quote:

Originally posted by ɯʇ ʎoq ǝɥʇ:

quote:

Originally posted by McApathy:

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Cable:
I had a bigger problem with elves in Helm's Deep.

so did I, especially when that ended up being quite possibly the best part of that movie (for me, anyway). they ruined everything else, but, oh, hey, lookit! elves in Helm's Deep!

I think this is why they did it. There's no place else in the trilogy where you get a picture of what the elves really are and what they are capable of. In the novels it is talked about a lot, but "show, don't tell" is even more important in movies than novels (and J.R.R. himself was pretty bad with that rule).

they could've thrown in some flashbacks to the Last Alliance or something...
*continues grumbling quietly*

That and the alliance between the elves and the races of the West was solidifying at that point in the books, but only diplomatically which, again, is boring to show in a movie.

I liked the movies. I'm one of those who thinks you can't make a movie based on a book that's "ruined," you can just make a movie based on a book that's a bad movie. The second's the weakest of the three, but I still greatly enjoyed it.

I had a problem with Legolas surfing/sliding/snowboarding down the stairs on his shield, and I had a major problem with Gimli being made into the comic turn. He's a bloody warrior, dammit, not a redcoat!

Other than that, as far as I was concerned, it was perfect.

I've seen at least 7 of them. I suspect that I've probably seen them all, actually, but just don't remember.

I've seen all 10 and I own 9 of them (don't have a copy of War Games, though I saw it on sale at HMV this week for about 5 bucks.)

I think something is being overlooked when people are suggesting replacing Time Bandits with Holy Grail or other such films. Yes, the others are silly, as is Time Bandits, but TB left a huge mark on my childhood psyche for 2 reasons:

It was like a dream brought to life - not day dreams, but real dreams. When the wall in his bedroom pulls away and the sudden changing of locations. (No one else came close to representing my dreams on film until Joss at the end of Buffy season 4)

It was the first film that I remember that didn't have an easy, pat ending. (I'm trying not to give it away for anyone who hasn't seen it). That affected me and stayed in my mind and the unsettling feeling for years. Which I believe is a good thing.

The longer the wait for Holy Grail, the better, I think. Sure, it's funny when you're a kid, but it's hilarious when you're in your 20s. I don't know that oral sex jokes are really appropriate for 'tweens ...

But then, I'm an old, curmudgeonly grey-hair and .. what?! who's out there?

*throws open the sash*

Get off my lawn!

We just finished watching The Last Starfighter - Dev said he enjoyed it, if he asks to watch it repeatedly I'll know he really loves it.

Robert Preston was really fun and I can't think of anything else he was in except for that 76 trombones musical thingy and er... that's it.

two nitpicks that gave me fits, even as a kid: The alienspeak turned to American and even though he was "only hearing it" that way, their lips moved just like they were speaking American. and the frontier surrounding whole star systems?? er.... yeah.

little shop of horrors!
E.T.
Akira
flight of the navigator
explorers!!
5th element
iron giant
the hudsucker proxy. you know. for kids!
anything mst3k. well mostly anything. well I grew up watching it!
superman etc.
stargate
james and the giant peach
dune
joel insists on D.A.R.Y.L. and total recall.

Good list.

Flight of the Navigator is starting to feel a bit dated. The Pee-Wee voice of the spaceship, while funny at the time, was a mistake in hindsight.

Akira and Total Recall: probably not for little ones. Double-digit ages at least.
Dune: IDK about this one. This might be an early read aloud like LotR and Harry Potter.

I've seen 9 of the original list. War Games is the only one on there that I haven't seen.

My kids had "My Neighbor Totoro" On repeat for a month and I have the beginning theme song memorized. My daughter and I still sing it together.

"Willow" my son LOVES. I thought "The Last Unicorn" was scary, I haven't let my kids watch it yet. That and I have been unable to find a copy.

So far we've watched:

The Dark Crystal
Big Trouble in Little China
My Neighbor Totoro
The Original Star Wars Trilogy (On tape. Where Han shot first)
Clue (lots of physical humor, makes the kids laugh)
LOTR Trilogy (OK, i know. Its broken up into small kid-sized bites of time and may be a lot, but my kids follow most of it. Also, I'm reading The Hobbit to them).
Nightmare Before Christmas (i have the soundtrack, its requested a lot)
The Corpse Bride
Willow
Goonies


I'm adding "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Stardust" to the "Tweens" list.

We've actually watched most of Miyazaki's works.

The Last Unicorn is available online on DVD.. I have a copy of it ... it is a bit scary in places.. and really not meant for younger viewers.. tweens might like it though.. but with children today, it might be considered "tame"..

WoW is scarier..

Aw, is it scary? My kids loved that film. I think I still have it on VHS somewhere but they don't play very well any more - maybe I should watch it again.

(if you do buy The Last Unicorn, and you're planning on doing it online, please check out the link at Conlan Press so that Peter Beagle - the guy who wrote the book - can at least make a buck on it) I know I'm preaching about this, but that book is probably my very favourite, even over Pratchett and Gaiman, and apparently Beagle got royally screwed in the movie deal.

Devlin didn't like it much last year-ish, so I'll probably try it again over winter. I never thought it was scary, but then again, I first saw it when I was at least 10, possibly a bit older. I know I discovered the book when I was 14 or 15.

quote:

Originally posted by fluffyllama:
the hudsucker proxy. you know. for kids!

okay, that is so weird, but, as I think you're never too young to develop a healthy infatuation with Paul Newman, I'm going with it.