wednes: (Default)
wednes ([personal profile] wednes) wrote2005-10-11 08:47 pm
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Tom Cruise, I can't resist him.

H and I decided to see War of the Worlds instead of going to the expensive theatre. Tuesday is 50 cent day at the dollar show. Fortunely, "fitty cent" wasn't there.

In case any of you still don't know this, War of the Worlds was fucking terrifying. I had no idea it was so good and scary. I have grown to love Tom Cruise's movies over the years. I resisted it, really I did. I just can't help myself...

I saw Risky Business as a young kid, whatever freakin' year that was. Too young for an R rated movie, we snuck in, thinking we were the most treacherous people in the history of our times. Sadly, the person I saw it with turned out to be a total bitch. I didn't think Cruise was so much to look at. I wasn't very impressed, even as a kid. It was a funny movie though, and I left it feeling more enamoured of Curtis Armstrong than anyone else involved.

I think later, I was very impressed with Rainman, then Interview with the Vampire, then something else, I forget what. But in Mission Impossible 2, I couldn't help but notice that Cruise was, as Rosie O'Donnell had been telling me all along, hot. I credit John Woo and his mastery of slow motion for this. He chose different speeds of slow motion for each actor in each scene so Tom curise would look hotter than Dougray Scott. And what do you know? It worked. As if I needed any more convincing, Collateral. Oh yes...Collateral blew my tiny little mind.

War of the Worlds was awesome. Strong relationships between the characters really added to the suspense. Scary monsters kept on doing terrifying things, and making Dakota Fanning scream and scream. Like the zombie movies I love so well, the scariest thing was the horrible shit people would do to eachother just to survive. Ah apocalpyse, how fascinating you are!

[identity profile] uterdic.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
Except I told you it was great and terrifying. Except that one part at the end. That was dumb, but otherwise, awesome.

[identity profile] madush69.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
How was the service? Did everything seem okay? How was everything?

Accounting for my lack of interest in seeing WAR OF THE WORLDS.

[identity profile] eroslane.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
151 points: I am the worlds biggest H.G. Wells fan.
-20 points: Dakota Fanning. She gets up my nose big time.
-50 points: Spielberg. Biggest. Hack. Ever. Truly.
- 0 points: Tom Cruise. Love his Mission:Impossible stuff.
-75 points: Tom Cruise on Oprah, et. al.
- 5 points: Tim Robbins (that "Sarandon" factor)

======================== equals
+1 point: I'll just rent it from Netflix and fast forward through it.


Glad you liked it though! :-)

[identity profile] cmdavi-70.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
Hmm, guess I still haven't hopped aboard the Tom Cruise bandwagon. He's always struck me as an arrogant loudmouth. I did like Magnolia, though I think it had more to do with the filmmaking.

[identity profile] katharinakatt.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 10:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Tuesday is 50 cent day at the dollar show. Fortunely, "fitty cent" wasn't there."

LOL...best quote ever!

[identity profile] sudrin.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 10:46 am (UTC)(link)
oh no! They got to you too! Nooooooo! ;-)

Re: Accounting for my lack of interest in seeing WAR OF THE WORLDS.

[identity profile] uterdic.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, how wrong you are.

-Dakota fanning does nothing for me, one way or the other.
-Speilberg, easily one of the greatest directors to have ever lived. He not only makes things artistic, but lovable by the masses as well. Difficult combination. just saying he's a hack is easy, backing it up is a different story totally.
-Tom Cruise, everyone loves to hate him, but deep down you love him because he's good at what he does. Not the brightest guy in the world, but he's good on the big screen
-Tom Cruise, well... you're right there, but that has nothing to do with War of the Worlds
-Tim Robbins... is the man. With or without Sarandon.
groovesinorbit: ani difranco (baseball cap ani)

[personal profile] groovesinorbit 2005-10-12 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Damn. You stole my line. ; )

[identity profile] wednes.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, but you're a nerd; and not nearly so well versed in scary films as I. ;-} I thought maybe it was just normal scary, not scary scary.

Re: Accounting for my lack of interest in seeing WAR OF THE WORLDS.

[identity profile] wednes.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 04:25 pm (UTC)(link)
I have to say, I am very impressed with Dakota Fanning overall. Her instincts are far better than many adults I could name.

There are plenty of actors I don't care for personally but still love their work: Sean Penn, Jack Nicholson, and Ed Norton for starters. But you know, to each their own and all.

Speilberg is not the biggest hack ever, he's just the most popular. I love Jaws; I will always love Jaws.

[identity profile] wednes.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, yes. In real life he is an arrogant loudmouth. That "no chemical imbalance" thing was a slap in the face to people in my position.

[identity profile] wednes.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you!

[identity profile] wednes.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah...there was this big pod-like plant outside my window last night. And when I woke up, I just loved Tom Cruise; it was the darndest thing.

*points and makes body Snatchers noise at you*

[identity profile] uterdic.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Ha, that's silly because besides War of the worlds, which I did think was terrifying, the only other movie in all the movies I've ever seen that scared me was Poltergeist. I mean, ever even come close. I think lots of movies are disturbing (exorcist, omen, shining, alien), the "boo in the dark" does not a scary movie make, but all in all I've never been scared by a movie.

Basically, what I guess I'm saying is I am totally unaware of what one might consider "scary scary," let alone, just regular scary.

Re: Accounting for my lack of interest in seeing WAR OF THE WORLDS.

[identity profile] eroslane.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)

I love JAWS too! I love his DUEL even more. His brillance with Duel made Jaws all the better.) I love CE3K --- the original, not the stoopid special edition. And RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK --- what fun!

And then, for over twenty years, nada, nothing from this director except memories.

Science cannot purge the toxins E.T. released into my body.

Do understand that I think it is great that he inspires passion and the love of film in so very many people. That is priceless for reasons to many to name. :-)

[identity profile] eroslane.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
He was great in Magnolia. Anderson really challenged him and brought out an outstanding performance.

Sweet Steinbeck icon. He and Poe are the two best writers America has produced in my humble, yet correct, opinion. :-)

[identity profile] eroslane.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
POLTERGEIST is saaaaaaaaaaaawwwweeeeeeeeettttt!!!!

Re: Accounting for my lack of interest in seeing WAR OF THE WORLDS.

[identity profile] eroslane.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)

I didn't want to duplicate a response on wednes's page. Here's the link:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/wednes/460033.html?thread=3673089#t3673089

Tim Robbins is The Man? All I have to say is, "Enjoy ZATHURA!" ;-)

Re: Accounting for my lack of interest in seeing WAR OF THE WORLDS.

[identity profile] uterdic.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Zathura!?! Yeah, because one movie in which an actor is under contract makes his entire career. Therefore, Nicholson sucks because of Anger Management.

And you mean to tell me that nothing Speilberg has done since 1975 has been worth your interest? That's a bold statement.

[identity profile] cmdavi-70.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 06:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks, it is a cool icon!

I like both of those writers immensely, though if I were to single out other American writers who I regard in particularly high esteem (neglecting many other great ones for the sake of time), I'd include Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, James, Dreiser, Faulkner, O'Connor, Baldwin, Vonnegut, Tom Robbins...oh, blasted, why do I bother making lists when I know it's impossible for me to narrow it down?

Oh, and I do like Rain Man, though it had more to do with Hoffman, and I remember that Vanilla Sky wasn't half bad, though I only saw part of it.

It's always cool to have someone engage my love for literature. I think I'll friend you.

[identity profile] madush69.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I love your icons.

Re: Accounting for my lack of interest in seeing WAR OF THE WORLDS.

[identity profile] eroslane.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)

No, I mentioned RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK & CE3K, both made after 1975.

I like Tim Robbins just fine. Especially in HUDSUCKER PROXY. That truly was a movie " you know, for kids!!". :-)

[identity profile] eroslane.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
That is a list of some incredible American authors. I find it interesting that we have both omitted (the overrated) Mark Twain.

But then, you weren't done making your list, were you? ;-)

I'm reading THE GIRL IN THE GLASS by Jeffrey Ford right now. I really enjoy his works --- especially THE PORTRAIT OF MRS CHARBUQUE. After I finish that, I think I'll dig into LUNAR PARK, Bret Easton Ellis' new one.

What are you reading now? Anything that's lighting your world on fire? Color me curious.

Oh, I've friended you in return. Whoohooo!

[identity profile] cmdavi-70.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I do like Twain, though I actually enjoy his essays more than his novels, by and large. I'll have to look for Jeffrey Ford.

I'm currently reading a novel called China Boy by Gus Lee--I actually think this may become a classic someday, and it's fabulous! I'm also reading a nonfiction work on philosophy called Think by Simon Blackburn, and I'm only finding it moderately compelling. I've often gravitated toward travel narratives, ranging from a book written by a guy who traveled around the world on all kinds of transportation save for airplanes (the title escapes me) to another fellow who traveled around Ireland with a refrigerator, because he lost a bet (Called "Round Ireland with a Fridge"). If I weren't at work and pressed for time, I'd list more.

Anyway, nice to have you on board

Sorry I just had to say it.

[identity profile] uterdic.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 09:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, written and produced by Spielberg. You bet it is.

Re: Accounting for my lack of interest in seeing WAR OF THE WORLDS.

[identity profile] wednes.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Fair enough!

Re: Accounting for my lack of interest in seeing WAR OF THE WORLDS.

[identity profile] wednes.livejournal.com 2005-10-12 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Actually, Nicholson sucked already because of The Terror. he's only just now caught up...

;-}

Which one of these is different? Which one is not like the others?

[identity profile] eroslane.livejournal.com 2005-10-13 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
You may as well add "Directed by...", because there was no well in hell that was a Tobe Hooper film. If it was, Hooper is the greatest mimic of all-time. Speilberg probably beat Hooper with a hose each day on the set for results.



Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus today!

[identity profile] eroslane.livejournal.com 2005-10-13 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
I'll have to investigate "China Boy" next time I'm at the bookstore.

If you have time, check out "Heaven Lake" (fiction) sometime. It's really good ---- I'm trying to convince our bookgroup to read it.

I concur; Twains essays are much better than his fiction. Heck, his non-fiction is better than his fiction --- "Life on the Mississippi" rocks.

If you enjoy non-fiction, check out "Red House". Super, super book. Our bookgroup is reading it next month on my encouragment and I'm already getting feedback from members on how much they love this book.

Ciao!

p.s. One assumes if you are walking across Ireland with an fridge, one would have a leprechaun (sp?) as a sherpa. ;-)

[identity profile] eroslane.livejournal.com 2005-10-13 04:59 am (UTC)(link)

*hehehe* Thanks! First time I've heard that. *nods*

What's not to love about The Duffster?!



Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus today!

[identity profile] cmdavi-70.livejournal.com 2005-10-13 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
"One assumes if you are walking across Ireland with an fridge, one would have a leprechaun (sp?) as a sherpa."

Indeed! Or, if not, at least someone who can point you to the next Guinness.

I'm in a book club myself. That's how I ended up reading China Boy. I like the social aspect of it and that we always have great food to share, but I also appreciate that it opens me up to a lot of contemporary lit. I might otherwise overlook.

[identity profile] eroslane.livejournal.com 2005-10-13 01:37 pm (UTC)(link)
My wife (Undine on LJ) used to own a bookstore, which closed in 2001. We had two bookgroups going: one fiction, the other mystery. Over time, the mystery one just petered out, but the fiction one has had a life far outside of the longevity of the bookstore.

We still meet once a month.

Everyone in the group are card-carrying AARP members (hahaha), so if we leave it up to them, we are always reading something dumb off the bestseller list. That's why I try to find fun & interesting titles for them --- but they are so skeptical because they've never heard of the author!

Still, we generally have a decent conversation. Plus it is nice to have a happy memory from all the years we had the store.