youtube
by Garbageman33
Feb 22nd, 2007
10:47:51 AM
Didn't know Mos Def was in this, guess I'll see it now!
by captboulder
Feb 22nd, 2007
10:55:30 AM
You people are the crabbiest, most ignorant
by Teh Suk
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:05:21 AM
Um, I am doing something with my life
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:09:17 AM
Most cynical Talkback EVAH
by Teamwak
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:28:23 AM
Wait, are you doing something with your life?
by TheRevengeOfBayouWilly
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:29:57 AM
In my defense
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:33:45 AM
TheRevengeOfBayouWilly
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:34:43 AM
Nah.
by TheRevengeOfBayouWilly
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:38:17 AM
Anac?
by The Dum Guy
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:41:26 AM
Well, I'm waiting for your girlfriend then!
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:41:57 AM
Teh Suck is right
by just pillow talk
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:43:59 AM
Not really luck.
by TheRevengeOfBayouWilly
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:49:23 AM
TheRevengeOfBayouWilly
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:53:49 AM
is that how you get all the chicks Yack?
by just pillow talk
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:57:42 AM
Ah you laugh, however...
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
12:07:43 PM
should you be called Rico Suave then?
by just pillow talk
Feb 22nd, 2007
12:14:11 PM
Gondry? Hasn't made a movie like this before? Romance?
by Mike the Wicker of Ears
Feb 22nd, 2007
12:23:49 PM
80s period piece?
by Spandau Belly
Feb 22nd, 2007
12:25:42 PM
Spandau Belly, the thing is it's NOT a period piece
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
12:36:59 PM
This movie's concept reminds me of an UCB sketch
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
12:39:47 PM
Thanks Yackbacker!
by Spandau Belly
Feb 22nd, 2007
12:48:53 PM
Speaking of Jordana Brewster, I saw D.E.B.S. recently
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
12:52:38 PM
Yackbacker
by Fabulous Freak
Feb 22nd, 2007
12:55:03 PM
never saw it dude, what made you want to watch it
by just pillow talk
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:00:25 PM
Fab Freak - you can say you have a lot of
by just pillow talk
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:01:56 PM
Re: Ass Pennies and DEBS
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:09:31 PM
it's a sad day indeed
by just pillow talk
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:11:34 PM
just pillow, this is what hooked me
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:15:11 PM
anything more to it than that?
by just pillow talk
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:17:59 PM
Dude, unfortunately that was the highlight
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:18:44 PM
ass pennies was pretty damn funny
by just pillow talk
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:21:23 PM
plant! plant! gotta! eat!
by billy_hitchcock
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:29:28 PM
Yackbacker...
by Abin Sur
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:33:26 PM
Abin Sur, it breaks my heart
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:37:29 PM
Yackbacker, film history will be made...
by Abin Sur
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:42:16 PM
Be Nice, Pass a Slice
by Spandau Belly
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:48:30 PM
BE COOL, STAY IN SCHOOL
by YackBacker
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:50:07 PM
ha-ha Spandau
by just pillow talk
Feb 22nd, 2007
01:55:03 PM
Premise actually works in the context of the movie.
by basil78
Feb 22nd, 2007
03:20:27 PM
Wow that sounds very gay and homo-ish
by hatespeech
Feb 22nd, 2007
04:09:31 PM
This was a recurring skit on "The Amanda Show"
by BannedOnTheRun
Feb 22nd, 2007
04:59:04 PM
"Is better." "Much better!"
by Darkman
Feb 22nd, 2007
05:28:48 PM
Live action "Home Movies" with Black and 'Def
by Space oddity
Feb 22nd, 2007
06:47:05 PM
Seriously, Jack Black as Tommy...
by Space oddity
Feb 22nd, 2007
06:47:08 PM
good idea for the trailer
by zooch
Feb 22nd, 2007
06:52:43 PM
Actually why not just lose the premise...
by Space oddity
Feb 22nd, 2007
07:02:53 PM
i worked on this movie and youre all asshats
by drturing
Feb 22nd, 2007
08:42:32 PM
'Okay, in this movie we're gonna do Jurassic_Kong"
by TomBodet
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:37:31 PM
" i was suprised to find how much it is about now."
by Daddylonghead
Feb 22nd, 2007
09:38:40 PM
gotta dance!
by occula
Feb 22nd, 2007
11:02:14 PM
Give Yack a break -
by half vader
Feb 23rd, 2007
03:05:09 AM
drturing - stick some pennies up your ass
by just pillow talk
Feb 23rd, 2007
06:19:54 AM
drturing, you are cockfaced shitlicker
by Spandau Belly
Feb 23rd, 2007
12:16:43 PM
half vader...
by Darkman
Feb 23rd, 2007
09:36:12 PM
Darkman
by half vader
Feb 23rd, 2007
09:43:27 PM
I'll see it because...
by Jaka
Feb 24th, 2007
01:23:09 PM

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