The Real Slim Scooby

Fri 14 Jun 200207:36 PM

Hack Attack

Sat 18 May 200210:10 PM

It’s true that “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” is superior to its immediate predecessor, but it’s still not much of a movie.

Lucas, while stubborn as ever in his refusal to completely excise Jar Jar Binks, has nevertheless acquiesced to fan pressure by creating 132 minutes of the stuff that fans have been dying to see for two-plus decades: massive lightsaber battles, the secret origin of Boba Fett (which is a truly superfluous subplot), the inner workings of the Jedi Council, the corruption of Anakin Skywalker, and, most tellingly, one climactic scene in which Yoda kicks ass.

Send in the Clones

Fri 17 May 200205:45 PM

With every effort, I’m trying to maintain reasonable expectations for “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.” Though I’ve avoided reading any reviews, the critics seem to be dimissive. On the other hand, everybody I know who’s seen it so far thinks it’s a great improvement over the last installment. I just want to get carried away for two hours when I see it tonight at 10:30p.

Fan Wars

Mon 29 Apr 200207:53 PM

Atom Films is hosting a competition for fan-made films paying tribute to the Star Wars franchise, many of which are actually quite funny. The whole affair is sponsored by Lucasfilms and being judged by George Lucas himself. The New York Times has a slightly unfair article about Lucasfilms’ disqualification of any film from the competition that didn’t conform to its strict rule allowing ‘spoofs and documentaries only.’ In it, Jim Ward, V.P. of marketing at Lucasfilm utters this amazingly anti-fan comment: “…If in fact somebody is using our characters to create a story unto itself, that’s not in the spirit of what we think fandom is about. Fandom is about celebrating the story the way it is.” In other words: watch, listen and obey.

French New York

Sun 7 Apr 200201:13 AM

Lately I’ve been on a New York-on-film kick, inspired by James Sanders’ “Celluloid Skyline,” a hefty survey of Gotham’s cinematic history. Last week I watched “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,” which may not hold up as a thrill ride, but it has a certain documentarian charm. Then yesterday I rented “The French Connection.” The last time I watched it I think I was twelve and it had been clumsily butchered up for the Saturday afternoon matinee on Channel 20. Its gritty details went right over my head but I remembered being floored by its brutal, epic sweep. That same feeling hit me with an exponential force this time, crystallized by the pristine DVD print, the ferocity of Gene Hackman’s performance, the gorgeously uncompromising cinematography, and William Friedkin’s pitch-perfect storytelling.

Panic Club

Sun 31 Mar 200201:29 AM

Last night I went to see David Fincher’s new movie, “Panic Room,” which is no “Fight Club,” for better or worse. Actually, it’s a tautly made thriller, enjoyable if unambitious. But what made the trek all the way up to the hellish Times Square area worth it was a single scene halfway through, when Fincher turns the movie virtually silent — and the opening weekend crowd that I saw it with went completely wild, hooting, hollering, screaming at the screen. It’s the kind of rare, visceral, communal moviegoing experience that few directors can achieve, and it was spectacular.

Oscariffic

Mon 25 Mar 200209:09 PM

It’d be hard to describe how distasteful I find the Oscars. The funniest thing I heard this Oscar season was that, in spite of all the unusually vociferous bad blood that preceded last night’s show, the most important thing was ‘to preserve Oscar’s integrity.’ Ha! All the same, I was pleased to hear that Denzel Washington and Halle Berry won big last night.

Good Day Sunshine

Fri 8 Mar 200210:41 PM

Last night I went with my girlfriend to see “Scratch,” which was as exhilirating and well-crafted a documentary as one could hope for. It was our first visit to the new Landmark Sunshine Theater on Houston Street, an art house theater with honest-to-goodness stadium seating and a hell of a lot preferable to the Angelika.