Other examples of non-narrative cinema - well, in its pure form, Andy Warhol's "Empire", tons of experimental stuff like that. I think when I say I have a high tolerance for it, though, it's not that I watch a great deal of experimental film, it's more that I enjoy non-narrative "episodes" in more mainstream films, ie bits where the business of telling a story seems to be temporarily suspended and you're in a world of pure sensation...lots of David Lynch does this I think, eg the "Club Silencio" scene in Mulholland Drive, or huge chunks of Melville's "Le Samourai" (or Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon for that matter). Generally I'm a fan of languid filmmaking though, I wouldn't want to cut a minute out of 2001.

[x-post with Sean--yeah, what he said too.]

I actually think the opening act in Transylvania is the finest depiction of Dracula that I've ever seen. It just goes to hell when the setting switches to London and we get Dracula as a Victorian Mack Daddy chasing after Mina.

It still would have been SO much better if Coppola (and, I have to assume from the time-frame, Winona) had gotten his first choice for Harker that the studio nixed - Johnny Depp.

Saw HERO and absolutely adored it. Quite simply, it's one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. If you're going in expecting another CROUCHING TIGER, however, I think you could be seriously disappointed. Despite the abundant wire work, the movies are light years apart tone- and story-wise. Hell, if you go in expecting anything resembling a Jet Li movie it's going to be not what you were expecting. Still absolutely breathtaking, though, IMO.

Also saw COLLATERAL, which I liked a lot. Unlike Jess, I was pretty invested in Jamie Foxx's character. But I should add that while outside of In Living Color his comedy has never done much for me, I don't think I've seen him give a bad serious performance ever (and his Ray Charles is a little scary in its accuracy from the previews). I also don't have the Tom Cruise issues so many people seem to - I'm kinda neutral on him and it's the individual movie that usually decides my opinion (I thought he was quite impressive in this). She is right that you should catch it at a digital screening if at all possible. It's probably the best looking HDV I've ever seen. And that more than definitely includes Lucas' attempts.

his Ray Charles is a little scary in its accuracy from the previews

Hell, yes.

Frank, what movies would you say Hero is similar to?

By Angus' definition, big chunks of Moulin Rouge qualify/

Yes, absolutely, and all dance musicals naturally...

(NB my definition is pulled out of my arse though...)

I'd almost agree with that, but Moulin Rouge is non-narrative in a more modern way, I think.

Koyaaaaaanisqatsi is really, really cool, Dana. Big honkin' Philip Glass score with bass choruses that rock your bones. And I always come away thinking "Isn't civilization magical!" rather than what he wants me to think.

Hmm. See, I loved Moulin Rouge. But there was always something happening in that movie. I guess it's sort of the opposite of 2001. I felt overwhelmed at times by all of the action and the sensory bombardment. 2001, I was bored.

On the boring-ness of 2001, some of it is entirely satirical - you've got these wondrous eye-popping space sequences, and yet the people are just outrageously banal and mundane. Petty concerns, beauracratic methods, etc. And the movie goes a long way towards doing its best to stretch that stuff out so it becomes just as mundane to the viewer. The biggest problem with the stargate sequence is that far trippier things have been done since, as that was supposed to be the moment when things stopped being "ordinary" (i.e. the view of the characters) and were supposed to become awe-inspiring. It's probably the most dated thing about the movies at this point.

The special effects are still pretty much faultless wrt outer space - even Dave's helmet-less entry into the airlock has been proven possible.

FIREFLY has been one of the few things I've seen since that got dealing with and showing the vacuum of space in a remotely accurate way.

Mixed bag movie nights.

Taking Lives--Why, why did I let the dotty old lady in the Bbuster talk me in that dreck. I was hoodwinked! I said I didn't want to see another serial killer movie with Kiefer Sutherland and she said: he didn't do it so I thought, hm, might be fresh.

Well, yes, fresh as in the sorts of fresh things my dog leaves in the grass a couple times a day.

But Monk episodes? Lots of fun. (ita, how I know where your cootie tag came from. Clevah.)

Plus, tried to give Blade II a second try. Haven't seen the flick yet, but the extra features didn't engage me half as much as those on the Blade I disc. Plus? No Ron Perlman.

Miracle is next up on the player. Hockey not so much a big thing for me, but I remember watching that game and crying. It wasn't so much about the sport...

Makes today's millionaire Olympic basketball team kinda pale in comparison.

God. I. Love. Movies.