I was spoiled for The Departed because I watched Infernal Affairs and they followed the plot pretty closely (except I don't think the Chinese film had an equivalent of the Mark Wahlberg character); I enjoyed the film, but it didn't have quite the same emotional impact on me as the original (which I loved) -- being spoiled for the film probably had something to do with it.
Vonnie is me. I think another part of the reason it didn't have the same impact for me as the Hong Kong original is the length -- Infernal Affairs is only 90-100 minutes long. It's a tight little film. Marty seemed to want the plot of the first movie with the scope of the second, which is more of a HK-style Godfather Part II, and I'm not sure it was an entirely successful choice.
Hooking up with Scorcese was the smartest thing Leo ever did -- it's really allowed him to leave his golden-boy teen idol phase behind.
Kate Winslet is my favorite actress, at least of the under-40 crowd. She's also the least neurotic of the batch (or seems to be), which is probably why she's my favorite.
Kathy is in my brain, stealin' my thoughts.
Mmmm, spicy AmyLiz braaaiiinnnsssss...
Having watched and enjoyed
Infernal Affairs,
I'm not sure what parts of
The Departed
were supposed to be surprising...except for the ones that did surprise me. And there was a fair amount, I suppose, what with the explosion of
killings
at the end. The extra characters added to that--my memory of
Infernal Affairs
is almost of a three person story.
Had much Trainspotting love.
But I love some junkie narrative so I wouldn't expect people to love it cause I do. The few times I've interviewed for jobs remind me of the interview in it.
That sort of facile nihilism reminds me of David Fincher movies, which I also dislike.
I strongly disagree! I would have used "shallow" instead of "facile."
But other than that I'm with you on Fincher.
I found Zodiac refreshingly un-Fincherlike -- it's a real story, richly detailed, and without any of his wacky self-indulgent camera moves.
(And I say "refreshingly un-Fincherlike" as someone who lists Fight Club as one of my favorite movies of all time. But that's balanced out by my utter loathing of both Se7en and The Game, and the eye-rolling amusement I feel for Panic Room.)
What don't you like about Se7en, Jessica? I love that movie. I thought The Game was incredibly farfetched, and Panic Room mostly filled me with real estate envy like whoa.
What don't you like about Se7en, Jessica?
I have a general dislike for movies I perceive to be less clever than their creators seem to think they are. And Se7en has an air of thinking that it is very clever indeed.
Jessica! Awesome timing! Because I suddenly have questions for you! Which require exclamation points! Is your profile address good? (!)
And yeah, I am a bit intrigued by Zodiac, because I got the impression he might have grown out of the "look, whizzy toys" stage.
