I love Tarantino films. They serve one purpose: to make you excited to go to the cinema. The man knows wayyy more about cinema than any of us do, I think you must admit this. So his films are what they are. And I like that. I mean, what exactly are “flaws” in Kill Bill? It’s all so tongue in cheek that I dont know how you can’t enjoy every moment of it. Because I know I do.
My thoughts on the overall meaning and message of this film are this: This may contain Spoilers
I think that over the years, Charlie Kaufman has compiled loads and loads of complicated motifs and imagery to describe the people around him. Things like the enigmatic burning house, the tattoos, etc. etc.
This entire film is about Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s character, Caden. It has nothing to do with the people around him. Only how those people effect him. He is in a constant state of worry over his health and love life, and all he wants is to create art, art that is true to life.
A while back, I read in an article with Kaufman in Vice Magazine that this film came out of the idea of him and Spike Jonze doing a horror movie together. But instead of doing a slasher film or some crap like that, he decided to write a story about things in real life that truly are scary. And going into the film with that knowledge might help inform your expectations a little bit.
But yeah. Basically, this character, Caden, goes through life thinking only about the way other people effect him and how that makes him feel, and he thinks of people in terms of these complex concepts. And the more he tries to understand, the more complicated it gets, and what he fails to realize is that people are not concepts. And that another person isn’t defined by your interactions with them. That’s only a small part of who someone is. And I think that’s where the title of the film comes in, Synecdoche. Which is a figure of speech that means putting a part of something for the whole.
He wants to understand all the world around him, but he can’t look outside of himself. And he grows old, and sick, and dies. And that is a true horror story. When the credits rolled, I was crushed. It was a terribly moving experience that I will never forget. I don’t think I’ve ever sat in a theater where when the lights came on and the credits began, not a single person moved.Not until Jon Brion’s “Little Person” stopped playing did I even move an inch.
Go see this movie. You may not love it. Or even enjoy it. But it will most definitely effect you.
Now, I know. There are so many obvious answers to this question. But I don’t want those.
I’ve recently completed The Wire and it has put a fire in me to find T.V. series, and not just shit like the typical HBO fodder like The Sopranos. Nor do I have interest in Mad Men or glorified soap operas like Breaking Bad. I want fantastic mini-series. British serials I might never have heard of. Older shows, from as far back as like the ‘60s. Hell, if they have great stuff anywhere, in serial form, let’s hear about it. What intrigued me about The Wire was its ability to give me something I couldn’t get from film. It was truly a visual novel. But not only that, it had higher purpose with its cultural commentary. And I think that was key.
So yeah. Not just rarities necessarily, but none of these recent Emmy darlings.
Yeah, Twin Peaks is a good answer, I think. It’s on my list, for sure.
I know that TV is generally awful, but we want the exceptions to the rule, right? That’s why I’ve come here! Because you guys have overwhelmingly good taste!
I believe that this adaptation is able hands. If I’m not mistaken it’s being directed by the guy who did One Hour Photo. It certainly will take a fine touch to do the nuances of the book (which is utterly beautiful) right., though.
Noby Noby Boy on PS3 is art. Even if it is stupid.
I think video games are cool. But they’re really mostly a waste of time. They never try to be enlightening or even attempt to make the audience think for the most part. I think that has nothing to do with the life cycle of art mediums or whatever. I think it’s just because that industry doesn’t have the kind of communal intelligence that film and whatever else does. It’s intellectual poverty, not intellectual infancy.
The only times I ever get the feeling that I’m actually experiencing new and exciting in video games is when they up the atmosphere, stop making you suspend your disbelief, and-this one being the most important-take that stupid fucking gun out of your character’s hands. That stupid gun is a crutch, and the people who make the damn games need to stop being so deathly afraid of taking it away. When I don’t have the stupid gun, they actually give you environments that are worth exploring and things that are actually worth interacting with. As opposed to bland environments in which you shoot everything that A) moves or B) flashes bright colors or is shiny. I might as well just play with my thumbs. How incredibly dull is that competitive online thing, too?
Anyway, Noby Noby Boy is art if you want it to be? Or it can just be a stupid thing where you eat and grow bigger, like Katamari Damacy. The difference is that that is the whole point of Katamari, and that’s really the only thing you can do. The key to the whole thing is that you don’t have to play that game. In fact, it doesn’t even tell you that you can. It’s just a weird ass little world you can interact with. There’s no point to it, except what you do. And a very vague objective of “stretching”. I might be the only person in the world with this opinion, but oh well. lol.
In case anyone from the states was discouraged by our exclusion, here’s a heads up. You can actually use it to some extent. All you have to do is make a UK psn account, go to the store, download the Mubi app, and voila. And you can use it on any of your accounts. It will automatically link to your Mubi account if your e-mail is the same. And pretty much the only thing you can’t do is watch films you have to pay for. It’s fun just to look at your film wall and stuff, though. And it even works with playstation move, the thing turns green.
Age / Level of education? (An informal poll) over 3 years ago
17 – Freshman in college. Taken one film class.
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QUENTIN TARANTINO over 3 years ago
I love Tarantino films. They serve one purpose: to make you excited to go to the cinema. The man knows wayyy more about cinema than any of us do, I think you must admit this. So his films are what they are. And I like that. I mean, what exactly are “flaws” in Kill Bill? It’s all so tongue in cheek that I dont know how you can’t enjoy every moment of it. Because I know I do.
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Movie's you just don't like. over 3 years ago
Crash and The Godfather
Don’t get me wrong, I sort of liked The Godfather. But not like other people do. And Crash sucked.
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Worst Criterion DVDs over 3 years ago
Videodrome
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Which film has changed your life forever? over 3 years ago
Adaptation
Chungking Express
Brick
In The Mood For Love
Eternal Sunshine
Magnolia
Synecdoche, New York
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Most Traumatic or Dramatic Film Endings over 3 years ago
The ending of Synecdoche, New York pretty much crushed me.
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Top Albums of the Year (aka What rocks your ipod) 2008 over 3 years ago
Sigur Ros – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Hands down. Best by far.
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Synecdoche, New York, Brecht and Godard over 3 years ago
My thoughts on the overall meaning and message of this film are this:
This may contain Spoilers
I think that over the years, Charlie Kaufman has compiled loads and loads of complicated motifs and imagery to describe the people around him. Things like the enigmatic burning house, the tattoos, etc. etc.
This entire film is about Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s character, Caden. It has nothing to do with the people around him. Only how those people effect him. He is in a constant state of worry over his health and love life, and all he wants is to create art, art that is true to life.
A while back, I read in an article with Kaufman in Vice Magazine that this film came out of the idea of him and Spike Jonze doing a horror movie together. But instead of doing a slasher film or some crap like that, he decided to write a story about things in real life that truly are scary. And going into the film with that knowledge might help inform your expectations a little bit.
But yeah. Basically, this character, Caden, goes through life thinking only about the way other people effect him and how that makes him feel, and he thinks of people in terms of these complex concepts. And the more he tries to understand, the more complicated it gets, and what he fails to realize is that people are not concepts. And that another person isn’t defined by your interactions with them. That’s only a small part of who someone is. And I think that’s where the title of the film comes in, Synecdoche. Which is a figure of speech that means putting a part of something for the whole.
He wants to understand all the world around him, but he can’t look outside of himself. And he grows old, and sick, and dies. And that is a true horror story. When the credits rolled, I was crushed. It was a terribly moving experience that I will never forget. I don’t think I’ve ever sat in a theater where when the lights came on and the credits began, not a single person moved.Not until Jon Brion’s “Little Person” stopped playing did I even move an inch.
Go see this movie. You may not love it. Or even enjoy it. But it will most definitely effect you.
Go to Comment
Who do you think the most overrated director is? over 2 years ago
Lynch. Definitely Lynch.
Go to Comment
Great TV Series Recommendations over 2 years ago
Now, I know. There are so many obvious answers to this question. But I don’t want those.
I’ve recently completed The Wire and it has put a fire in me to find T.V. series, and not just shit like the typical HBO fodder like The Sopranos. Nor do I have interest in Mad Men or glorified soap operas like Breaking Bad. I want fantastic mini-series. British serials I might never have heard of. Older shows, from as far back as like the ‘60s. Hell, if they have great stuff anywhere, in serial form, let’s hear about it. What intrigued me about The Wire was its ability to give me something I couldn’t get from film. It was truly a visual novel. But not only that, it had higher purpose with its cultural commentary. And I think that was key.
So yeah. Not just rarities necessarily, but none of these recent Emmy darlings.
Go to Comment
Great TV Series Recommendations over 2 years ago
Yeah, Twin Peaks is a good answer, I think. It’s on my list, for sure.
I know that TV is generally awful, but we want the exceptions to the rule, right? That’s why I’ve come here! Because you guys have overwhelmingly good taste!
Go to Comment
Great TV Series Recommendations over 2 years ago
Thank you guys so much for the British recommendations! I think this is what I’ve been looking for. = D
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Poll – Appearance of Favorite Films on Profile over 2 years ago
Definitely B.
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Post a song you are currently listening to over 2 years ago
Why? – Yo Yo Bye Bye
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What is the worst movie ever (2000-2009) over 2 years ago
I’ll see your Crash and raise you one American Gun.
Oh, Chicago was atrocious as well.
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Kazuo Ishiguro's "Never Let me Go" over 2 years ago
I believe that this adaptation is able hands. If I’m not mistaken it’s being directed by the guy who did One Hour Photo. It certainly will take a fine touch to do the nuances of the book (which is utterly beautiful) right., though.
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GO TO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY over 2 years ago
This doesn’t work for people who live in small towns. = /
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the prison film over 2 years ago
Papillon is a pretty good one.
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Post a song you are currently listening to about 2 years ago
Best album I’ve bought in quite a while.
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Post a song you are currently listening to about 2 years ago
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Post a song you are currently listening to about 2 years ago
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Coolest versions of a Cinema you have seen? about 2 years ago
Alamo Drafthouse!
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Post a song you are currently listening to about 2 years ago
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Are videogmes becomin as, if not more, important than film? over 1 year ago
Noby Noby Boy on PS3 is art. Even if it is stupid.
I think video games are cool. But they’re really mostly a waste of time. They never try to be enlightening or even attempt to make the audience think for the most part. I think that has nothing to do with the life cycle of art mediums or whatever. I think it’s just because that industry doesn’t have the kind of communal intelligence that film and whatever else does. It’s intellectual poverty, not intellectual infancy.
The only times I ever get the feeling that I’m actually experiencing new and exciting in video games is when they up the atmosphere, stop making you suspend your disbelief, and-this one being the most important-take that stupid fucking gun out of your character’s hands. That stupid gun is a crutch, and the people who make the damn games need to stop being so deathly afraid of taking it away. When I don’t have the stupid gun, they actually give you environments that are worth exploring and things that are actually worth interacting with. As opposed to bland environments in which you shoot everything that A) moves or B) flashes bright colors or is shiny. I might as well just play with my thumbs. How incredibly dull is that competitive online thing, too?
Anyway, Noby Noby Boy is art if you want it to be? Or it can just be a stupid thing where you eat and grow bigger, like Katamari Damacy. The difference is that that is the whole point of Katamari, and that’s really the only thing you can do. The key to the whole thing is that you don’t have to play that game. In fact, it doesn’t even tell you that you can. It’s just a weird ass little world you can interact with. There’s no point to it, except what you do. And a very vague objective of “stretching”. I might be the only person in the world with this opinion, but oh well. lol.
Go to Comment
Criterion's Announcement: Films Released in January over 1 year ago
Army of Shadows on Blu-Ray is excellent news!
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Are videogmes becomin as, if not more, important than film? over 1 year ago
^
=‘(
Yeah. That’s probably true.
Fuck defending video games. They’re stupid.
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Post a song you are currently listening to over 1 year ago
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mubi on ps3 over 1 year ago
Hopefully this doesn’t damage the base of this site. I’m all for getting more out of my playstation, though…
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mubi on ps3 over 1 year ago
In case anyone from the states was discouraged by our exclusion, here’s a heads up. You can actually use it to some extent. All you have to do is make a UK psn account, go to the store, download the Mubi app, and voila. And you can use it on any of your accounts. It will automatically link to your Mubi account if your e-mail is the same. And pretty much the only thing you can’t do is watch films you have to pay for. It’s fun just to look at your film wall and stuff, though. And it even works with playstation move, the thing turns green.
Go to Comment
What film scenes really make you cry? over 1 year ago
The ending of Bicycle Thieves is so profoundly sad, it’s really heartbreaking.
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