en-us http://www.intensedebate.com/users/682385 Comments by Charles_Del http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jhanlon/2010/03/12/review-the-crazies-disappoints-with-cheap-scares/#IDComment61794808 I'm really pretty much with Rob and others. I'm all in favor of cheap scares in zombie movies. In fact, I think they work especially well in zombie movies compared to other horror movies. Because quivive is right, what really makes a zombie movie especially horrifying is that dehumanization that turns Aunt Rose into gibbering horror. Similar to the special horror of good ol' vampire movies which I also like. But zombie movies add "dumb and jerky" to "undead" in a way that is very, very scary at a very very deep level I think. Nothing at all cheap about that. But then the "cheap scares" are introduced partly to give us some relief from the fundamental existential horror of the Human Zombie. As for The Crazies ... I think it's a very decent zombie flick, not the best, but very much in the grand tradition. And worth a watch if you like those scary ol' zombies ... Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:47:16 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jhanlon/2010/03/12/review-the-crazies-disappoints-with-cheap-scares/#IDComment61794808 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jhanlon/2010/03/12/review-the-crazies-disappoints-with-cheap-scares/#IDComment61793489 Agreed. I went and saw it last weekend and was pleasantly surprised. I generally like zombie movies anyway and I'd say this is pretty much in the grand tradition. Plus despite early warnings to the contrary, I think the military came off on the whole fairly positively but with some stark, rough tasks that are, again, in the grand tradition of zombie / apocalypse movies ... as you say, doing a dirty job that has to be done. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:36:13 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jhanlon/2010/03/12/review-the-crazies-disappoints-with-cheap-scares/#IDComment61793489 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jhanlon/2010/03/12/review-the-crazies-disappoints-with-cheap-scares/#IDComment61792889 Oh yeah ... that red dress she wore in the first Resident Evil was made for her and her for it. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:31:15 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jhanlon/2010/03/12/review-the-crazies-disappoints-with-cheap-scares/#IDComment61792889 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ggutfeld/2010/03/12/daily-gut-the-pathetic-howl-of-howell-raines/#IDComment61792181 Off the subject, but just gotta say I really, really dig Red Eye! And yep, give Pinch a say on Raines. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:24:57 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ggutfeld/2010/03/12/daily-gut-the-pathetic-howl-of-howell-raines/#IDComment61792181 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ggutfeld/2010/03/12/daily-gut-the-pathetic-howl-of-howell-raines/#IDComment61791980 Couldn't agree more. And the take off on Hee Haw left me laughing ... and more than a little nostalgic for a show that was not only a blast, hey, compared to the New York Times, it was a lot more reliably accurate about almost anything than the moribund NYT Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:23:42 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ggutfeld/2010/03/12/daily-gut-the-pathetic-howl-of-howell-raines/#IDComment61791980 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/03/12/review-matt-damon-paul-greengrass-get-their-hateamerica-on-in-green-zone/#IDComment61791063 John Nolte's post is dead right. I went and walked out after about an hour because all the conspiracy stuff was frankly not only way over the top, it was plain old boring. Hoo boy. And here I'd read the early reviews and yet went this afternoon after I got off work, and saw this flick despite all the fair warnings. What can I say. I liked .. and still like ... the whole Bourne series. I guess I was hoping for something along those lines. And honestly there were some really nice scenes from Baghdad. But all that Oliver Stone style paranoia and inability to actually tell a story with at least a little credibility ... really lousy beyond lousy. Frankly the only good thing I got out of this was the popcorn and I could have microwaved that at home. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:15:03 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/03/12/review-matt-damon-paul-greengrass-get-their-hateamerica-on-in-green-zone/#IDComment61791063 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jhanlon/2010/03/11/review-brooklyns-finest-is-a-fine-film/#IDComment61589422 Looks to me like the comments censuring this movie mostly focus on one or more of 3 things: (a) realism or lack thereof; (b) the actors; and (c) replication of past themes & cop movies. (a) I guess depends on taste ... me, I'm just not all that interested in "realism" as such beyond just enough "authenticity" to set up the Story. The Story is what either gets me or doesn't; and the Story here is just fascinating and involving and appealing at so many levels to me. (b) I guess I can understand, but I'm just not into boycotting films because the actors' personal lives or political nonsense. (c) is just no problem for me at all ... I almost never value a movie for "novelty" and if there are elements that are already known to make a good cop Story good, why not use them again? This is a really good cop flick, with great Story line, solid acting, cool action, nice twists, not overdone ... all in all I'd give this movie a solid 8/10. Might just go see it again while it's still on the Big Screen. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:38:15 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jhanlon/2010/03/11/review-brooklyns-finest-is-a-fine-film/#IDComment61589422 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jhanlon/2010/03/11/review-brooklyns-finest-is-a-fine-film/#IDComment61585317 I agree very much about Fuqua. I haven't seen King Arthur, but Tears of the Sun & Training Day are excellent. Tears of the Sun deserves a big pro-military applause. And Tears of The Sun, Training Day, and most definitely Brooklyn's Finest, all have a strong vision of what's Good and what's Bad, and there's no doubt about which is which and which is Right. I saw Brooklyn's Finest this weekend and thought it was a very good, very gritty cop drama very much in the spirit of Fuqua's other films. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:23:58 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jhanlon/2010/03/11/review-brooklyns-finest-is-a-fine-film/#IDComment61585317 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/03/06/james-cameron-declares-thoroughly-debunked-global-warming-as-severe-a-threat-as-wwii/#IDComment60126890 Man, I usually really dig the Oscars, but with nominated directors saying stuff this silly, I don't know, I may find something more fun to do, like watch some of my good ol' WWII movies ... about back when they actually knew a real threat when they saw one. And walked the walk, and fought the good fight. Instead of folks like Cameron tooling it back to their gigantic carbon footprint mansions like the hypocrites they are. Sun, 7 Mar 2010 01:22:54 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/03/06/james-cameron-declares-thoroughly-debunked-global-warming-as-severe-a-threat-as-wwii/#IDComment60126890 http://bigjournalism.com/abreitbart/2010/03/03/the-next-big-thing-richard-b-milter/#IDComment59838146 Could not agree more. Honestly Andrew had me thinking he was serious at first. The cockroach allusion warned me tho. Should make a great addition to the cockroaches at Media Matters. Fri, 5 Mar 2010 04:47:57 +0000 http://bigjournalism.com/abreitbart/2010/03/03/the-next-big-thing-richard-b-milter/#IDComment59838146 http://biggovernment.com/jjena/2010/03/04/the-vast-right-wing-conspiracy-bunning-throws-reid-the-high-hard-one/#IDComment59808647 I really admire Bunning at one level ... and at another level, think there's a time for everything, and you have to pick your battles. All in all, this was a black eye & distraction for Republicans at a time when we need to focus. No need to hand ammo to the enemy. We need to home in on big, strategic, and winnable battles: like healthcare. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 23:49:34 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/jjena/2010/03/04/the-vast-right-wing-conspiracy-bunning-throws-reid-the-high-hard-one/#IDComment59808647 http://biggovernment.com/jhoft/2010/03/04/stop-the-madness-stop-the-corker-bank-bailout-sellout/#IDComment59807682 From Instapundit 3/4/2:13p: "CORKER KERFUFFLE: Just got this email from Laura Herzog in Bob Corker’s office: 'There’s a lot of bad information floating around. Senator Corker is NOT working on legislation with Congressman Frank, and he does NOT support the bill the House of Representatives passed last year. Sen. Corker’s proposal would NOT provide $4 trillion to bail out Wall Street. For nearly a year, Senator Corker has been working to end the notion that any company is “too big to fail.” His premise is that if a company fails, it should fail and not be propped up by taxpayers. The bill is still being crafted in the Senate, but please know the substance will be very different than the House bill.' " Hope this is right ... I sure have admired Sen Corker and would be pretty shocked if this wasn't right. But I guess we'll see. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 23:41:14 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/jhoft/2010/03/04/stop-the-madness-stop-the-corker-bank-bailout-sellout/#IDComment59807682 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjena/2010/03/01/la-times-patrick-goldstein-just-cant-get-his-facts-straight/#IDComment59311177 Hey, Jeffrey Jena, a big big thumbs up, Man. You're right on target ... keep up the great work! Tue, 2 Mar 2010 05:56:24 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjena/2010/03/01/la-times-patrick-goldstein-just-cant-get-his-facts-straight/#IDComment59311177 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjena/2010/03/01/la-times-patrick-goldstein-just-cant-get-his-facts-straight/#IDComment59311019 Except it's not. As you and I both know perfectly well. I see what you mean, whiskey, but Dude, that should call for outrage, not despair. American domestic reaction, as well as French, Polish, and Swiss reaction, to Polanski's arrest was, and is, strongly in favor of justice. Don't get me wrong: Polanski's power and bucks may yet help him get away ... but all in all, Polanski's got a lot less going for him than when he first fled L.A. Let's keep battling the forces that excuse child rape, whether done by a Big Man or anyone else. Tue, 2 Mar 2010 05:54:21 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjena/2010/03/01/la-times-patrick-goldstein-just-cant-get-his-facts-straight/#IDComment59311019 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjena/2010/03/01/la-times-patrick-goldstein-just-cant-get-his-facts-straight/#IDComment59310108 Couldn't agree more. Keep speaking up. I think plain speaking the truth is one of the best, if not the best, way to fight the excusers and minimizers and ignorers. Charles Delacroix Tue, 2 Mar 2010 05:42:11 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjena/2010/03/01/la-times-patrick-goldstein-just-cant-get-his-facts-straight/#IDComment59310108 http://bigjournalism.com/kashiver/2010/02/28/former-veep-goes-girly-man-has-hissy-fit-in-pages-of-new-york-times/#IDComment59150874 Great article ... right on target. One thing tho gang: yep it's about Money. But it's also about Power. Not that the two are mutually exclusive of course. Great shot of Sarah Palin BTW. And hey. Run, Sarah, Run! Mon, 1 Mar 2010 01:15:04 +0000 http://bigjournalism.com/kashiver/2010/02/28/former-veep-goes-girly-man-has-hissy-fit-in-pages-of-new-york-times/#IDComment59150874 http://biggovernment.com/sahiller/2010/02/28/obama-signs-patriot-act-extension-msm-and-the-left-silent/#IDComment59148217 Hey ... gotta say it: Obama, Dude, thumbs up for doing the right thing. Now: could you please do the right thing again and dump that pile of insane so-called health-care enhancing garbage you've been peddling. Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:49:06 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/sahiller/2010/02/28/obama-signs-patriot-act-extension-msm-and-the-left-silent/#IDComment59148217 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/02/27/review-weak-plot-exhaustive-military-bashing-undercut-the-crazies/#IDComment59147661 I haven't seen the Romero original but may try to look it up. I went and saw it partly because I like zombie movies and partly because of Radha Mitchell & Timothy Olyphant. And for a zombie movie I'd give it an OK rating. However, I very much agree that it would really be great to see a movie these days that manages to find some kinda bad guys other than the good guys in the US Military. Army-bashing I guess I can understand back in Romero's heyday; but nowadays Hollywood thinks all us folks look on the guys keeping us free as a bunch of crypto-Nazis? It's been said before but I'll say it again: why in the world can't Hollywood give us at least a good, solid movie or two that really gives a shout out to the folks in Afghanistan and Iraq who are keeping us free and preventing another 9/11? But now one good thing about Crazies: Joe Anderson. He took a decent "sidekick" / 2nd string part, and really gave an outstanding performance. Understated in a way, but for my bucks, he took every scene he was in. Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:41:30 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2010/02/27/review-weak-plot-exhaustive-military-bashing-undercut-the-crazies/#IDComment59147661 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ckozlowski/2010/02/26/review-cop-out-lives-down-to-its-title/#IDComment59056435 I just saw this movie today, and I'll admit I have sort of mixed feelings. I'd say if you like Kevin Smith (& I do) you'll probably like this movie. I guess when I think about it, the one thing I really didn't like was, as someone said, John McClane / Bruce Willis playing comic cop. I guess I can understand the casting, but frankly, I just don't like it. I'll probably have to watch Die Hard or Apocalypse or Sin City or something to get the image of badass Bruce W back. Sun, 28 Feb 2010 04:10:39 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ckozlowski/2010/02/26/review-cop-out-lives-down-to-its-title/#IDComment59056435 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/dmiller/2010/02/20/review-shutter-island-keeps-audiences-guessing/#IDComment57840285 I saw this movie last night, and athough there are things I didn't like, all in all, I really enjoyed it. Partly off the subject ... but honestly I've never understood the criticism "you've seen it all before." Novelty does have some value; but honestly, not much, IMHO; and novelty for the sake of novelty doesn't really have a lot of appeal to me at all. Good storylining, good scripting, good cinematography, good casting, good acting, and more, are all so much more important. Shutter Island ... like so many other good movies ... are such because of all kinds of things that really build on what has been learned about the craft of movies - what works and what doesn't. For me ... Shutter Island definitely works. Shoot I might just go see it again while it's still on the big screen around here. Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:13:03 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/dmiller/2010/02/20/review-shutter-island-keeps-audiences-guessing/#IDComment57840285