The Producers...

[fajrdrako]

I wasn't much good for anything today, but it was not an unpleasant afternoon. (The morning? I missed the morning. Slept through it.) I watched The Producers, and enjoyed it mightily - not just the John Barrowman scene.

A few thoughts on it:

- It occurs to me that there is a whole (rare) literary genre of "accountant fiction" in which an innocent accountant gets involved in an adventure when he somehow gets involved with the persons he is augiting. Darling Buds of May is an example of the genre.

- I wondered if the whole thing would be so funny to people who weren't into musical theatre

- a few scenes were stolen from - er, I mean, tributes to - The Music Man, some subtle, some not. My favourite was when the accountants were stamping papers in rhythm, much the way the librarians in Marian the Librarian stamp the library books.

- For some reason, it took me ages to recognize Uma Thurman.

- The scene with Franz Lieblink on the New York roof with the pigeons was surely the conceptual origin of Claude Raines in Heroes. I kept expecting Lieblink to turn invisible.

- In the scene where he played the judge, David Huddleston looked scarily like the illustrious local lawyer who handled my divorce.

- the dance in prison reminded me of Johnny Depp's Cry-Baby, though I suppose there are lots of other examples of in-prison song and dance routines

- love the Mel Brooks lyrics:

The urge to merge can rob us of our senses
The need to breed can make a man a drone
We must be on alert with our defenses
For every skirt will test testosterone
So knowing this I severed all connection
With any creature sporting silk or lace
I was firmly headed in the right direction
When suddenly I stumbled on that face

And the so very slashy:

Always playing singles, never doubles
'Til him
Never had a pal to share my troubles
'Til him
He filled up my empty life
Filled it to the brim
There could never ever be
Another one ... like him

My favourite of the songs was "I Want to be a Producer".

Comments

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

I accidentally ended up watching the movie Batman and Robin Saturday night (in other words, it started just as B-- turned on the TV on that channel).

The plot was weak, the dialogue was dire in places, and what it did to basic tenets of physics would have sent bunsenhoneydew into conniption fits [when the villain decides to freeze all of Gotham, strangely enough he had no power source, for example.] And it had Arnold Schwarzenegger.

On the other hand, George Clooney was a debonair Batman, and looked very good in the costume, and Uma Thurman did a lovely job as the villain Poison Ivy. It was interesting to see how she was ostensibly sexy, and yet about as appealing as an icicle. I wasn't sure whether that was acting, or Thurman herself.

I must see The Producers sometime; I really liked Nathan Lane in The Man Who Came to Dinner. (Come to think of it, that movie is best appreciated by those who like 1930s or 40s movies...)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Batman and Robin

I have not seen that. I have heard terrible, terrible things about it. Is that the one that has John Glover as ... as... I forget what; one of the villains. The Floronic Man, I think. I could never bring myself to watch more than a clip... I have low tolerance for bad Batman movies. Or TV shows. I can't bring myself to look at Adam West and Burt Ward, either. Heck, Christian Bale barely meets my high standards, even when he's with Liam Neeson. The Batman I love has yet to be filmed, and would be more in the style of film noir than superhero comedy.

I can just imagine Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy, though. Good casting. Though if Poison Ivy wasn't sexy - well, she should be!

There is a very good story by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale about Batman and Poison Ivy... I'd like to see that filmed. Dark Victory? I'm not sure which of his stories it was, but it was clever and creepy and Poison Ivy was both scary and sexy.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

Is that the one that has John Glover as ... as... I forget what; one of the villains.

Yup, he's the mad scientist who inadvertently causes the female researcher to turn into Poison Ivy. Quite over-the-top.

The scenes with George Clooney or with Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth were watchable. Uma's scenes were fun. The rest was dreck.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

the mad scientist who inadvertently causes the female researcher to turn into Poison Ivy.

In contrast to the restraint of the other characters - ?

Though I haven't seen that particular movie, I think Michael Gough is brilliant as Alfred. Quite the best characterization they've done in any of the movies I've seen.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

What's not to like about Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, and Michael Caine as Alfred???

Whoever did that last bit of casting really needs some kind of award.

The other Batman movies were unwatchable. Begins is one of my alltime favorite popcorn movies.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

What's not to like about Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, and Michael Caine as Alfred???

Amazing casting, yes. But I have problems with the plot and script and structure of the story, and with the characterization of both Bruce Wayne and Batman. I was, in fact, extremely disappointed with Liam Neeson as R'as Al Ghul, who was to my eyes neither frightening nor clever in that movie, and never seemed to me like the powerful autocrat he should have been. There were various reasons for this - all of them concerning the plot and structure.

The female lead (whose name I forget) also lowered my enjoyment of the movie by several notches. Christian Bale kept pulling my attention back, but she couldn't be redeemed on any level. Batman's women include some of the more interesting and well-crafted women in comics. (Talia, Silver St. Cloud, Catwoman, and so on.) She just wasn't on the same scale.

As with many movies based on comic book characters, I feel that while the results were not embarrassing, it was not the good story I actually wanted. I guess i'm just not into 'popcorn movies'. Though I'm not sure where the movies that qualify for that title begin and end.

I'd like a faithfully adapted version of the Long Halloween as a movie. Sadly, the only man who could do it would be Frank Miller, and I'd rather keep Batman out of his hands - his version of Batman is worse than anything the movie-makers have done.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I always forget that you're comparing movies based on comics with their source material. Like one of my favorite movie critics (http://www.crankycritic.com) I try not to do that.

The fact that I don't read comics and graphic novels (not because I'm a snob or anything, they're just not my thing) probably has a lot to do with it [g].

Katie Holmes was the female lead, and, yes, I think she was the one real weak link in the movie. But I don't think much of her as an actor to begin with, and she had a very small part.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I always forget that you're comparing movies based on comics with their source material.

I think I enjoy comics and movies with different parts of my brain. I like both but I don't like the one based on the other. There are a few exceptions - like Sin City (though sadly I find it too violent for comfort) or 300. Which are really special cases. I find that movies based on comics tend to be sort of... juvenile. Even when the comics are not.

Anyway, in each case, it's the medium not the material that I like, so when the subject matter crosses over into another medium... It doesn't usually work so well.

The fact that I don't read comics and graphic novels (not because I'm a snob or anything, they're just not my thing) probably has a lot to do with it [g].

Yes. While I love comics. I love their artistry. I've been reading, analyzing them, studying them and enjoying them since I was about eight.

Katie Holmes was embarrassing.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I find that movies based on comics tend to be sort of... juvenile. Even when the comics are not.

That's because non-fen think of comics as a children's medium, and so they make the movies to appeal to that age level, I think. That said, I don't think Batman Begins did that so much.

I know what you mean about crossovers, though. I feel the same way about most movies based on books. There are just barely enough good "based on the novel by" movies out there to keep my hopes up, but they've been dashed by the movie far more often than not.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That's because non-fen think of comics as a children's medium, and so they make the movies to appeal to that age level, I think.

I agree - and then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. With few exceptions, comics these days are not written for or marketed to children - not by a long shot. Some teens read comics, but most comics readers by far are adults.

In the past year or so there's been an attempt by the publishers to do more comics that will appeal to younger audiences - basing their material on TV animated series that were themselves based on comics - I'm thinking here of "Titans Go" and the new "Legion of Super-Heroes" cartoon series. It's all a strange sort of cross-polination.

I don't know how well those comics are selling. I think they look awful (i.e., ugly art and minimal story), but I'm not the market they're after.

[teaphile.livejournal.com]

I love that movie. I loved the soundtrack before the movie was made, and I adore the first movie even though it's not a musical. Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel -- there's no bad there.

Have you seen De-Lovely? My absolute favourite Barrowman scene is in the extended version of the final song.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I've seen De-Lovely, but not the extended version of the final song. I must look for that. I love Barrowman's role there.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Another good 'accountant genre' film is The Stand-In (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029605/). 1930s comedy about making movies: Leslie Howard plays the accountant, who treats people as "units".

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I like Leslie Howard - I'll look for this.

[lmondegreen.livejournal.com]

I hope you're feeling better!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you! yes, I am. Back at work today. And surprisingly glad to be here, conscious and alert.

[lmondegreen.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear it!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I was afraid I would be feeling sick for the start of NaNoWriMo. Which wouldn't stop me but would make the thing less fun and more difficult. Thank goodness I'm feeling okay again!

Are you prepared? I'm certainly not. But that won't stop me either.

[lmondegreen.livejournal.com]

I've got characters. I've got a (basic) plot. I've got friends and colleagues rooting for me. I'm as ready as I'll ever be...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Good.

I think you're a little ahead of me. But I'll get there...!

[lmondegreen.livejournal.com]

We'll have to lend each other support throughout the month. Are you planning on going to any of the write-ins? I'm thinking of hosting a little one myself, just my NaNoing friends...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

We'll have to lend each other support throughout the month.

Yes. Really. I need all the moral support I can get.

Are you planning on going to any of the write-ins?

Are there any? Yes, I'd like that. How dose one find out?

I'm thinking of hosting a little one myself, just my NaNoing friends...

Good idea. Yes, please!

[lmondegreen.livejournal.com]

Go check out the Ottawa regional forum on the nano web site - there are write-ins in various places every four or five days or so, including at the main branch of the OPL every weekend (apparently they're sponsoring Ottawa NaNo this year!)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

There's way too much going on - I must remember to focus. Fell behind on the writing last night, will catch up today. Might go to the write-in on Sunday, but - I don't really want to write in longhand (because I'd have to transcribe, and that takes time) and don't I have a latop.

Now I want a laptop to write in!

[lmondegreen.livejournal.com]

I have a very antiquated (I'm talking almost coal-powered) laptop that has Word 95 on it and not much else, but it works well as a word-processor. If you want to use it, it's yours. I can bring it to the write-in for you on Sunday (I'm probably not going to make it to the brunch.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

My goodness - that would be wonderful! All I need or want is a word processor. Does it work with batteries, or would I have to plug it in?

[lmondegreen.livejournal.com]

You'd have to plug it in, but I'm pretty sure there are plugs in most of the places that the write-ins are scheduled. Certainly at the Libary ones.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Excellent, then.

[lmondegreen.livejournal.com]

Great - I'll see you on Sunday then.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It worked beautifully! Thank you.

[lmondegreen.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad!

[msp-hacker.livejournal.com]

I have nothing to say other that "EEE! That's one of my favorite movies ever!" Not even the inclusion of John Barrowman can make me love the film more than I already do. ( Though, I keep forgetting that he's in the film! Probably because he's blond. And I started watching this obsessively before I even head of him, which is kind of hard to imagine now. )

The only bad thing is that I can't sing "Spring Time for Hitler" in public.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Lovely Producers icon!

I tell you, watching this really revived my passion for musical comedy. Which always lurks not too far below the surface.

And Barrowman... well, I 'd have enjoyed it anyway, but he was icing on the cake and gilt on the lily. So to speak.

Yes, a blond Barrowman with shiny blue eyes made me blink in surprise.

I have been humming "Springtime for Hitler" (discreetly I hope) for two days now. It's all Barroman's fault.