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In Reply to: Should I cold-call "V for Vendetta" tomorrow? posted by clarkjohnsen on March 16, 2006 at 11:36:21:
...local reviews have ranged from B- to C -- although As per policy I haven't read them.clark
Follow Ups:
...so I wouldn't necessarily gauge V for Vendetta by the mixed output of the Wachowski brothers or TV spots. Read my review above.BTW, your local reviewers, at least the one's you're currently reading are dead wrong, IMHO.
AuPh
Plus I haven't actually *read* the reviews, although I glimpsed at the last sentence in EW's review (a big C): "A rage against the machine, made by the machine." Not terribly encouraging.clark
Brokeback Mountain also received praise, Ang Lee winning the Academy Award as Best Director this year for his abilities as a filmmaker even after the horrendous Hulk misfire. My point being that any creative filmmaker can make missteps along the way. So, I wouldn't judge the Wachowski brothers quite so harshly if I were you, especially if you're basing your criticism on films like Matrix II or III which were put on the fast track after the unexpected success of Matrix I.> > > "...I haven't actually *read* the reviews, although I glimpsed at the last sentence in EW's review (a big C): "A rage against the machine, made by the machine." Not terribly encouraging." < < <
All I can say about Entertainment Weekly is ...EW (as in whew!); I haven't read that zine for years because their film reviews were so often off base and don't even glance at it these days (I still prefer Rotten Tomatoes as a good cross section of critical opinion to use as a gauge of which films have merit)!
The bottom line: V for Vendetta shocks & rocks in a manner not unlike Bill Shakespeare's Richard III (the award winning albeit controversial '95 WWII-era reimagining of the Bard's work); you should check V out for yourself and then rent Richard III, if you missed it! As Monk would say, you'll thank me later! :o)
AuPh
EW is really tough on crap movies and TV.Ian McKellan's RIII is a staple at our house.
OK, two more:
I actually drifted off to sleep during Matrix.
Hamlet 2000 is another vivid modern cinematic realization.
clark
> > > "I actually drifted off to sleep during Matrix." < < <Well, with Matrix, I only drifted off after the first film, which I felt was a well told story and had merit as perhaps the only effective film visualization (among many attempts) of the cyber-punk genre. It's sequels are another kettle of fish (all of which rotted from the head down). With Matrix's II & III one can barely muster up enough interest to contemplate "what were those dudes thinking?" So, if you drifted off during the first one I'd recommend avoiding the others at all cost unless you run out of Sominex!
> > > "EW is really tough on crap movies and TV." < < <
Too often EW has really missed the mark, and I don't mean in a close call, but more like 180 degrees. I've read some of EW's reviews where the magazine's policy seemed geared toward handing assignments to critics who were known to attack specific genres with gusto. On more than a few occasions this was done without giving those genre television programs and films a fair appraisal. This may have been out of the personal prejudices of the reviewer(s) or the editorial staff, or perhaps because the opinions would guarantee a reaction. In any event, eight or ten years ago EW alienated my wife and I enough that we didn't renew our subscription.
AuPh
When I mention EW, it means Owen Gleiberman or Lisa Schwartzbaum, just as WSJ means Joe Morgenstern -- none of whom tolerate much crap.The EW TV critics enjoyed Firefly *inter alia*, so I don't know why you say they're genre-biased.
clark
> > > "When I mention EW, it means Owen Gleiberman or Lisa Schwartzbaum..." < < <Both of whom were established EW critics even back then, and both of whom are to a greater or lesser degree responsible for our decision to allow the EW subscription to lapse.
> > > "The EW TV critics enjoyed Firefly *inter alia*, so I don't know why you say they're genre-biased." < < <
One kindness out of respect to quality entertainment doesn't make up for the impression left by a plethora of misguided reviews of other genre books, television and films that we've enjoyed over the years in spite of EW's critics mistaken opinions.
Still, that doesn't mean we won't give EW another chance at some point in the future. Who knows, EW's literary critics might even like my wife's best-selling fantasy books (Weather Warden series, by Rachel Caine) and then we'd be forced to reconsider the NOW distinguished magazine's position on genre fiction. (grin)
> > > "I wasn't on board back then." < < <
Don't worry, I'm not blaming you for that cancelled subscription! ;^)
AuPh
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