My dad and I saw Blow Out (the DePalma version of Blow Up) in the theater, and I really liked it. I haven't seen it since then, so I don't know if it holds up, but I wouldn't mind watching it again.

Unlike Matt's mother, I am willing to bet, my mother leaned over to me during the scene where Harvey Keitel was nakedly caressing the piano and said, "He's so sexy, isn't he?"

No, Mom and I were unified in our horror at seeing every square inch of Harvey. In theory I appreciate his bravery in frequently taking on taboo-busting roles involving frontal nudity, but in practice I much prefer Ewan McGregor taking over as standard bearer.

in practice I much prefer Ewan McGregor taking over as standard bearer.

I support this 110%.

Agreed. Some actors were meant to present as God intended.

Harvey ain't one of them.

Ewan, on the other hand?

Should never be clothed.

The 400 Blows didn't even have 400 goddamn blows. I counted 3.

The 400 Blows is a classic example of an extremely bad translation of a movie title since the French title is actually from an idiomatic expression, faire les 400 coups, meaning something equivalent to acting up, doing a lot of stupid or extreme things, sowing wild oats (but in a non-sexual sense). It's used mostly with teenagers.

Oh! And speaking of Italian directors, if you have never seen The Bicycle Thief, please do. It's always somewhere in my top ten, and it's a gem.

True that. Yet, unfortunately, another classic example of bad translation, since the Italian title is Bicycle Thieves. It's a subtle difference, but one that can really change how you view the film.

The 400 Blows is a classic example of an extremely bad translation of a movie title since the French title is actually from an idiomatic expression, faire les 400 coups, meaning something equivalent to acting up, doing a lot of stupid or extreme things, sowing wild oats (but in a non-sexual sense). It's used mostly with teenagers.

Ha, yeah, I discovered that last night.

True that. Yet, unfortunately, another classic example of bad translation, since the Italian title is Bicycle Thieves. It's a subtle difference, but one that can really change how you view the film.

Hm, interesting. I was actually just thinking about The Bicycle Thief last night as one of those famous classics I hadn't seen. I think I haven't seen it. But stuff happens in it? Isn't Umberto D by the same guy? I remember being sort of meh on that one, although it was cute because there was a dog.

Isn't Umberto D by the same guy?

Yes. At different ends of his career.

I have nothing intelligent to add - I just wanted to share that my ridiculous crush on Kal Penn made me DVR not only Van Wilder (which also has Ryan Reynolds, om nom nom nom), but Van Wilder 2: The Rise Of Taj. The first one is cute, the 2nd one, meh. Plus, Penn's accent suffers from major slippage.

Juliana, I was vaguely interested in watching those movies too (since Comedy Central was showing them over and over all weekend), but I figured it was silly to watch movies like that edited.

I figured it was silly to watch movies like that edited.

It is, but it's not like a Denis Leary comedy where you actually lose a lot in the editing. I enjoyed VW enough that I'd pick it up if I saw it in the $5 bin at Target. (And then maybe get to see more nekkid RR.) The 2nd one - you're really not losing much by watching it edited. Promise.