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Cam Bert

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Posts posted by Cam Bert

  1. Posted

    Can somebody help explain the company Michael Douglas works for to me.

    So we know that the company is large enough to have multiple branches. So is the Seattle office the main office or just another branch? Demi Moore, Doanld Sutherland, and Dylan Baker all are said to come up from the South. They are all higher ups, so it makes it seem that they are at the main office which is down south. However, they are picking a VP from the Seattle office and the VP position seems to be based out of the Seattle office. At first I thought Donald Sutherland was up in Seattle because the company they were merging with was based out of Seattle as well. They aren't because they're staying at a hotel and the president of the merging company isn't going to be there until the day of the merger. It just all much no sense and has no flow. I don't work in the corporate world so is it normal to have the VP and President to be based out of separate branches? Also is there not a branch manager? Do presidents have offices in all branches that sit there unused until the president shows up for short periods?

    • Like 6

  6. Posted

    Okay so at the start this movie Michael Douglas's character puts a tie on because he assumes he's getting a promotion. His young son has no idea what a tie is and has to have it explained to him. What? Look I get that Michael Douglas is a hip and cool guy and therefore he doesn't do ties. Nah, we're talking Mikey Dougs. He's business casual to the max. Heck, he probably sits backwards in chairs at meeting to show how cool and with it he is on top of lack of tie. However, how come his child doesn't know what a tie is? He's going to school with his sister so that puts him at at least 5 or 6. So Michael Douglas doesn't wear a tie to work, but has this kid not seen a tie anywhere else? Has he never had a work colleague stop by with one on in years? Has his son never been to a wedding, funeral or other formal event? Has he never seen his parents watching the news or seen a kids show with a character wearing a tie? Is there no wedding photo in the house? I know it's just a stupid line to set up how lax and cool Mikey Dougs is, but realistically how can a child get to the age of 5 or 6 and never seen a tie before? On top of that Michael Douglas wears two more completely different ties later in the movie when he goes to arbitration. He owns at least three ties, so why can't he change into one of those ties instead of wearing the tooth paste covered one? 

    • Like 6

  8. Posted

    On 9/28/2019 at 11:06 AM, GrahamS. said:

    I grew up in Seattle and I will give Disclosure this much credit: it was actually shot here. Many movies SAY they are filmed in Seattle but are actually filmed in Vancouver, because (a) it’s cheaper and (b) Washington does a terrible job providing tax breaks and incentives for movies to be able to afford to shoot here. 

    Basically, that’s a long-winded way to say, when a whole movie is shot here (not just exteriors and shots of the Space Needle) that’s a BIG deal. Especially when that movie stars Michael Douglas, Demi Moore, Donald Sutherland and was directed by Barry Levinson.

    I was in between high school and college when Disclosure came to town. Since I had never seen a film shoot before and loved films, I was very excited. The scene where Dennis Miller embarrasses Michael Douglas at a fancy dinner in front of his wife, that was shot four blocks from the house where I grew up! It was filmed at the Volunteer Park Conservatory at a beautiful old greenhouse made up to look like a fancy restaurant (it was also the greenhouse where Annabella Sciora worked in The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, BTW). My younger brother and I walked up and stared at all the production trucks lining the street, hoping to get a glimpse of somebody, anybody. Time may have distorted this memory, but I still can picture how all the lights made the park seem like it was glowing.

    December rolled around and people packed into the Cinerama (a giant old-school theater that still exists) to see Disclosure on its opening weekend. Me, (now in college), my parents and my brother (now in high school) were among them. The film started, everyone was excited to see our hometown on film. Two hours and ten minutes later, the vibe of the entire theater was “I guess that was ...good...right?”

    Rewatching it 25 years later, I can’t even say that. But it is hilarious!

    If they truly wanted to make this more Seattle they should have done it at a trot or a gallop and done the Puyallup and ran into John Keister at the fundraising event.

    As someone who grew up in Victoria, making local Seattle references gives me great pleasure.

    • Like 4

  9. Posted

    1 hour ago, Cameron H. said:

    I didn’t mind how Duckie died simply because in that moment, the movie was serving its High School Musical influences over its zombie movie influence. For a moment, the characters have forgotten what type of movie they’re in, and by engaging in the Musical tropes they have forgotten about the horror movie tropes, and that’s what kills him. 

    My biggest issue is the movie doesn’t have MORE of those types of moments. Like if you are watching it because you like Musicals, you’re going to be disappointed, and if you’re watching it because you like Horror/Zombie movies, you’ll be likewise unsatisfied. It lacks a good balance of the two. I would have liked to see these things bounce up against each other more often - like in the “I’m turning My Life Around,” “Soldier at War,” and “Give Them a Show.”

    I get what you're saying about it. I can see that. It also makes me wonder why there wasn't a scene of somebody being attacked or killed mid song. Too forth wall breaking perhaps.

    To further your point about not having enough hybrid moments and the songs lacking forward movement in the story, you'd think upon their initial discovery of a zombie would be a great time for a song in which they freak out seeing a real zombie and killing it. It might step on the toes of "Soldier at War" but that should be major scene and a perfect chance to meld the two genres.

    • Like 1

  11. Posted

    4 hours ago, Cameron H. said:

    On the one hand, I appreciated they had the guts to off Duckie, but I agree, if they were going to make Zabka an important character, they really needed to establish that earlier. What the movie really needed was a big opening number that introduces us to everyone. Like, it wouldn’t have hurt to have a song where - even in a single line - we see Zabka and his father together. And also, maybe a small nod to the fact that his feelings are sincere, but he’s got to hide it to be cool. Basically, Zabka needs to Zucko it.

    giphy.gif

    I agree with Duckie dying. I just think Duckie's death was just kinda lazy in terms of execution. Take for example Chris and Lisa's death. They are being safe an cautious then a low battery notification kicks in which allows the zombies to notice them. On one hand yes the timing is a bit convenient but that's what horror movies do. They were following the rules, playing it safe and it went wrong. They fought it went south, and it is tragic. I think from a horror stand point it is satisfying. Duckie however seemingly forgets that he's in a horror movie. They enter a new room and he just has to stop to tell Anna about the reindeer and ends it with a pointless gesture that leaves his hand sticking out in the open for a zombie to get. To me that's just pushing it. There was no guarantee they were safe but he's acting like they were, the odd gesturing to create an opening, it just all reads forced to me. So it seems like it was clear they were going to kill him and it just doesn't feel satisfying. Whether it be one coming from a corner they didn't check to walking past a door and it surprisingly popping out or one hiding under a car, there are ways they could have done it that doesn't telegraph it so hard and feels more earned.

    • Like 2

  12. Posted

    9 hours ago, Cameron H. said:

    The pacing is my biggest issue with the original, as well. I’m not saying I only like frenetically paced movies, but TDC feels glacial.

    Yes. Compare it to other children's fantasy films of the time it is slow compared to them. I wonder if that is just a story thing or because of the puppetry.

    • Like 2

  14. Posted

    1 hour ago, Cameron H. said:

    That’s true and didn’t make much sense, but I did like the thread of “Yes, killing your zombie-parent is the sensible thing to do, it’s still going to leave you emotionally fucked up.” In most zombie shows/movies when these scenes inevitably play out, yes, there’s some guilt, but ultimately they get over pretty quickly. I appreciated this movie actually showed that it really wouldn’t be as easy all that and it’s not something you just move on from.

    I know you said this movie could use a view rewrites and I completely agree and I feel a bulk of that should be put into the first act on this movie. It would further the relationship between Anna and Zabka and actual establish him as a character rather than "hot guy who made lewd gesture." It would also establish more of a relationship between the headmaster and Anna's father. I think the reason that Chris and Lisa works so well is they are the most defined at the start. Duckie also works because he's focused on too.

    • Like 1

  15. Posted

    7 minutes ago, GrahamS. said:

    Hold up—Repo Man was a musical? The Emilio Estevez/Harry Dean Stanton Repo Man? I haven’t watched that in a LONG time. I’ll have to rewatch it—I don’t remember that AT ALL.

    I won’t totally recap my initial reaction (which I added to the other post last week). It boiled down to: I wanted to like it but it simply didn’t gel for me. I’ve only watched the first 45 minutes because I felt like I had seen what it had to offer and it didn’t appear to really be ramping up to be something different.

    i still have Epix  because I think I forgot to cancel my subscription (and at least I can watch that Ben Kingsley/Jackie Weaver crime show now that’s supposed to be good), so I can still finish Anna. My honest question is, Is it worth it? I guess I found a handful of jokes funny—the film itself had the potential to be really funny—but it seemed like the filmmakers felt like it was enough to set up an amusing situation and then not follow through on the jokes. It seemed like the people behind the movie thought it was more outrageous than it actually was. I didn’t hate it, but It felt weirdly inert.

    I hope I don’t sound overly grouchy—I’m just burnt-out on zombies and feel like if they aren’t used for more than window dressing in a movie/show, I wish they’d stay dead (which is somewhat hypocritical of me because one of the stories I’m working on involves zombies, but I try to make them more than bullet-fodder). But having said that, I’ll probably still see the Zombieland sequel. 🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️ 

    1. Repo the Genetic Opera not Repo Man the Emilio Estevez movie and not Repo Man the Jude movie.

    2. As a person who was so-so on the movie personally I would say no. The film doesn't really do anything overly creative, new or interesting with the zombies. They just kill off characters to raise the stakes and that's about it. Much like the Christmas element the zombies are just kinda there. They are used to move some character growth but that's about it. If you are a fan of zombie films I think you'll also find some of the zombie attacks hamfisted (Ducky just randomly sticks his hand up and out into the open for no reason just so he can get bit at the most dramatic time).

    • Like 1
    • Sad 1

  16. Posted

    2 hours ago, Cameron H. said:

    I think the scene that nailed what this movie should have been doing more of was the “Turning My Life Around” scene.

     

    While this is the biggest homage scene to Shaun of the Dead with Shaun going to the shop, I agree. This and Zabka's being good at killing zombies are probably the most on point songs for a "zombie musical"

    • Like 2

  17. Posted

    7 hours ago, Cameron H. said:

    I wanted to bring that up. I feel like the point was to show that in a real apocalypse the Duckie’s are way less likely to survive than the Billy Zabka’s (sorry for mixing my 80’s archetypes). On the one hand, I thought that was pretty likely, but I also felt like they made him TOO much of an asshole ( a Dickie?) to really make his redemption arc work. I mean, I didn’t think she belonged with Duckie, but I didn’t like him getting picked on either.

    I’m also not sure that they end up together at the end as a couple, just that they both survived. I could be wrong though.

    Yes. I was glad she put Duckie in the corner and he was basically accepting on this. However the fact that she is interested in this Zabka that is constantly belittling her so called best friend seems like a guy that read The Secret one too many times. I agree that it isn't 100% they are a couple but the fact that he survives at all feels a bit... disappointing considering on freely the movie was killing off the other characters. Also, how is killing your father who's turned into a zombie doing something selfless? She told him that he only thinks of himself and his counter point was he killed his zombie turning dad because that's what his dad wanted. That just seems like common sense in a zombie apocalypse scenario.

    • Like 2

  18. Posted

    Also her relationship with the non-ducky love interest. He's presented as some sort of jerk, is that way until she confronts him in the school and something we didn't know happened, he makes a heroic self sacrificial move to prove her wrong and some how they end up together at the end. I just found that whole character and story line to be disappointing. Like either he's an asshole until his second to last scene and then we're suppose to be happy they're together at the end? Meh.

    That said I really enjoyed the story of Chris and Lisa and thought that was done well. That's what I mean about this movie, for me for every bad their is a good.

    • Like 2

  20. Posted

    On 9/8/2019 at 7:48 AM, Cameron H. said:

    Finally catching up on some ‘casts and just wanted to congratulate @PollyDarton for her win! 

    Also, I tried watching Netflix’s The Dark Crystal show and I’m really not into it. Artistically, I appreciate it a whole lot, but I really can’t get into it. Anyone else feel that way?

    Yes. Granted I only watched the first episode but I wasn't feeling it. I did love the puppetry and playing guess that voice but the story and pacing off it all were just not compelling me.

    • Like 2

  21. Posted

    I really get where Max is coming from. Like he said he couldn't decide if he liked the movie or hated it and I'm pretty much in the same camp. Like I said in my letterboxd review I think the movie tries to do too many things and instead of being really good at one or two it just kinda middles at them all. 

    The biggest thing I loved were the songs. I did find them catchy and for the most part well done.

    However, the script really needed another pass or I missed some stuff at the start because there were things like why the headmaster hated Anna and her father so much that just seemed arbitrary rather than established. Like he wanted to fire her father when he became the headmaster because... reasons?

    • Like 4

  22. Posted

    On 9/4/2019 at 1:25 AM, gigi-tastic said:

    I do not trust this dinosaur. I fully think it's on drugs.  I suspect he might be a Tricky Person. 

    That said

    tenor.gif?itemid=12097801

    I haven't even started the actual "film " and I am already deeply uncomfortable

    Ok I've watched it and Wow.

    Did that pedophile threaten to murder a child? Also how positive are we that the dinosaur isn't grooming them for something? 

    Speaking of his eyes! His black dead pit of hell eyes. He should never be allowed to take off the sunglasses

    Yello Dyno is definitely taking those kids to a secondary location.

    • Like 4

  23. Posted

    Speaking of The Greg Wilson, let's do another deep dive on the actors in this movies and what they did before this movie.

    So in the late 90s I assume The Greg Wilson was just starting out his career and willing to take any part. That's the only reason I think he starred the Yello Dyno movies. What are the Yello Dyno movies? They were a series of movies designed to teach children about safety and dangers via song and a man in a giant yellow dinosaur costume. Doesn't sound so bad right? Wrong! The story they chose to go with is that of a record producer who takes advantage of little girls by photographing them naked and then blackmailing them with it. Did I mention it is full of slap stick gags so children will watch it and stick through it? So what does this have to do with The Greg Wilson? Well he plays the lackey to the record producer who's job is to scout and acquire the kids for him. He's also chief slap stick character too. Yes it is horrible.

     

    • Like 2

  24. Posted

    So I was confused by the character of the albino stalker. I mean if you're going to have a whole movie set outside at the beach making a character an albino seems like an odd choice. On top of that to play him as if he has some sort of disability is another weird choice. I was curious what else that actor, Scott Prendergast, had done because he looked kinda familiar. So I pulled up his IMDB and guess what? There is a The Hottie and The Nottie extended universe! Turns out years before The Hottie and The Nottie Scott Prendergast made a short filmed call Anna is Being Stalked. That short film is up on YouTube and here it is:

    He's playing the exact same character! Everything is the same. The name on the shirt, the albinism, the weird ticks, everything! This short came out years before The Hottie and The Nottie so more likely The Hottie and The Nottie is part of the Anna is Being Stalked cinematic universe. I still want to know why this guy is playing the same part. Did the director know him and threw him in as joke? Did he audition because of his past experience playing a stalker? Blake Harris get on it! 

    • Like 7

  25. Posted

    1 hour ago, gigi-tastic said:

    I could have sworn he threw him off the stage but I admit I tried to do anything and everything that I could do to avoid looking at my screen. Yes! Mimes are demonic forces brought forth by their equally sinister but far gaudy clown brethren.

    This week on Unspooled: the ultimate Sophie's Choice, mimes or clowns! 

    • Like 4
    • Haha 1
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