[seenafterscene]

Because I'm perpetually thinking about movies, and bringing up a now dead topic, I just had to mention one film for your consideration, one rare exception in my opinion of book vs. movie.

The English Patient.

One of the best films of the 90s, and having read the book by Michael Ondaatje, and the script itself, I've got to say, for once they actually got it right. I would have thought visuals aside, that it would have been pretty un-adaptable to capture the nuances and textures of the Booker Winning Novel (I think that's what it won), but I was rewarded in spades.

I really hope Miramax gets their act together and starts releasing their awesome 90s catalogue on Blu-Ray, and The English Patient is just begging to be HD.

They keep releasing random, generic films on BLU. Kinda sad, considering they are owned by Disney, and that Steve Jobs is one of the largest shareholder of Disney, yet iTunes has offers some movies in HD, most aren't–and Disney has really been pushing Blu-Ray with their DVD/Blu-Ray combo sets. You'd think it be a no brainer to release The English Patient HD.

[Martin Reed]

I still want to see that movie – I don't believe I've had the pleasure just yet.

PS – We're only a small community; there are no dead topics; no matter how old they are, they should all be considered 'alive' 😉

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If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.

The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

[seenafterscene]

It's worth watching. Interestingly enough, I have 2 fun new facts to share about “The English Patient” that I learned today.

1. Apparently, it has been released on Blu-Ray, but whoever has the rights is a company I have not heard of, and there were no details of any special features, restoration, remaster, etc. so I am a bit dubious and am probably going to stick to the wonderfully overflowing 2-Disc Miramax DVD.

2. I had the wonderful pleasure of finding it in, oh I should have taken a photo, but basically it was a “Chick Flicks” section of the store, not award section, not book-to-movie section. I think they called it something classier though like “Girls' Night Out” or something, gotta love those creative categories, at Barnes & Noble, no less. LOL.

All kidding aside, it is a tear jerker, and actually it's usually what I tell my female friends to watch instead of “The Notebook.” I only pick on “The Notebook,” because it's what most females (friends, celbs, etc.) mention as their (one of their) favorite / most romantic movie(s.) To be fair, Nicholas Sparks, who wrote the novel, is insanely good at making mass appeal books, so it makes sense that the movie would be as broadly appealing. And also to be fair, this was pre-Twilight.

[Kik]

'seenafterscene' wrote on '31:

I only pick on “The Notebook,” because it's what most females (friends, celbs, etc.) mention as their (one of their) favorite / most romantic movie(s.)

I still haven't seen The Notebook, mostly because my girlfriends have gone on about it so much 😮 . Loved Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson and thought he was okay in Lars and the Real Girl though.

Definitely wouldn't call English Patient a chick flick. Then again, a 'Girl's Night In' film for me would be anything with Christian Bale in it (preferably roided up and topless, but it's not a dealbreaker :D). Have you seen Rescue Dawn? I love that movie!

[seenafterscene]

Just to be fair, Edward sparkled in first “Twilight” movie like a dull cubic zirconia. And if there's one thing worse than a cubic zirconia, it's a dull cubic zirconia. Also, he's kind of dull and creepy. I prefer my vampires Bill Compton style, thank you. 😛

[Kik]

'seenafterscene' wrote on '14:

Just to be fair, Edward sparkled in first “Twilight” movie like a dull cubic zirconia. And if there's one thing worse than a cubic zirconia, it's a dull cubic zirconia. Also, he's kind of dull and creepy. I prefer my vampires Bill Compton style, thank you. 😛

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[LindsayK]

'Kik' wrote on '14:

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I totally jacked that image, Kik. LOL! Twilight is the bane of my mortal existence.

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'Kik' wrote on '13:

I still haven't seen The Notebook, mostly because my girlfriends have gone on about it so much 😮 . Loved Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson and thought he was okay in Lars and the Real Girl though.

Definitely wouldn't call English Patient a chick flick. Then again, a 'Girl's Night In' film for me would be anything with Christian Bale in it (preferably roided up and topless, but it's not a dealbreaker :D). Have you seen Rescue Dawn? I love that movie!

Yeah, it's romance and drama, but I wouldn't have put it in that category. It's a “prestige” picture, with 9 Oscars to go with it. I'm impressed you've seen Lars and the Real Girl & Half-Nelson, those are some pretty artsy movies…and I am ashamed to admit they've been perpetually in my Netflix queue. Again, “The Notebook,” wasn't really bad, I just found it utterly mediocre, not bad, just the most generic story ever.

Christian Bale is always good, I don't suggest you see him shirtless in “The Machinist” though. Lol.

Yes, “Rescue Dawn” was interesting, I didn't like it as much as I thought I would, but quite a well-done film. Bale seems to be the rare actor that can do artsy roles (“The Machinist,” “Rescue Dawn”) and make substance out of mainsteam ones (I thought he was good in even “Terminator: Salvation” and of course “The Dark Knght.”) I admire him for that. He's crazy talented.

[seenafterscene]

OMG. Someone needs to make that Edward Cullen image a full sized poster. I will hang it outside my window which faces the rapid transit train so TONS of people will see it as they go to work, etc. I guess that means I have to take down my naked anime girls. KIDDING. No, my window is boring. It's also dirty. Like, actually dirty, not like…nevermind. Lol.

[Kik]

'seenafterscene' wrote on '15:

Christian Bale is always good, I don't suggest you see him shirtless in “The Machinist” though. Lol.

Yes, “Rescue Dawn” was interesting, I didn't like it as much as I thought I would, but quite a well-done film. Bale seems to be the rare actor that can do artsy roles (“The Machinist,” “Rescue Dawn”) and make substance out of mainsteam ones (I thought he was good in even “Terminator: Salvation” and of course “The Dark Knght.”) I admire him for that. He's crazy talented.

I did see the Machinist – on the silver screen nonetheless. I went into the cinema thinking what an arrogant idiot Bale was after reading he was never asked to lose all the weight and had gone over Brad Anderson's head. But skeletor or not, I was impressed with his performance. I liked him in Harsh Times too; it's easy to forget he's actually a middle class welshman.

[Martin Reed]

Any Bond fans here? I just read they've suspended production of the next Bond film until MGM sort out their financial affairs.

—

If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.

The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

[seenafterscene]

'Kik' wrote on '20:

I did see the Machinist – on the silver screen nonetheless. I went into the cinema thinking what an arrogant idiot Bale was after reading he was never asked to lose all the weight and had gone over Brad Anderson's head. But skeletor or not, I was impressed with his performance. I liked him in Harsh Times too; it's easy to forget he's actually a middle class welshman.

I agree…my opinion of Bale has morphed over the years. I too thought he was overrated and overly arrogant in doing various things for his role, and based on interviews. But he's the kind of method actor that takes acting seriously, even if it's a Batman movie (which IMO The Dark Knight was brilliant, also related to Christopher Nolan's involvement).

As I see more and more of his movies, I really appreciate and respect that he is the rare actor that can straddle commercial & artsy roles, and goes all the way either. He was dead serious in Termintor: Salvation (which I really liked, but let's be real, a little bit ridiuclous)…and also his less-seen roles. I don't know, as a film lover and former film critic, and an aspiring wannabe, I admire actors/actresses and filmmmakers and writers that can straddle both art and mass-appeal. Like, I look at Angelina Jolie's career and get depressed. She was crazy insanely good in her early films like “Gia” and “Playing by Heart,” then she went did a bunch of junk like “Gone in 60 Seconds” and “Tomb Raider,” which weren't necessarily inherently bad, I just feel like it's a waste of amazing talent.

That's why I respect someone like Scorsese or Spike Lee or even Speilberg, though I may not love all their films, they have managed to be make both competently commercial & ridiculously brillant, and largely unpopular, films.

[seenafterscene]

'Martin' wrote on '20:

Any Bond fans here? I just read they've suspended production of the next Bond film until MGM sort out their financial affairs.

I am a huge Bond fan. I even like Timothy Dalton “Bond” which most people didn't care for. (George Lazenby, I'm neutral on.) I thought “Casino Royale” was utterly brilliant, not just for a Bond film, but precisely because it injected such depth into a Bond film. Then “Quantum of Solace” came out, and I was like, “Decent action movie, what happened to all the substance???”

It's exciting to me that Sam Mendes (of “American Beauty” fame) was slated to direct next Bond film. People like Scorsese & Tarantino have expressed interest in Bond, but Mendes, despite his flops, is a REAL filmmmaker. But everything is chaotic now, and 2011 for new Bond film has been indefinitely postponed, which is a shame considering the potential of Daniel Craig as Bond, and the potential plots available.

[Kik]

'seenafterscene' wrote on '20:

I agree…my opinion of Bale has morphed over the years. I too thought he was overrated and overly arrogant in doing various things for his role, and based on interviews. But he's the kind of method actor that takes acting seriously, even if it's a Batman movie (which IMO The Dark Knight was brilliant, also related to Christopher Nolan's involvement).

For me, the jury is still out on Christopher Nolan. I don't think he's a great talent, he's wise enough to surround himself with exceptionally good people and has had Lady Luck smile on him. (Unlike McG who tried the same tactic and got burned) That's the impression I got after watching The Prestige, although I'm going to try and keep an open mind when I see Inception in the summer.

As for Bond, the only time I get excited about the Bond films is when there's a new lead actor – it's the only time you see anything new. Even then, despite being sold as closer to Ian Fleming's original character, this Bond really only exists because of the success of the Bourne franchise (including the casting of a blond actor). No original thought needed after all.

I've lost faith for the rest of Daniel Craig's series. Before the announcement about Bond 23 being put on hold, the big Bond discussion over here was whether Lady Gaga or Michael Buble were going to sing the theme tune 😮

[seenafterscene]

Okay, I've officially lost faith in Bond too, esp. if Lady Gaga has anything to do with a theme song. Hey, I hear Justin Bieber might be available, maybe we can get those young audience viewers to discover the franchise, that'd be like, omg, so totally cool.

***

Christopher Nolan is not IMO necessarily among the best contemporary American filmmakers, but even if he had made “Memento” and no other film, I would still consider him worthwhile. I've seen “Memento” repeatedly, and every time I watch it, I discover some new nuance or detail that I didn't notice before. “The Prestige,” I enjoyed, but it felt like a bit of a cheap parlour trick despite the careful build-up, esp. in comparison to “Memento.”

Its reverse chronological order and careful puzzle-box approach was nothing new to writing, but it was a fairly novel to film, a take on non-chronological films done that way with purpose (much like say, Atom Egoyan–instead of today's trend of “hey, I got this cool idea, let's mix up the timeline.”) The only other film it may or may not have inspired that has come close to its cinematic mastery of reverse chronological order, is the brutal, highly controversial French film “Irreversible.”

What really cemented him as an important filmmaker in my mind (“Memento” aside) is that he was able to as, I believe it was Owen Gleiberman of EW who was the first to comment on this, make “The Dark Knight” (paraphrasing) “truly transcend the 'comic-book' movie genre.”

It really went beyond “Iron Man,” Tim Burton's classicish take, even the highly competent “Spider-Man” movies. He turned a comic book character plot and movie into a marginal message film about anarchy; about a sociopath that was psychotic and destructive and violent out of sheer giddy desire and “madness.”

The way I usually explain it is that, you could have taken the same cast & crew, taken away the costumes, and this very well could have been a competent cop/criminal crime drama. The Batman elements heightened the experience, but I felt they didn't take away from the fact, that it was very grounded and its core it was more about crime and characters, than costumes and gadgets. (And don't get me wrong, I watch tons of comic book movies and enjoy them.)

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