Long stories short

Here's a sample of the films I've watched in the past few days!

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

I thought about being radical and choosing a picture not featuring Gene Kelly hanging on a lamp post with an umbrella, but came around in the end. Because it just doesn't get much more iconic than that, does it? This was only the second time I saw the classic, and I liked it even more this time! Cosmo is awesome and so are all the tap dance numbers, especially Good Morning. Lina and her horrible accent ("I cayn't stand'im!") crack me up, and yes, nothing quite puts a smile on your face like the Singin' in the Rain number. I want the spring here so I can do that, too! A bit less exuberantly, though, maybe.

"Tell me the truth, am I a good actor?"
"As long as I'm working for Monumental Pictures, you're the greatest of 'em all."

Home Alone (1990)

Home Alone is one of my childhood favourites and was still quite charming. Though I couldn't stand to to watch that iron to fall on that poor guy's face. That hurts too much. Macaulay Culkin (has the most difficult first name ever) was awesome as a child actor, shame growing up didn't really work out for him.

P.S. I swear I never got the joke below when I was a kid. Was it a bad translation or didn't I read the subtitles or was I just plain dumb? I just though it was funny how Kevin was jumping up and down and yelling something. Oh well.

"When I grow up and get married, I'm living alone."

 Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins was a tiny bit too long. BUT still enjoyable (almost) all the way! Julie Andrews is amazing, just amazing as Mary. I guess only now I really, FULLY understood why everyone's fussing about her (and why Chris Colfer wants her to play Kurt's grandmother on Glee). Also, Dick Van Dyke (has one of the most wonderfully ambiguous names ever) as Bret is so thoroughly JOLLY that I wanted to jump though the TV screen just to hang out with him. Oh and I think I came up with a potential New Year resolution: to learn say that super... mumblemumble...docious word fluently five times in a row. There's enough challenge for a whole year...


"You know, you can say it backwards, which is 'docious-ali-expi-istic-fragil-cali-rupus', but that's going a bit too far, don't you think?"

Panic Room (2002)

Panic Room was not David Fincher at his best, but a good, solid thriller anyway. There are two things on the top of my mind: 1) The long C.S.I.-ish shots from one room or floor to another, through keyholes and air conditioning pipes. Cool. 2) Kristen Stewart. And the fact that she didn't annoy me AT ALL! I actually liked her a lot, can you believe it?

"We can't get in the panic room. That's the whole point. We have to get her to come out."

Lust, Caution (2007)

Finally I managed to watch this, it's been my intention for quite a while. My fears about deadly boring two and a half hours were needless, as the film turned out to be surprisingly suspenseful and compelling, in addition to being very intelligent and skilfully crafted. Lust, Caution is one of those films that keep whirling in your head long after watching, because there are some interesting holes to fill. A very good film, I'm glad I watched it. (Not so sure if all the sex scenes really needed to be that graphic, but oh well, at least they've got people talking...)

"Keep playing."

Splice (2009)

(Speaking of graphic sex...) Well, wasn't this a queer little film? I don't know if I liked it, exactly, but I do know it kept me on the edge of my seat to the very end. The CGI was fantastic, how did that creature look so much like a human, but still not quite? Splice made me certain that I do NOT want to know what's going on in all the shady laboratories around the world. Ignorance is bless. It was a very bold film and I understant why some people might despise it. But know this, Adrien Brody has the most awesome nose in the world!

"What was that?"

"A mistake."

 Oh dearie me! Time to go to bed. I have to be fresh and sharp for tomorrow's ultimate LotR marathon extravaganza!