Bean (1997)

20170530:
Today I was able to watch the movie in full. Unfortunately, a lot of the humor felt out of place, such as when Mr. Bean pretends to have a gun in the airport. As such, the movie feels more like a series of smaller skits held weakly together with a larger story.

It's possible the movie makes some references to the television series, but I wouldn't know.

Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson)

Overall, I began to accustom myself to the humor by the time the movie ended, but I still finished the movie unsatisfied with the humor.

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Instant Comments:
1: Gross. The tongue.
2: Lol, he's shaving his tongue.
2: Sandra Oh
1: The security guard says, "Everyone on the floor, now!" The woman tells Mr. Bean, "Not you sweetie." He responds, "Oh, right."

David Langley (Peter MacNicol)

1: "Mr. Bean, are you currently on any medication." "Not that I know of."
1: "Hey can you do this?" "Ohhh. But I can do this." [...] "Ohhh. Magic."
1: "I sit in the corner and look at the paintings." [around 20 minute mark]
2: Parades around with his now dry pants.
2: No way a lid could propel that crystal. I'd say it should even struggle to lift it.
2: Hahaha. Mr. Bean changes the 3D roller coaster settings

2: Ha. With respect to the turkey. "It would take five hours right?" "Not necessarily."
2: Oh, I thought he smeared the painting but it was just ink from his pen.
2: Lol. I wonder if the situation will be rectified.
2: Lol, he's making the squeaking noise of the wheels.
2: Lol. The face he drew.
2: Line of reasoning involves his daughter being a prostitute.

Jennifer Langley (Tricia Vessey) and Kevin Langley (Andrew Lawrence)

2: Singing Yesterday. Bean contributes with "Suddenly."
2: He sings all of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"
2: Hahaha. "I can't stop thinking about naking women."
1=20131231, 2=20170530

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Watched first quarter 20131231 (Netflix, Instant) (Streaming until 20140101)
Watched 20170530
Bean* (1997) Mel Smith. 89 min [bot television series Mr. Bean]
*Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie
*Bean: The Movie

Relevant Links:
Bean (IMDb.com)
Bean (RottenTomatoes.com)
Bean (film) (Wikipedia.org)

Rowan Atkinson Live! (1992)

Watched 20131231 (Netflix, Instant) (Streaming until 20140101)
Watched 20160915 (YouTube)
Rowan Atkinson Live! (1992) Thomas Schlamme. 55 min

Rowan Atkinson (right) and Angus Deayton (left).

Relevant Links:
Rowan Atkinson: Not Just a Pretty Face (IMDb.com)
Rowan Atkinson Live! (RottenTomatoes.com)

20131231:
Prior to watching Rowan Atkinson Live!, I've only seen Atkinson in Bean (1997), an episode or two of Mr. Bean, Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremonies, and Never Say Never Again (1983).

While one or two sketches played out similar to his Mr. Bean character, there were many other routines that showed Atkinson's variety as a comedian.

Overall, I highly enjoyed all the selected acts and would recommend anybody looking for some laughs to watch this collection of sketches featuring Rowan Atkinson (embedded below).

Instant Comments:
Hahaha. Good material.
"The French, are you here?"

Hahaha. "Damnation, without relief."
"Quite frankly Mr. Perkins, if he wasn't dead, I'd have him expelled."
Hahahahahaha. "I've been joking Mr. Perkins" [...] "I wouldn't cancel afternoon school to bury that little shit."
Hahahaha. "Well you know, I'd like to tell you, but unfortunately I don't know what fellatio is."

Order: A Warm Welcome// Fatal Beatings// The Amazing Jesus// A Day in the Life of the Invisible Man// The Good Loser// Elementary Dating// Drunk English in Indian Restaurant// It Started With A Sneeze// With Friends Like These// Pink Tights and Plenty of Props// [Netflix Instant Streaming ended here]// Tom, Dick and Harry// No One Called Jones// Invisible Drum Kit//

Capote (2005)

Overview: Capote is a biopic starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote.

Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman)

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20131231:
This movie started slowly and ended well. The beginning of the movie was a little confusing, but it made sense by the end and the movie would probably benefit from a second watching.

Overall, the story is tragic, but well done and worth watching.

Perry Smith (Clifton Collins Jr.) and Capote.

[20131231][20181124 Edit]

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Instant Comments:
"You paid him to say that." [...] "How did you know?"
Capote pronounced /kəˈpoʊtiː/
Oh, I just saw Chris Cooper in October Sky (1999).

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Watched 20131231 (Netflix, Instant, HD)* (Streaming until 20140101)

Capote is the life of the conversation.

*HD available but didn't buffer.
Capote (2005) Bennett Miller. 114 min [bot biography Capote by Gerald Clarke]

Relevant Links:
Capote (IMDb.com)
Capote (film) (Wikipedia.org)
Truman Capote (Wikipedia.org)
Capote (RottenTomatoes.com)

Perry Smith talks to Capote.

Shane (1953)

Watched 20131231 (Netflix, Instant) (Streaming until 20140101)
Shane (1953) George Stevens. 118 min [botnotsn (1949) by Jack Schaefer]

Shane (Alan Ladd)

Relevant Links:
Shane (IMDb.com)
Shane (film) (Wikipedia.org)
Shane (novel) (Wikipedia.org)
Shane (RottenTomatoes.com)

Shane and the Starrett family.
From left to right: Joey Starrett (Brandon De Wilde),
Marian Starrett (Jean Arthur), and Joe Starrett (Van Heflin).

20131231:
This movie was simple, yet interesting. At one point in the film there's a fist fight which is fun to watch. It felt more real and raw compared to many fight scenes nowadays that feel overly choreographed or depend on special effects to draw interest.

Shane and Chris Calloway (Ben Johnson) get in a fist fight.

Instant Comments:
"You aint gonna drink that in here." "You guessed it."
Shane is tough. It takes men to hold him down. Otherwise, he'd win a pure fist fight against them all any day.

Shane and Marian dance.

What an annoying kid. "Shane, you hit him with your gun, I hate you!"
Seriously? The kid ran all that way to follow Shane?

Of Mice and Men (1992)

George Milton (Gary Sinise) and Lennie Small (John Malkovich)

20131230:
I thought this movie was as great as I remembered it being the first time around. Of course, I also enjoyed the book. Speaking of which, the movie, unlike the book, never mentions the title.

Curley (Casey Siemaszko)

[20140116]

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Instant Comments:
"I'm looking for Curley."
"Sometimes Curley's in here."
"Nobody can blame a person for looking."

Curley's wife (Sherilyn Fenn)

"You're damn right! You're goddamn right I could!"
"George, I ought have shot that dog myself. I shouldn't ought let no stranger shoot my dog."
Oh man, its so awesome when Lennie squeezes Curley's hand.

Candy (Ray Walston)

Curley's eyes roll to the back of his head in pain.
"I said its hot out here!"
"Don't muss it up. Look out, now. You'll mess it up. Don't mess it up."

Slim (John Terry)

"Guys like us, they got no family. They ain't got nobody who gives a hoot in hell about 'em." [...] "We're gonna get a little place and we're gonna have a cow, and some pigs, and we're gonna have maybe a chicken. Down in the flat, we'll have a..."

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Watched once before in high school.
Watched 20131230 (Netflix, Instant, HD)* (Streaming until 20140101) 110 min *HD didn't buffer
Of Mice and Men (1992) Gary Sinise. 110 min [botnotsn (1937) by John Steinbeck]

Relevant Links:
Of Mice and Men (IMDb.com)
Of Mice and Men (1992 film) (Wikipedia.org)
Of Mice and Men (Wikipedia.org)
Of Mice and Men (RottenTomatoes.com)

The Andromeda Strain (1971)

20131230:
While The Andromeda Strain started incredibly slowly, it picked up and got exciting about a quarter of the way into the movie - when the scientists begin making more deductions about the mysterious infection.

In addition to the story, I would also compliment the movie for its portrayal of the future. Despite the movie being made over forty years ago, I still find it interesting to watch.

Dr. Charles Dutton (David Wayne) and Dr. Ruth Leavitt (Kate Reid) head on out to the research facility.

[20140115]

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Instant Comments:
"Now wait a minute, that's not what they told me. Just incinerated."
I didn't realize this film was so old: 1971.

Here we see Dr. Mark Hall (James Olson) with, as informed by the computer, a layer of his skin burned away.

No bleeding.
"Clotted blood. Powder."
The Robertson Odd Man Hypothesis.
Oh. The old man is still alive.
Interesting: the choice to stop the nuclear explosion.

Dr. Jeremy Stone (Arthur Hill)

"You may notice a fine white ash on your body. This is the outer epithelial layers of your skin that have been burned away." Both gross and awesome.
Hehehe. She drops her helmet on the ground.
"Sorry, her voice is quite luscious."
Aww. Poor animals. I wonder how they're trained to play dead.
"Maybe not so pure."

Apparently some people had time to kill themselves.

Pretty interesting at the one hour and thirty minute mark.
Oh, so did she miss the one with "No Growth." It's explained later.
Oh no.
Why is that women so stupid. Doesn't she realize she would die if she doesn't help him?
The end credits for this film just list the cast over the course of several seconds and no music plays.

The strain is given the code name Andromeda.

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Watched 20131230 (Netflix, Instant, HD)* (Streaming until 20140101) 130 min. *HD didn't buffer.
The Andromeda Strain (1971) Robert Wise. 131 min [botnotsn (1969) by Michael Crichton]

Relevant Links:
The Andromeda Strain (IMDb.com)
The Andromeda Strain (Wikipedia.org)
The Andromeda Strain (film) (Wikipedia.org)
The Andromeda Strain (RottenTomatoes.com)

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

20131230:
Besides the great acting, this film also benefits from dark, stunning visuals. Furthermore, the audio in the movie pairs well with the visuals and the movie kept me interested from beginning to end.

Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto)

Possible spoiler. One scene that is particularly representative of the movie for me is when the two male characters Harry (Jared Leto) and Tyrone (Marlon Wayans) are on a trip and Harry shoots up despite his blackened arm. Both the viewers and Tyrone see this for the first time and I think the onscreen reaction really complemented my own. End possible spoiler.

Note that in Pulp Fiction (1994) I mentioned how I tend to enjoy plot-driven movies over character-driven movies. However, this character-driven movie focuses on four characters whose lives seem to run in parallel with each other, making for what would seem like a story-driven experience.

Tyrone C. Love (Marlon Wayans)

Regardless of the actual classification of plot type, the structure of the story was done well and kept me as a viewer watching. Perhaps then, comparing Pulp Fiction and Requiem for a Dream, it is the feeling of resolution in Requiem for a Dream which I like over the lack of it in Pulp Fiction which I dislike.

Overall, this movie is most certainly intense, I thought the movie was great, and would recommend it to anybody old enough to watch it; the movie is rated R for at least drug use (main theme), sexuality, language, and some violence.

[20140114]

Harry, feeling helpless, simply bursts out crying.

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Instant Comments:
That's an intense beginning.
Shit, if she just buys her own television, she might as well give her son the money.
Oh man. If you're more interested in mirrors than sex, you've gone done the wrong path.
It's amphetamines.
Why didn't he do anything to help his mom?

Marion Silver (Jennifer Connelly)

Whoa. "Oh shit, you got a white driver."
"Can you turn the light off?" "What do you want the light off for?" "I just do." "You never did before." "Please, Arnold."
"That shit don't look too good." Actually, it looks disgusting.
"That's the ugliest muthafucka I've ever seen."

Credits:
The credits play without music.

Harry's mother Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn).

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Watched 20131230 (Netflix, Instant) (Streaming Until 20140101)
Requiem for a Dream (2000) Darren Aronofsky. 102 min [botnotsn (1978) by Hubert Selby, Jr.]

Relevant Links:
Requiem for a Dream (IMDb.com)
Requiem for a Dream (RottenTomatoes.com)
Requiem for a Dream (Wikipedia.org)
Requiem for a Dream (Metacritic.com)

The Black Stallion Returns (1983)

20131230:
Having read the book when I was younger, I was hoping the film would bring back some fond memories. Unfortunately, actor Kelly Reno starring as the protagonist Alec Ramsey in this film is strange and his lines make the protagonist seem stupid.

Alec Ramsay (Kelly Reno)

Compared to most films I've seen, I'd say this film has some terrible acting, sometimes unbearable.

In the end, the only recommendation I would make regarding this movie is to stay away from it.

Tabari (Jodi Thelen)

[20140114]

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Watched 20131230 (Netflix, Instant, HD) (Streaming until 20140101)
The Black Stallion Returns (1983) Robert Dalva. 103 min [botnotsn (1945) by Walter Farley]

Alec and Raj (Vincent Spano)

Relevant Links:
The Black Stallion Returns (IMDb.com)
The Black Stallion Returns (Wikipedia.org)
The Black Stallion Returns (RottenTomatoes.com)

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

Watched 20131229 (Netflix, Instant) (Streaming until 20140101)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) Norman Jewison. 108 min [bot play otsn by Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics)]

Everybody wants to hear from Jesus (Ted Neeley).

Relevant Links:
Jesus Christ Superstar (IMDb.com)
Jesus Christ Superstar (film) (Wikipedia.org)
Jesus Christ Superstar (Wikipedia.org)
Jesus Christ Superstar (RottenTomatoes.com)

Judas (Carl Anderson) tells us his worries in
the opening number "Heaven on Their Minds."

20131228,9:
For the most part, this was an interesting retelling of the story of Jesus Christ. I particularly liked the bit with all the dancing. I also liked the music.

However, my one minor complaint is that some of the body language and facial expressions look strange. Then again, I can be quite particular when it comes to faces.

Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene (Yvonne Elliman).

Ultimately, I don't know what sort of person would enjoy this movie. Based on a single case study, its insufficient to simply enjoy musicals. Perhaps some familiarity with the Passion of Christ is useful as this allows the viewer to compare/contrast the story presented with the story as its traditionally presented.

Caiaphas (Bob Bingham) and the priests.

Instant Comments:
1a: Oh wow. The music at the start of the movie quickly suggests the movie's will be absolutely crazy. This is reaffirmed within the next several minutes.
1a: Oh I thought my sister didn't want to see it, but it turns out she might be interested, so I stopped watching at the eight minute mark.

The end of "Simon Zealotes."

1b: I started the film back at the beginning.
1b: My sister was too tired and/or uninterested to finish the entire film.
1b: I didn't understand the start and end of the film. Apparently a group of people have come to retell the Passion of Christ and after they're done they pack up and leave.
1a=20131228, 1b=20131229

"Mary" and "Judas" board the bus.

Intolerable Cruelty (2003)

20131229:
I started this movie, but I stopped and switched to Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) instead.

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Instant Comments:
Haha. Her messed up hair.
Haha. The gun.
Haha. What a crazy laugh.
[I paused to watch Jesus Christ Superstar]

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Watched a little bit on 20131229 (Netflix, Instant, HD)* (Streaming until 20140101)
Intolerable Cruelty (2003) Joel Coen, Ethan Coen. 100 min

Relevant Links:
Intolerable Cruelty (IMDb.com)
Intolerable Cruelty (RottenTomatoes.com)
Intolerable Cruelty (Wikipedia.org)

*HD didn't buffer

October Sky (1999)

Inspired by the satellite Sputnik 1, Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal) sets out to build a rocket. With his two friends Sherman and Roy, Homer builds a rocket which simply explodes and destroys a small segment of his family's new fence.

Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal)

Determined to succeed, Homer enlists the help of Quentin, the school nerd. Together, the four boys manage to get a rocket into the air, but it flies haphazardly in the direction of the coal miners. Luckily, no one was hurt, but Homer's father John forbids him from firing anymore rockets on company grounds.

While slightly discouraged, the boys set their sights on making it to the national science fair where they can earn college scholarships. In particular, they make the effort to walk eight miles to a spot out of town and perfect for launching rockets.

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20131229:
First, I enjoyed watching this film. Second, I find the story has a good balance to it. As a whole, it is heartfelt and inspiring. Third, the entire cast seemed to work well together.

Roy Lee, Sherman, Homer, and Quentin watch one of their rockets.

I would recommend this film to anybody wishing to be inspired or in the mood to watch a feel-good movie.

[20140112]

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Instant Comments:
Title mentioned at the two minute mark.
"Based on a true story"
Ha. "Let 'em have outer space. We got rock'n'roll."
Sputnik. October 4, 1957.
They watch Sputnik fly over the sky at about eight minutes and thirty seconds into the movie.
"I'm gonna build a rocket." [...] "Well, just don't blow yourself up."

Homer asks Quentin for help.

Ha. "Should we get behind something?" The fence.
Haha. He surprises them with his knowledge about internal combustion engines.
"'Cause it was beautiful. I stood there and watched it streak across the sky. And anywhere in the world, someone could look up and see exactly what I saw. For once, it felt like Coalwood was part of the outside world." It's interesting to see a person so inspired by, for all he could see, a bright dot in the sky.
Holy shit. That rocket really flew.
::gasp:: He threw it in the trashcan!
"What are the chances a couple of kids from Coalwood are going to win the National Science Fair?" Homer jokingly replies, "A million to one O'Dell."
O'Dell sincerely answers, "That good? Well, why didn't you say so?"
Hahaha. "Thanks to the generosity of local businesses..." = stealing

Homer's father, John Hickam (Chris Cooper), is a good man.

That's a small, touching moment... (his dad shows a small amount of support)
Hahahaha. They dispose of chemicals down the drain and someone happens to also throw a match down their station...
Lol, I doubt its an abandoned railroad.
Yep. Haha. Now they have to scurry and put it back.
Oh snaps! Haha. That sure showed me.
Man, they're experiment is so dangerous.
Oh man, I was so afraid someone was gonna get hurt.
Haha. It's such a grave situation, yet her accent, possibly mixed with sarcasm, caused me to chuckle: "Your father always has to be the big hero. I swear to God, if he gets killed, I won't shed a tear."

A bit of physics saves the day.

126. That's 6300 feet. That means they were marking by 50 feet at a time.
Hehe. The second time he said "prodigiuos."
Haha. "Prodigenous [sic]."
His dad's an interesting person. He's a man with character.
That's messed up. (sabotaging someone else's science project)
"Myrtle Beach"
"Dad, I may not be the best, but I come to believe that I got it in me to be somebody in this world. And it's not because I'm so different from you either, it's because I'm the same. I mean, I can be just as hard-headed, and just as tough. I only hope I can be as good a man as you. Sure, Wernher von Braun is a great scientist, but he isn't my hero."
Rocket launch dedication.

Homer anxiously waits.

---

Watched 20131229 (Netflix, Instant, HD)* (Streaming until 20140101)
*HD didn't buffer
October Sky (1999) Joe Johnston. 108 min [bot book Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam, Jr.]

Relevant Links:
October Sky (IMDb.com)
October Sky (Wikipedia.org)
Rocket Boys (Wikipedia.org)
October Sky (RottenTomatoes.com)

Top Gun (1986)

Watched 20131229 (Netflix, Instant) (Streaming until 20140101)
Top Gun (1986) Tony Scott. 110 min

Maverick (Tom Cruise)

Relevant Links:
Top Gun (IMDb.com)
Top Gun (Wikipedia.org)
Top Gun (RottenTomatoes.com)

Charlie (Kelly McGillis)

20131229:
This movie was a joy to watch. Similar to most other movies starring Tom Cruise, Top Gun has Cruise as a protagonist who has a fun personality, lives life dangerously, and knows how to take care of business when things get down and dirty.

Iceman (Val Kilmer)

Overall, the dogfights were fun to watch and I would recommend readers see this film at least once, especially if they're a fan of Tom Cruise.

On a different note, I didn't realize that the actress playing Charlie, Kelly McGillis, was also the leading actress in Witness (1985).

Instant Comments:
"Highway to the danger zone."
"You two are going to Top Gun."
"Keeping up foreign relations. You know. Giving him the bird." HAHA!
"You know, the finger." Ha!

"Slider." Takes a whiff. "You stink."
Hmm... on the one hand, textbook maneuvers are probably logical, but possibly well-studied and predictable.
"Take My Breath Away"

Maverick (Tom Cruise) and Goose (Anthony Edwards)

Oh wow, I didn't even notice that was Meg Ryan (Goose's wife)
"You. You're still dangerous... You can be my wingman anytime." "Bullshit... you can be mine."