Day 68: The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)

I've often been criticized for liking everything when it comes to movies, and while that's hardly true, I do enjoy a wide range of films. I don't expect the same thing from all movies. I expect a lot more from a classic film, then from a summer blockbuster. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy both. Most films can be enjoyed in some way. If a film provides a form of escapism for a few hours and doesn't bore you, it's done its job. Great films will do a lot more than this, but a good film only has to cause enjoyment. I wanted to see The Sorcerer's Apprentice because it looked fun, and because it starred Jay Baruchel, of whom I am a fan, and Nicholas Cage, who despite what a lot of people say I rather enjoy. Maybe I have bad taste, but so be it.

Balthazar Blake (Cage) was one of three apprentice's of Merlin, and he has spent the last 1300 years searching for the Prime Merlinian - the person who will take Merlin's place. This person is Dave (Baruchel) in modern day NYC. Balthazar must train Dave to become the Sorcerer he is meant to be in order to defeat Morganas and save the world. Considering this is a Disney movie (based loosely on a scene from Fantasia which is reenacted in the film) the outcome of the movie can be predicted by pretty much everyone. Despite being predictable and somewhat childish, it appealed to my inner child and I left the theater grinning.

Day 67: Dinner for Schmucks (2010)

A few weeks ago I won tickets to the Ottawa advanced-screening of this film over Twitter, but unfortunately the screening was last week while I was out of the country. While I didn't get to see it for free, I still was eager to see it.

In this remake of the 1998 french film Le dîner de cons, Paul Rudd stars as Tim, an executive whose raise depends on him bringing a Schmuck to his boss's monthly "dinner for idiots". Tim runs into, literally runs into him with his car, Barry (Steve Carell) an IRS employee who creates miniatures with dead mice. This spirals into a classic farce, with the usual gags that go along with that.

While hardly a perfect comedy, it is very funny. The actors - Rudd, Carell, Galifianakis, Clement - carry the film. It proves that if you put enough funny actors in a movie, you have a chance to end up with a funny movie. The movie is terribly predictable, but charming. The trailer for the film presents a good image of the film - if you laughed during the trailer, you'll probably laugh during the movie.

On a side note, I was quite shocked and pleased to notice that Chris O'Dowd was one of the "Schmucks." Not only is O'Dowd one of the actors in the humorous BritCom The IT Crowd, but his last name is the English variation on mine, which I think is cool.

Day 66: Paranormal Activity (2007)

Last day of my vacation. I refused to see this in theaters mainly because I am not a fan of this type of movie - faked "found" footage. I saw it for cheap as a used video at Blockbusters, so I picked it up.

Such a terribly lame film. Nothing interesting about it. So obviously fake. Such simple techniques to create the "hauntings." I really hope that this does not start a trend of films along the same line. Blair Witch was a bad start to the trend, and Paranormal Activity is just another in that horrible trend.

Day 65: The Blob (1958)

Still on vacation. I went to Barnes and Nobles this week and picked up a number of Criterion DVDS at B&N's 50% Criterion sale. This was one of them.

I haven't had the chance to see many horror B-films, so this was a first. It provided the amusement I expected.

Day 64: "The American Experience": The Battle Over Citizen Kane (1996)

Still on vacation. Picked this up last year when I was taking a class on Welles, but didn't get around to watching it until now.

The American Experience makes very good documentaries (this one, in fact, was nominated for an Academy Award), and this one is no exception. I knew most of the information from other readings, but still a good presentation of the debate over Citizen Kane.

Day 63: Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)

Still on vacation. The next Hitchcock film. The only true comedy he did in Hollywood.

While not evidently a Hitchcock film, it was funny. A ridiculous premise, with ridiculous results. The ending felt forced and didn't seem to flow with the rest of the film, but nonetheless an enjoyable comedy. Comedies have changed dramatically in the last 70 years, and I'm not sure for the better.

Day 62: Chelovek s kino-apparatom / Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

Third day of vacation, so another short one.

A classic Russian film that is referred to often in film school, but one I never actually saw. Russain director Dziga Vertov wanted to present a film with no actors, no language, and no scripts to help create an absolute language of cinema. The film features shots of people working in Odessa and other Russian cities. The film highlights on the man with the movie camera from the title, and a lot of people working in factories.

I was instantly reminded of Berlin: Symphony of a Great City which was released in 1927 and featured a day in the city of Berlin and the workings of its city.

What makes Man with a Movie Camera so well known is not only the early use of film as a documentary method, but more importantly, because of the large assortment of film techniques he invented or applied to this film. A great demonstration of the power of film, and provides a great view of life in Russia in 1929.