Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Wellington, you win

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  • Richard Llewellyn,

    And also, yay for the Auckland zoo, kazoo solos, bopping around to 'Bright Grey', and note-perfectly badass covers of 'Love is the Drug'. Lumber up, limbo down.

    Ditto. A perfect end to a great weekend, starting with an early viewing of There Will Be Blood (and there was, and DDL was positively barking - well masticated scenery dripping from his mouth) and finishing with The PF at the Zoo ..... as Mark says, dancing like a loon with the kids. Hope Finn returns.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Easterbrook,

    ..... as Mark says, dancing like a loon with the kids

    Actually that should be "dancing like a loon with kid AND giraffe and Lion King soft toys."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    There Will Be Blood

    Man, everyone loves this film. I am so wary, because my hatred for Magnolia knew no bounds. Just the thought of that film makes me viscerally angry. Gack.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Llewellyn,

    I am so wary, because my hatred for Magnolia knew no bounds

    Well ...... while its fair to say There Will Be Blood is very different to Magnolia, there are a few similar themes.

    Myself, I think TWBB is a landmark film that will still be causing arguments in 50 years time, whereas Magnolia - for all that I personally enjoyed it - struck me as pre-packaged forgettable Robert Altman-lite.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Well ...... while its fair to say There Will Be Blood is very different to Magnolia, there are a few similar themes.

    Are the characters one-dimensional set-pieces who keep repeating, heavy-handedly, what they symbolise in the film? Is the music weirdly portentous when nothing interesting is happening? Does everyone chew the scenery like a maniac? Are the camera zooms distracting and annoying? Are the themes so obvious that you feel like PT Anderson is thumping you over the head with a Big! Wooden! Meaningful! Mallet! of Importance! Is it leaden and humourless? Because... yeah.

    You see, Richard, I'm not sure if you've gathered, but I really, really, really hated Magnolia. :)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Llewellyn,

    Heh - I think I'm with you now Danielle :) - after the Magnolia experience, did you bother subjecting yourself to Punch Drunk Love?

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    You see, Richard, I'm not sure if you've gathered, but I really, really, really hated Magnolia. :)

    I always feel affirmed when someone says that. Because so many people rave about how bloody brilliant it is, and I stopped watching it because I couldn't be arsed carrying on.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Me three. I always get a wee bit suspicious when the critics rave, and then several of my more faddy friends rave, about a film. Plus which any film that Tom Cruise is in, no matter how good the rest of the cast is, is not one that I want to see.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Julie Fairey,

    I really enjoyed up to a point. That would be the point at which it got incredibly silly and just made me feel stupid for not getting it. Not a big fan of filums that make me feel dumb. *grump*

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • Julie Fairey,

    Eeek, that should say:

    I really enjoyed Magnolia up to a point.

    And to further underline my argument - raining frogs? puhlease.

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Llewellyn,

    I always feel affirmed when someone says that. Because so many people rave about how bloody brilliant it is, and I stopped watching it because I couldn't be arsed carrying on

    Heh - well, on the Magnolia front I'm obviously somewhere between the fad-boys and Danielle - I enjoyed it as an entertaining sub-Altman ensemble piece, thought he had done better movies, and promptly forgot all about it. Just couldn't muster enough oomph to get mightily enthused or outraged.

    But I digress, as much as TWBB is more deserving of a violent reaction, the real highlight of the weekend was the Phoenix Foundation and friends at the zoo. Love those zoo concerts.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    on my first trip here the airport terminal was in fact, and indisputably, a shed.

    Thankfully that shed is now... umm... pumpkins?
    Which I must admit I like in some ways, seemingly in the minority on that though

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I actually enjoyed Tom Cruise in Magnolia. I'm not entirely sure if he realized he was parodying himself, but no-one else could have done a better job of it. Playing a cheezy cult-leader arsehole... Hollywood does seem to cast method actors a lot.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Heh - I think I'm with you now Danielle :) - after the Magnolia experience, did you bother subjecting yourself to Punch Drunk Love?

    I forgot to say: there are three members of my Very Tiny PT Anderson Hate Club* - my husband, my friend Ben, and me. Ben *did* subject himself to Punch Drunk Love, and reported to me that although it was not as horrifyingly bad as Magnolia, it did also suck, for similarly hateable reasons. I had faith in him and stayed well clear.

    Although there are plenty of perfectly respectable film-loving people who like Magnolia, I am very happy that Russell doesn't like it either! I feel not only affirmed, but validated. Like parking.

    *subtitle: 'With The Exception Of Boogie Nights, Which Is A Pretty Good Scorsese Homage'.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Hey Lmao,

    Manukau is not a city. The centre contains a Westfield, public offices, substantial police and justice facilities (supply and demand), two pubs, two cafes, a Warehouse, a smaller shopping mall and various factories, call centres and lunch bars sprawling into the distance. Plus a theme park.

    That is a suburb which happens to have had local government concentrated there.

    Ditto Takapuna "North Shore City", Henderson "Waitakere City", etc.

    Actually Manukau is a city. Covers over 55,000 hectares and with a population of 335,000 is the 3rd largest city in NZ. This "suburb" as you refer to it, is the Manukau CBD.

    Ditto North Shore, and Waitakere etc

    Since Mar 2009 • 1 posts Report Reply

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