Film: Le Voyage Dans La Lune (A Trip To The Moon)
Year: 1902
Where I Saw It: DVD
So my buddy The Projectionist gives me a call and says, "I've got one of those films you're looking for. In fact, I think it's the first one." So I head over to his house and we throw it on. This is the first science fiction film ever made and at fifteen minutes long, even if you're not a fan of the genre, it's still well worth a watch. It's truly like watching a piece of history. The techniques used in this film may look cheesy now but at the time, they were brand-spank'n new and jaw dropping to watch.
But I do have to make fun of a few points and as much as I respect this film, there are a whole lotta things that don't make sense. So here are a few things you need to know if you ever go to the moon.
1. Make sure your spaceship is just a big bullet.
2. To launch your spaceship, just load it into a massive canon and point it at the moon. Make sure your cannon fires like a cannon you would see on a pirate ship.
3. When you are on the moon, all you will need is a coat, hat and umbrella.
4. Watch out for moon men, but if you do run into them, just hit them with your umbrella and they'll explode.
5. To get back to Earth, just push your bullet off a moon cliff and you'll drop back to the planet.
One Last Point - To become an astronomer/astronaut, all you need is a pointy hat.
Thanks for reading and thanks again to The Projectionist! - Scott Scene
Sunday 27 November 2011
Sunday 20 November 2011
Old and Bold
Film: To Be Or Not To Be
Year: 1942
Where I Saw It: Netflix
Now, I know what you may be thinking. 1942? I thought Mel Brooks made that film in the 1980's. I KNOW! I thought that too! I was just as surprised to find out it was a remake. Having seen both films, I'll say this. The Mel Brooks one is funnier but this film is edgier.
For those of you who don't know the story, it's about a failing acting troupe in Poland right before the Germans take over. When war breaks out, the troupe must now use their acting skills to impersonate Nazis in order to help members of the Polish underground. This is what what I mean by edgier. LOOK AT WHEN THIS FILM WAS MADE!!! Can you imagine even pitching a film with a plot line like this during that time? It would be like pitching a comedy about 9/11 in 2002 or filming a slapstick about Afghanistan.
This film is also incredibly funny. It's got that touch of camp mixed with vindictiveness that only older films of that time can deliver (if you're confused by that statement watch The Three Stooges Meet The Nazis, you'll see what I mean). The whole plot is outrageous and the characters are fantastic. It's a great film. I don't think Mel Brooks remade it with thoughts of making it better, but as an homage to it.
One Last Point - I'm really blown away by the balls of this film. We like to think our time is a lot more edgier when it comes to content of films but after watching this film, I would say we have a long way to go in order to match the issues and content of the past.
Year: 1942
Where I Saw It: Netflix
Now, I know what you may be thinking. 1942? I thought Mel Brooks made that film in the 1980's. I KNOW! I thought that too! I was just as surprised to find out it was a remake. Having seen both films, I'll say this. The Mel Brooks one is funnier but this film is edgier.
For those of you who don't know the story, it's about a failing acting troupe in Poland right before the Germans take over. When war breaks out, the troupe must now use their acting skills to impersonate Nazis in order to help members of the Polish underground. This is what what I mean by edgier. LOOK AT WHEN THIS FILM WAS MADE!!! Can you imagine even pitching a film with a plot line like this during that time? It would be like pitching a comedy about 9/11 in 2002 or filming a slapstick about Afghanistan.
This film is also incredibly funny. It's got that touch of camp mixed with vindictiveness that only older films of that time can deliver (if you're confused by that statement watch The Three Stooges Meet The Nazis, you'll see what I mean). The whole plot is outrageous and the characters are fantastic. It's a great film. I don't think Mel Brooks remade it with thoughts of making it better, but as an homage to it.
One Last Point - I'm really blown away by the balls of this film. We like to think our time is a lot more edgier when it comes to content of films but after watching this film, I would say we have a long way to go in order to match the issues and content of the past.
Sunday 13 November 2011
Lessons from Pinocchio
Film: Pinocchio
Year: 1940
Where I Saw It: DVD
This week I saw Pinocchio, another childhood standard. This was Walt Disney's second feature length film and even though it was created so long ago, it still holds up as one of the best animated films of all time. Let's take a look back and review some of the life long lessons it taught us.
1. Smoking will turn you into a donkey.
2. If you get a bunch of kids to smoke, after they turn into donkeys, they will provide an excellent cheap labour force.
3. A favourite snack of whales is people.
4. If you do get eaten by a whale, you can live quite comfortably inside it providing you have a raft of some sort.
5. When you wish upon a star, a strange woman claiming to be the "Blue Fairy" will appear in your room.
6. The preferred choice of clothes for crickets is upper class Victorian wear.
7. Making fun of other cultures is OK providing you do it with marionettes.
8. It is easier to build a wooden puppet, pray for him to come to life and chase him around on a series of whacky adventures instead of adopting a real child.
9. Gepetto is a greedy jerk. He's got a cat AND a fish and he STILL wants company? Bastard.
10. The Blue Fairy can change a wooden boy to a real boy but refuses to end world hunger.
One Last Point: Disney is pretty good at drawing animals but I feel they dropped the ball on Jiminy Cricket. He looks nothing like a cricket. He has a closer resemblance to ET.
Thanks for reading! - Scott Scene
Year: 1940
Where I Saw It: DVD
This week I saw Pinocchio, another childhood standard. This was Walt Disney's second feature length film and even though it was created so long ago, it still holds up as one of the best animated films of all time. Let's take a look back and review some of the life long lessons it taught us.
1. Smoking will turn you into a donkey.
2. If you get a bunch of kids to smoke, after they turn into donkeys, they will provide an excellent cheap labour force.
3. A favourite snack of whales is people.
4. If you do get eaten by a whale, you can live quite comfortably inside it providing you have a raft of some sort.
5. When you wish upon a star, a strange woman claiming to be the "Blue Fairy" will appear in your room.
6. The preferred choice of clothes for crickets is upper class Victorian wear.
7. Making fun of other cultures is OK providing you do it with marionettes.
8. It is easier to build a wooden puppet, pray for him to come to life and chase him around on a series of whacky adventures instead of adopting a real child.
9. Gepetto is a greedy jerk. He's got a cat AND a fish and he STILL wants company? Bastard.
10. The Blue Fairy can change a wooden boy to a real boy but refuses to end world hunger.
One Last Point: Disney is pretty good at drawing animals but I feel they dropped the ball on Jiminy Cricket. He looks nothing like a cricket. He has a closer resemblance to ET.
Thanks for reading! - Scott Scene
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