I saw The Ninth Gate and I can't explain it. I decided the director'd finally gone and done too many drugs to tell a coherent story, and that if I get it on DVD I'll file it with the Hammer films.

I saw The Village on Friday night. I liked it.

Really.

I think the advertising campaign may have killed it, or that it's not the kind of movie people want right now. Certainly it wasn't the movie I was led to expect from the ads. What it mainly reminded me of was a Shirley Jackson story, or those speculative fiction stories from the 50s and 60s like "The Veldt." The twist wasn't supposed to shock, I don't think: It was too obvious what was going on. I think that it was fully and clearly revealed at the end so that the viewer would go back and analyze the actions of the people outside of the narrative movement of the story.

If you wanted a Stephen King story, you're out of luck, but if you wanted a thought piece on dealing with everyday horror, it wasn't bad at all.

What it mainly reminded me of was a Shirley Jackson story

When I read the description/spoilers of the movie, that's *exactly* what I thought!

Watched "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" tonight- Antonio Banderas? Pretty. Johnny Depp? Pretty. Even without his eyes.

I like it. It was violent and I liked the soundtrack. Plus, pretty, pretty people.

Oh Man, Matt is sooo me on the Blade I love and Blade II despising. Only he said it with style, panache and much better words. Far surpassing my "ick patooie".

P-C, yes! I watched the extras for Spellbound, they were excellent. I enjoyed the three cut speller's stories, but could see why they didn't make the final film. And I especially enjoyed the 'where are they now' feature. I have to say, I was surprised by the tall kid becoming student body president, engaged and kinda hot. He seemed 'most likely to become Ted Kuzinski'.

I have to confess to being disturbed by the whole silence if you are right phenomenon. The expectant/dreading stare at the judges was unbearable. Shouldn't they have two different tones? One for "you must go be 'comforted' now (love that term) and one for "Unbelievable! You spelled a word no one else in the free world has ever heard!"

How odd that you have 6 degrees on a couple of the spellers too.

Does that mean the world of smart people is that small? Never mind. Question asked and answered.

I felt bad for Harry in so many ways. His will not be an easy row to hoe in this life. And um? The pronouncing guy (how does one qualify for THAT gig?) did not, in fact, mispronounce "banns". Let it go little man.

Oh. Oh. Once Upon a Time in Mexico is fun.

I have a lot of love for Robert Rodriquez and his particular control issues film making style.

And, hands down, his dvd extras are some of the best in the business. I don't even eat pork, but I was sorely tempted by his "10 Minute Cooking School" on the Once disk.

Did anyone see Ninth Gate? Can you explain it to me?

Strega recommends reading Club Dumas, the book it was based on, for clarification. Or at least maybe some elucidation.

I liked it.

Really.

Whew.

The twist wasn't supposed to shock, I don't think: It was too obvious what was going on. I think that it was fully and clearly revealed at the end so that the viewer would go back and analyze the actions of the people outside of the narrative movement of the story.

Exactly. It's not just a twist; it's the point.

One for "you must go be 'comforted' now (love that term)

Yeah, that they had a Comfort Room was priceless.

Having watched The Manchurian Candidate, I'm mesmerised by Denzel Washington. Is it unfair that I think he rolls over from movie to movie, bringing his rep to each character? I swear, I knew that his character was a stalwart and true man, and it made the moments where he lost his composure feel even worse.

Not that he didn't do a good job -- I think he played all that. It's just that history added to my conviction.

Also, does everyone know where Wells got the word "rosebud" from?

I just learned this tonight! If my source can be trusted, it was the name that Hearst gave to his lover's clitoris.

Saw The Bourne Supremacy today and really enjoyed it. I'd gone and spoiled myself for Marie's death already, but I thought it would happen later, so I was still surprised when it came so early. I had a couple of questions: Who was Marton Csokas? I noticed his name in the credits and couldn't place him in the movie. Was he the one who Bourne killed in the fight with the rolled-up newspaper? Also, why did he use his Bourne passport in Naples? Surely he has different names on his various passports--why use that one, and make it that much easier for them to track him down? Finally, why has Gabriel Mann not called me yet?

One thing that I like a lot about both Bourne movies is how well they use the various locations. There's a real sense of place in each one, without a lot of time necessarily taken to establish it. And I like the ease with which Bourne moves from place to place. Not just knowing the languages and having the papers, but simply having the confidence and the skills (and the resources--where does he get his money from?) to land on his feet no matter where he finds himself. Maybe that's a trope of the spy genre, but it's new enough to me to still be pretty cool. Plus, I'm enough of a travel junkie that every change of scenery gives me a little thrill.

Anyway, I was very pleased with it, though I still like the first one more.

I would suggest forgetting The Ninth Gate, and reading The Dumas Club for itself. Arturo Perez Reverte makes me wish I could read spanish, just to read his books.

Depp owns the character of Corso, but the movie falls apart around him. Curiously enough, right around the time the film begins to condense the A plot. The B plot is mostly gone, and the two intertwine enough in the novel that the movie dissolves into Polanski at his worst.

I watched The Philidelphia Story tonight. I love that movie even more. The whole cast is wonderful and I'll have to look up and see who plays Liz because I can't remember.

Katharine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart have such wonderful chemistry, this low hum that's always between them. And then Cary Grant enters and he and Hepburn just crackle with energy.

Plus, I'd never noticed it before so I'm not sure if it's something I just picked up because of all the slash I've read and subtext I've looked for buy Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart have this zing between them.