All Consuming : ceridwens_descent

A story about "Gypsy"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:19:52 GMT

Good, but I feel like it had wasted potential. A rather anticlimactic ending.

A story about "Faust"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 22:54:19 GMT

by Jan Svankmajer

I enjoyed this more than ‘Alice’ the other film I have seen by this director, which is interesting considering I have read ’Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ (and ‘Through the Looking Glass’) and have NOT read Goethe’s Faust.

This has encouraged me to check out more by this director, very nice.

A story about "Isle of the Dead"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 01:02:05 GMT

Isle of the Dead

by Mark Robson

Boris Karloff makes this movie.

A story about "Dead Of Night (1946)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:59:16 GMT

Dead Of Night (1946)

by Alberto Calvacanti

Excellent, a must for any horror fan. That last 5 min. of the movie, OMFG.

A story about "Trick 'r Treat"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 01:38:18 GMT

Trick 'r Treat

by Michael Dougherty

Awesome, great classic horror concepts made modern and done RIGHT!!! Can’t believe I didn’t watch this on Halloween as intended. Completely agree with Nycolene’s well-written review.

A story about "The Last Emperor (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 02:02:42 GMT

The Last Emperor (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

by Bernardo Bertolucci

Amazing.

A story about "Solaris (The Criterion Collection)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:56:29 GMT

Solaris (The Criterion Collection)

by Andrey Tarkovskiy

Automatically in my short list of best films. Deeply intellectually engaging, written around the inception of cybernetics (now cognitive sciences) and dealing primarily with the philosophical issues surrounding the field. Excellent sci fi, fantastic cinematography, mind blowing sets. Can’t say enough about this movie…stunning.

A story about "Wait Until Dark"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sat, 08 May 2010 03:07:05 GMT

Wait Until Dark

by Terence Young

Really good story. Same ol’ same ol’ from Hepburn. I was glad the story moved quickly so she was able to tone down the cutesy ‘champion blind lady’ thing fairly quickly. Some parts of the story were not completely fleshed out: Why would she never inquire as to the actual importance of the doll? Why didn’t she run upstairs to use Gloria’s phone when she had the chance? This latter point could be due to how the phones worked in that building but it seemed like there was only a problem with her direct line. Still pretty good overall. I did get pretty excited during the climax, effective.

A story about "Manhattan Murder Mystery"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:06:52 GMT

Manhattan Murder Mystery

by Woody Allen

Somehow, even with all the excitement, I became bored with this. Not Woody Allen’s best. Diane Keaton’s wardrobe is hilarious (she’s kind of annoying in this too).

A story about "Tekkon Kinkreet"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:42:00 GMT

Tekkon Kinkreet

by Michael Arias

Cliched plot, hackneyed (and in the case of White, ANNOYING) characters.

The artwork is beautiful though. Truly, the colorfully crowded atmosphere is really visually stimulating and appealing, and the mixture of different art styles is laudable. The action scenes are well done. Has its’ high and low points. Mediocre.

A story about "Carnivale: The Complete First Two Seasons"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:46:53 GMT

Carnivale: The Complete First Two Seasons

by Alan Taylor

It is nearly torture to watch this and know that only two of six seasons were made….it ends without complete resolution. Sooooooo good though.

I love the historical perspectives of the depression and the Dust Bowl (especially since I’m an Okie), also the mysticism. Absolute skillful blending of good and evil, very good characters. Excellent writing. Truly a shame that this show ran too high a budget for HBO to continue. :(

A story about "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:18:59 GMT

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

by Seth Gordon

Wow, that Billy guy was a real douche. I recommend ‘Darkon’ for people who like the nerd documentary genre.

A story about "In Cold Blood"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:35:57 GMT

In Cold Blood

by Truman Capote

Very good read. Capote’s writing style is instantly compelling, he use of imagery is superb and he treats the characters with honesty and respect (the killers, the victims, and all other players). He is successful in never letting you forget that this was an actual occurrence without it becoming overly stylized or preachy.

The reality of the story was an ever present filter for me while I read this book. I have found myself more than once sitting up at night during the course of this week feeling fearful of bumps and groans in my house. In fact, I am up late writing this as I felt compelled to exonerate and work through some of the questions, thoughts, and images stirred up in my mind by this novel. It is truly chilling, but simultaneously humanizing.

Skillful writing that in the hands of less capable author could have turned into a trashy read, a trite crime novel, or a weepy cry for justice…it will remain in my immediate consciousness for some time.

A story about "The Curse of the Cat People (1945)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:35:41 GMT

The Curse of the Cat People (1945)

by Val (producer); Wise, Robert (director) Lewton

This wasn’t scary at all! And I don’t mean this in the way that the ‘scary parts’ weren’t effective, I mean that the story was not written to be frightening. Very disappointing.

A story about "Mulholland Dr."

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:45:14 GMT

Mulholland Dr.

by David Lynch

I could not begin to try and describe the plot to this, although I like the idea of the whole thing being an alternative ‘life’ the girl who killed herself imagined before death.

I’m generally not a huge fan of the whole ‘convoluted for the sake of being convoluted’ thing, but I did like it. Lynch somehow pulls you in even if you are totally confused. I guess this is a talent of sorts. lol

A story about "Bee Season"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:19:07 GMT

Bee Season

by David Siegel

It was ok, but the whole thing just seemed so entirely disjointed. I could see this being intentional, to reflect the lack of connection between each member of the family…but it just gave each of the stories less power. Props to Richard Gere for not being entirely annoying.

A story about "The Children's Hour"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:49:40 GMT

The Children's Hour

by William Wyler

What an interesting story. At first I was really surprised to see a movie of this time dealing with homosexuality (in a way). It was shocking to see they way it was reacted to by the community in the film. Good to see Audrey Hepburn not playing ‘cute’, although I don’t feel she was really anything special here.

A story about "Paranormal Activity [Theatrical Release]"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:09:27 GMT

Paranormal Activity [Theatrical Release]

I thought it was a pretty fun scary movie for a rainy night. Everyone in the theatre seemed quite terrified, although I didn’t really find it that scary. It is nice to see a movie that breaks the typical horror movie story/exposition line occasionally as so many of them are completely predictable.

A story about "The Bride Wore Black"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:19:53 GMT

The Bride Wore Black

Good. I’m guessing this is where Quinten Tarantino got the basic story for Kill Bill.

A story about "Baxter"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:14:00 GMT

Baxter

by Jérôme Boivin

Odd french film told from a dog’s point of view. Kind of dark. The dog’s perspective really makes the movie, although it made me look at my dog a little differently for an hour or so after (is he thinking he wants to kill me…?)…lol

A story about "Up (Single-Disc Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (ceridwens_descent) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 03:46:48 GMT

Up (Single-Disc Edition)

by Directed By Pete Docter

The stuff the dogs say in this is exactly how I imagine my dog would say things. I frequently vocalize what I assume my dog is thinking for comedic effect so really those parts alone made the movie for me…lol

“I just met you, but I love you.”

“I was hiding under the porch because I love you.”