I know, world in peril and we have to work together. This is my last office romance, I'll tell you that.

Buffy ,'End of Days'


Buffista Movies Across the 8th Dimension!

A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.


EpicTangent - May 19, 2020 8:28:31 pm PDT #2672 of 3424
Why isn't everyone pelting me with JOY, dammit? - Zenkitty

Enough else that holographic refrigerator boxes didn't make the cut? Wow.


Toddson - May 20, 2020 5:54:45 am PDT #2673 of 3424
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"

I once saw a cartoon - in the autumn - showing a sandworm parked outside a Starbucks with the caption, "the pumpkin spice must flow."


Jessica - May 20, 2020 7:19:12 am PDT #2674 of 3424
If I want to become a cloud of bats, does each bat need a separate vaccination?

I don't think that particular thing made it into any complaints that I heard, though. I mean, there was so much else!

And to be fair, at the time the movie was released the reaction would have been more "WOW DIGITAL EFFECTS EXIST!" and less "WOW these digital effects are garbage."


Vonnie K - May 20, 2020 11:06:47 am PDT #2675 of 3424
Kiss me, my girl, before I'm sick.

TCM is scheduling movies this month around the theme of Asian Americans in classic Hollywood: [link]

The only movies I'd seen out of that list are Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (which does not really count as it has Jennifer Jones playing a Eurasian, le sigh) and Flower Drum Song, which I am a little leery about revisiting after all these years. Not that I remember much else other than "I Enjoy Being A Girl." Anyway, on a lark, I checked out The Crimson Kimono, a breezy 90 minute Sam Fuller thriller set in LA, featuring a love triangle involving a white girl who is a key witness to a murder and a pair of detective partners, one of whom is portrayed by the Japanese American actor James Shigeta. And it is honestly a little shocking how progressive the movie is for the times (1959). Not to mention how James Shigeta is HOT LIKE BURNING, with that sensitive face and the lovely voice, plus charisma to burn. He plays a supporting character in Flower Drum Song, but this is a much better showcase for him. It's available on Watch TCM app for streaming until tomorrow if you have cable.

On Criterion Channel, I finally got around to seeing the two Kelly Reichardt films I've been meaning to check out. Really loved Wendy and Lucy, and still trying to wrap my head around Meek's Cutoff, especially that ending. Michelle Williams is such an impressive actress. Who knew all those years ago when we met her as Jen Linley on Dawson's Creek?


Beverly - May 20, 2020 2:00:23 pm PDT #2676 of 3424
Days shrink and grow cold, sunlight through leaves is my song. Winter is long.

Being Of An Age to have seen Gwen Verdon in her heyday years, I have a basis for comparison and was very impressed with Williams in Fosse/Verdon, the TV miniseries. Not an impersonation, but mannerisms, expression, voice, body language. She's definitely impressive.

ETA: Shigeta was one of my seekrit Hollywood boyfriends in my yout'. Everything you said about him, Vonnie. Yes.


Toddson - May 21, 2020 4:58:03 am PDT #2677 of 3424
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"

A bit off topic, but I always had a soft spot for Jack Soo.


DXMachina - May 21, 2020 5:19:07 am PDT #2678 of 3424
You always do this. We get tipsy, and you take advantage of my love of the scientific method.

Jack Soo was hilarious.


Toddson - May 21, 2020 8:20:26 am PDT #2679 of 3424
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"

I once sat through "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (on the TV - would not pay to see it) just to see him. He didn't have any lines, but he was there.


P.M. Marc - May 21, 2020 8:36:38 am PDT #2680 of 3424
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear

Shigeta was so gorgeous in his youth.


Vonnie K - May 21, 2020 10:10:26 am PDT #2681 of 3424
Kiss me, my girl, before I'm sick.

I actually ended up DVR'ing Flower Drum Song off TCM last night and watched it later. YIKES. It has not aged well at all. Its gender politics are even worse than its racial issues, honestly. I mean, "I Enjoy Being A Girl" is still catchy as fuck, but the lyrics, oy vey. I'm just gonna enjoy the song independently of its context for giving us one of my favourite multifandom vids ever, by AbsoluteDestiny: [link]

There is A LOT of filler in the movie. Like, why is there a 5 minute dream ballet by a random side character?! And I'd forgotten that Shigeta's character was a lead, not supporting, mostly because he's such a nothing character -- he just lets stuff happen to himself! I mean, I still enjoyed looking at him because I have eyes, and oh yeah, he also sings the main love song ("You Are Beautiful") and his voice is super pretty. Still.

A bit off topic, but I always had a soft spot for Jack Soo.

On rewatch, my favourite number in the entire movie was "Don't Marry Me", which is Jack Soo's character (...someone just said "make him Nathan Detroit, except Asian, huh?) trying to convince the main love interest to dump him. Some fun physical comedy in the number between him and Miyoshi Umeki.