The wife and I don't get to many movies (they normally run us anywhere from $50 to $100) but we made it to this one last weekend and this movie hooked me from the very first notes - Catherine Zeta Jones (considering she was pregnant at the time) and Renee Zellwegger (expected to be disappointed but...) really surprised but not as much as Richard Gere - I normally hate him in any role (especially Pretty Woman) but in this movie, I just couldn't. Don't know if it deserves all the Oscar consideration it is getting but when it comes out on DVD, I'll buy it.
edit: I missed all the Chicago discussion in the Oscars thread and probably should have gone there first - can't keep up at times
(edited by dunkndollaz on 20.2.03 1337) 5 Time 5 Time 5 Time 5 Time 5 Time Wiener of the Day Runner-up
Babysitters get $8 an hour where I live and when we get a babysitter we take full advantage and go for dinner too.... so - $20 for the movie, $32 for the babysitter and $50 for dinner
5 Time 5 Time 5 Time 5 Time 5 Time Wiener of the Day Runner-up
Do you have any family that can babysit for you? That would help out greatly I'm sure, or just go to an earlier showing where it is A) cheaper and #2: no one to complain if the kid(s) start crying.
(wc-40)
Cerebus: Barbarian, Prime Minister, Pope, Perfect House Guest.
"Graft is as necessary as throwing up when you drink too much."
Originally posted by dunkndollazThe wife and I don't get to many movies (they normally run us anywhere from $50 to $100) but we made it to this one last weekend and this movie hooked me from the very first notes - Catherine Zeta Jones (considering she was pregnant at the time) and Renee Zellwegger (expected to be disappointed but...) really surprised but not as much as Richard Gere - I normally hate him in any role (especially Pretty Woman) but in this movie, I just couldn't. Don't know if it deserves all the Oscar consideration it is getting but when it comes out on DVD, I'll buy it.
edit: I missed all the Chicago discussion in the Oscars thread and probably should have gone there first - can't keep up at times
(edited by dunkndollaz on 20.2.03 1337)
Back in THE DAY, when I was a babysitter (aka 5 years ago, before I got a REAL JOB), here was how much stuff cost...I adjusted the movie costs for now: BABYSITTER ($5/hr for 6pm to 12am): $30.00 DINNER: $50.00 TICKETS: ($12.50 X 2): $25.00 MOVIE FOOD: (Large popcorn & 2 Large Sodas): $14.00
TOTAL: $119.00 Canadian, OR about $77.35 US (at 65 American cents per Canadian dollar)
EXPENSIVE, eh?
"I know something that will cheer you up, Wesley" "Are you programmed to be thinking what I'm thinking?" "MAKEOVER!!" Princical Scudworth & Mr. Butlertron; Clone High
It wasn't a movie so much as an extended dance number. The plot was largely irrelevant, and given the general suckitude of said plot, I'd offer that that's good. No character development, no sympathetic characters to develop, and no story to speak of... bah, I say again. Maybe Chicago was shocking and noteworthy when it came out, but tight outfits and provocative dancing are the stuff of basic cable these days.
"... I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass..."
Originally posted by PalpatineWBah, Chicago sucked.
It wasn't a movie so much as an extended dance number. The plot was largely irrelevant, and given the general suckitude of said plot, I'd offer that that's good. No character development, no sympathetic characters to develop, and no story to speak of... bah, I say again. Maybe Chicago was shocking and noteworthy when it came out, but tight outfits and provocative dancing are the stuff of basic cable these days.
ARE YOU CRAZY? Yeah, it is an extended dance number, but that is what a musical is all about. Character Development- how about Renee Zelweger transforming from a star-struck fan to a celebrity herself?
How about CZJ changing from a star to a has-been seeking revenge?
How about the husband finally learning what his wife was all about?
And were you asleep during the whole film? The story is as obvious as the color blue. A woman kills her lover and gets sent to jail- the plot is her quest for "exhonneration." The statement the movie makes is incredibly applicable today, when you have high priced lawyers working to free celebrities accused of crimes all the time (OJ most notebly- see Robert Blake). Chicago is incredibly insightful when it comes to todays celebrity-defendants.
Maybe you were too busy looking at all of the hot bodies in skin-tight suits to notice the substance?
Not that restraint when posting in a "public" forum isn't a good thing...
If you liked Chicago that much, you should really see some genuinely visionary, original and challenging musicals and maybe you'll understand why some of us are underwhelmed.
Like I said before it's a fun, adorable and entertaining little movie but it's not worthy of great praise.
The only thing I enjoy more than doing the crossword puzzle is actually finishing it.
I did not claim to be totally overwhelmed by Chicago. And I have seen enough musicals to know exactly where that one ranks. (And it really is not as bad as all that now) I was mearly pointing out that Chicago was NOT a pile of garbage. It was a good movie, and for a director to be able to pull off a good musical in this day and age and have it NOT be a cartoon, well, it should be commended. Sure I like some other musicals better (My Fair Lady pops immediatly to mind), but I am going to trash talk Chicago, becuase it is not as good as the musicals of yesteryear, especially when it is far better than the piles of crap for movies that get shoved down out throat these days (Blue Crush? The Matrix? etc?). It is worthy of priase for what it is. And while it may not be worthy of GREAT praise, it is certainly not deserving of the "pile of crap" rating.
Not that restraint when posting in a "public" forum isn't a good thing...
Originally posted by CerebusDo you have any family that can babysit for you? That would help out greatly I'm sure, or just go to an earlier showing where it is A) cheaper and #2: no one to complain if the kid(s) start crying.
(wc-40)
Closest family is an hour away and I'm really not going to take a 3 year old and 4 1/2 year old to any of the PG-13 or R movies that I want to see - I did take them to see Jungle Book 2 over the weekend however and found that to be an enjoyable but forgettable wanna-be sequel that the kids loved
5 Time 5 Time 5 Time 5 Time 5 Time Wiener of the Day Runner-up
"Moulin Rouge, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Dancer in the Dark, Topsy Turvy and Love's Labour's Lost"
All great movie musicals, however with the exception of Moulin Rouge none of these films enjoyed any level of mainstream success and that is why I think Chicago is earning as much praise as it has, it is getting jack and mary from peoria into the local cineplex to see a movie musical. This is something that hasn't been done since Grease.
So I am forgiving of its flaws as it seems to be ushering in a renaissance of one of my favorite film genres and since About Schmidt isn't nominated I have no problem with Chicago getting best picture...(although I did finally see The Pianists and now I'm torn...)
Originally posted by krakken2000"Moulin Rouge, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Dancer in the Dark, Topsy Turvy and Love's Labour's Lost"
All great movie musicals, however with the exception of Moulin Rouge none of these films enjoyed any level of mainstream success and that is why I think Chicago is earning as much praise as it has, it is getting jack and mary from peoria into the local cineplex to see a movie musical. This is something that hasn't been done since Grease.
So I am forgiving of its flaws as it seems to be ushering in a renaissance of one of my favorite film genres and since About Schmidt isn't nominated I have no problem with Chicago getting best picture...(although I did finally see The Pianists and now I'm torn...)
Moulin Rouge had the swank love story holding it together, and it was more of an homage to old school movie musicals than anything else. Chicago is a different breed altogether. It's more of a scathing parody/commentary on our culture masked under catchy songs. And John C. Reilly rocking the hizzouse.
As for Best Picture, I'd say it's a two horse race between Chicago and Gangs of New York. Roman Polanski is in exile (he'll be arrested if he comes to the USA), and since he's nominated for The Pianist, it won't win. The Hours is more an acting showcase than anything else, and The Two Towers will defer the trilogy's honors until next year, when Peter Jackson gets a big hug from the Academy.
"I know something that will cheer you up, Wesley" "Are you programmed to be thinking what I'm thinking?" "MAKEOVER!!" Princical Scudworth & Mr. Butlertron; Clone High
I noticed this at work on the weekend...during the Chicago credits crawl...
"Renee Zelwegger's singing and dancing Performed by Renee Zelwegger
Richard Gere's singing and dancing Performed by Richard Gere
Catherine Zeta-Jones' singing and dancing Performed by Catherine Zeta-Jones"
Couldn't help but laugh.
Dubbed? Hardly. And that's why those singing, dancing fools have earned my respect.
"I know something that will cheer you up, Wesley" "Are you programmed to be thinking what I'm thinking?" "MAKEOVER!!" Princical Scudworth & Mr. Butlertron; Clone High
Pool-Boy, while I appreciate your use of the paragraph break in the preceding posts, no, I was not asleep during the film. I tried, but all the damn noise kept me awake.
I still think the movie was silly. Now, I'm not an idiot. I understand that it was a musical, not a drama, so I shouldn't be expecting a compelling story. But, come on, who do you root for here? They were all scumbags. It's like watching HHH wrestle himself. I have mixed feelings about Moulin Rouge, but at least the story made an honest try at being compelling. Perhaps because Chicago is adapted from the stage (and should have stayed on the stage).
"... I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass..."
Originally posted by PalpatineWPool-Boy, while I appreciate your use of the paragraph break in the preceding posts, no, I was not asleep during the film. I tried, but all the damn noise kept me awake.
I still think the movie was silly. Now, I'm not an idiot. I understand that it was a musical, not a drama, so I shouldn't be expecting a compelling story. But, come on, who do you root for here? They were all scumbags. It's like watching HHH wrestle himself. I have mixed feelings about Moulin Rouge, but at least the story made an honest try at being compelling. Perhaps because Chicago is adapted from the stage (and should have stayed on the stage).
So a movie has to have likable characters to be compelling?
What about a film like "Pulp Fiction"? Is that not a good film due to an overabundance of scumbags? Midnight Cowboy? The Godfather? Raging Bull? Goodfellas? Unforgiven?
I've moved twice with my dog, and I've taken her on trips a couple times. She seems to enjoy traveling, and it doesn't take her very long at all to acclimatize to a new environment.