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The Film Habit #45 - April 13, 2005 Sometimes this column terrorizes my week like hell spawn on a flaming motorcycle. Writing The Film Habit can be a struggle. I’ve only myself to blame, since I’ve given it no clear direction, no predetermined set of topics to cover (a la The Weekend Blend), coming up with something to talk about can be a pain.
Not this time. For once I’m actually looking forward to writing it, though as I type this I have no idea what I’m going to cover. But then I never do. I’m feeling good, writing sort of ok, and everything looks so bleak in my personal world that there’s nowhere to go but up. Up is a nice direction, and one we shall be pursuing fiercely here at Cinema Blend with a lot of semi-exciting, occasionally original ideas. We rolled over 1000 stories in our news database on Tuesday, not bad for a year in operation. To keep things fresh, in the next month or so the Blend News Network will dip its toes into the world of festival coverage. Look for great reports from CB writers Lexi and Stefanie covering the Gen Arts and Tribeca Film Festivals in New York. Granted, some sites are already covering Tribeca, but the festival doesn’t start till April 19, so please consider that cheating. They get early access and special privileges in exchange for festival promotion. We’ll be avoiding that and trying something more honest, like covering the festival as it actually happens. You’ll also see a few old ideas resurfacing with a brighter sheen over the next month. I’m bringing the old Cinema Blend newsletter back from the brink, retooling it, and setting it up as something professional and interesting rather than spam meant to distribute CB links. It may even contain some exclusive content, so if you want in click [here] to sign up for it. Add to that some very strange ideas Rafe is throwing out about Cinema Blend as a Podcast, and we’re going to be damned busy. Though my wife might disagree when she can’t get me to come out of my makeshift home office, I think busy is good. me to suggest methods of cheating. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To Fanboys  “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” has this to say about Fanboys: Mostly stupid.
Want evidence? Peruse a staggeringly misguided review of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy movie written by the world’s biggest Douglas Adams super-fan: MJ Simpson. A self-styled Douglas Adams biographer, he’s been obsessing over the author’s work for years on his site Planet Magrathea, a site I used to respect. This week he was one of the privileged few allowed to see the upcoming Hitchhiker’s Guide movie early. He hates it. Let me come out and say it: I want this movie to be good. Still, there’s a fairly reasonable possibility it’ll be bad. If it is, it won’t be for any of the reasons MJ Simpson is trashing it. His review is gaining notoriety simply for the viciousness of his assault, but has anyone actually read it? If you do, you’ll notice something important: He can’t see the forest for the trees. Here’s an example of someone taking their fandom too far, someone so obsessed with minute, miniscule details that they can’t see the bigger picture. MJ Simpson hates the movie not because it is a bad film, but because it doesn’t stick exactly to the books, books by the way which don’t stick exactly to the radio play on which they are based and in many cases, don’t even necessarily stick to themselves. There are a lot of HHG versions out there, all written by Douglas Adams and each as valid as the next. The uber-fanboy can’t see that, all he sees is that someone left out Tom Bombadil; he’s incapable of thinking beyond it.  Lord of the Rings got lucky, most pre-existing fans were smart enough to look at it as a film, without getting bogged down in the details, details which if included would have weighed down and ruined the film. Not every movie with a pre-existing fan base is so fortunate. Harry Potter fans pitched a fit when Cuaron changes details of the third book for his take on the franchise. By the way, his version is also the only one that’s any good. Don’t let that narrow view bring you down. Give Hitchhiker’s Guide a chance. Keep your towels at the ready.
me with towel uses. Non adult please. Kung Fu Cowboy Free  Filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee have spent their lives capturing the world in and around New York City. Last year, Michael Mann won acclaim for accurately depicting L.A. in his hitman drama Collateral. What about everywhere else?
There’s no one out there showing the real Dallas. The place I call home is represented by grinning cowboy industrialists with huge belt buckles or spitting rednecks who sacrifice their children’s education for games of high school football. New York gets The 25th Hour, Dallas gets Serving Sara. What do we know about Baltimore, or Indianapolis? Does anyone care? The closest anyone’s gotten to capturing my town is Mike Judge with Office Space. Great movie, but a sad commentary on Hollywood’s bi-coastal bias. That’s the real Dallas, and it isn’t run by Larry Hagman. It’s time for filmmakers to broaden out. There’s nothing Hollywood loves more than making movies about itself, but give the rest of us a chance. Give folks a chance to see that Dallas is a shallow, rotting, festering boil of shallow consumerism and chronic eating out. While you’re at it, show the good things too… if you can find them. I’d start looking in the suburbs. Everything isn’t bigger and better in Texas and no Mr. Norris, our cowboys (what few there are) don’t know Karate. me to apply Kung Fu to cattle. Letters From Close Enough to the Edge to See the View But Not So Close That There is Danger of Falling Off  Guided by the spirit of the small Asian woman to your left (who I really need to replace with something more snazzy), I’m back to answering reader mail. Let’s hope I don’t repeat any of the ones Rafe handled last week. Organization isn’t my thing. your comments to have them read on the… answered here. Let’s see what you folks have to say this week: MrPro: Quick note.....XxX:State of the Union did not change its title. XxX: The Next Level has been the title originally. Josh: Quick note… all the posters and movie trailers released for the past six months disagree with you. Eric Butler: I found Cinema Blend a while ago, and have steadily enjoyed it ever since. We often don't have the same taste in movies, but I prefer to judge reviewers by what I learn from their reviews, rather than what they actually think of the movie. Your reviews (and generally the reviews of your staff) go beyond simply describing the movie, or saying whether it was any good in your opinion, to actually providing some context for and thought about the film. I've enjoyed the Film Habit for the same reason. Movies are enjoyed within the context of any one person's experiences, personality, and opinions, and getting to know you through your writing, whether thoughtful or rambling, gives me a better sense of what your reviews mean. That openess and depth are a rare quality, and I appreciate it. Lest you think I exaggerate, understand that the only movie sites I visit on a regular basis are yours and Roger Ebert's. That's meant as a compliment. Anyway, I'm not much for writing notes like this, but after reading Film Habit #44, I felt I needed to. You're doing good work, in a field you enjoy, and that is what matters most in life. I suppose some people would argue that movie sites should stick to movies alone, but for the very reasons I discussed above, I value sites like yours that discuss and involve the real world and its relationship to cinema. I can only imagine how discouraging and frustrating it must be in your position right now, but please keep faith in yourself. The value of building a life on something that you find worthwhile can't be overemphasized, and more power to you for sticking with it. Keep it up. Josh: Thanks Eric. I’m pretty sure we’re not quite at Roger Ebert level, but still that’s one great compliment. Roger, though I may not always agree with him, sets the standard for everyone else. I got several emails like yours this week, so rather than pumping myself up by running all of them, let me please use yours as an opportunity to thank everyone for their kind words of support. All of us here at CB do the best we can for great readers like you. Good to know you’re out there. Alex Ferrari: My name is Alex Ferrari and I wanted to say I'm a HUGE fan of cinemablend.com. I just finished a action/thriller short film call "B R O K E N" and would love to get your opinion of it. It cost $8000 and has over 100 VISUAL EFX SHOTS. Check out the :50 sec trailer online. I would be honored to hear your opinion on it. If you want to learn more on how we made the short visit: http://www.whatisbroken.com. And please be honest, no violence will come to you, I swear! ; ) I can take it! If you like the trailer, I would be more than happy to send you the full 20 min short for you viewing pleasure. Thanks again for you time and love you guys!!!! Peace out! Josh: Alex, you are one heck of an ass kisser. Kudos to you sir. A man after my own heart. It would’ve worked too if it wasn’t for my darned busy schedule and the fact that we don’t really cover short films that often. It’s actually something I wouldn’t mind doing more of, but since this remains only my second job (unfortunately) I don’t have time for it amidst my regular pressure duties. Good luck to you though, and any time you feel the need to tell me how much you love me, I’m here. No kissing… at least not on the lips. Anthony:The man behind Super Size Me, Morgan Surlock gets his own series on FX networks. Josh: Will he be eating Big Macs? Will they spell his name correctly in the credits? Hey! Do you like writing for mildly successful movie websites with no guarantee that you’ll ever be paid? Are you over 18? You’re in luck. CinemaBlend.com is looking for writers just like you. If you think you can capture the signature Cinema Blend style as a critic and/or BNN reporter send me an with a few samples and we’ll talk. |
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