In regards to Team America, I'm surprised it isn't listed as a musical. Even if only a couple songs are actually sung on-screen by characters, it has more non-score, original songs in it than some other ones listed as musicals (such as Aladdin). Personally, I wouldn't have a problem permitting it.
Me either. Let's keep this thing moving!!!!! This snake style drafting is killing me. 2 quick picks then nothing for ages. Argh!!!!!
In regards to Team America [. . .] it has more non-score, original songs in it than some other ones listed as musicals (such as Aladdin)
Haha, and here I might have taken something like World Police over Aladdin myself (and more certainly School of Rock or Spinal Tap, both taken long after I made my pick) but I presumed we were going by strict genre-definitions; Aladdin is listed as 'musical' while Spinal Tap/SoR are 'music' and World Police is neither. But I totally agree - to my mind in the grand scheme of things the latter three are far more musical by nature, whereas Aladdin just happens to have a couple of lavish musical numbers in it.
I really wrestled with this category - who knew it would be so contentious?
I wouldn't be making such a fuss about it either had the Documentary catagory stayed the same. The fact that it was changed mid-'game' to me opens up the definition to what any of these can be considered.
I mean, I'm using Oceans Eleven as a Thriller... even I question that one, but imdb says it's so. Different situation, but still...
I have no issue with TAWP as a musical/music selection only because of the precedents set earlier with some other contentious picks. Also, I believe Girly posted something long ago about this draft being a fun little offseason diversion, and an opportunity for us to discover some new movies and revisit some old ones. Contesting this pick kind of goes against the spirit of that. For the record, I don't think TAWP is anything close to a musical, but without opening the category up a bit there's...
... gonna be some stinky picks in that category. And maybe the judges will reward teams that make picks that are truer to each category. I know I would consider that he I were judging.
Well, MATT DAMON! I didn't want to hold this thing up, seeing as how I tend to whinge more than most when people are slow to pick..MATT DAMON!
I'll keep the pick and move it to Wildcard for now.
So Tilley, if you're around, MATT DAMON! go for it!
... gonna be some stinky picks in that category. And maybe the judges will reward teams that make picks that are truer to each category. I know I would consider that he I were judging.
Yeah, I found that when I was judging in the hottie draft; I was more inclined to pick, for example, the woman I thought best captured African / African - American hotness, rather than the white girl who happened to be born in Africa. Same was true of the Asian category and the music category.
getbak...Close Encounters, quite possibly the steal of the draft thus far. Well done.
Tilley, great pick in the documentary category. Based on watching this movie I am always reading updates on Agee and Gates whenever I find them. It was a wonderful project.
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
Now that the controversy is over; with the 245th selection in the Movie Draft, the Ghost of Siskel selects in the Animation category:
Shrek (2001).
One of the first 'new generation' animated movies that is more for the young at heart rather than the young. An All-star ensemble cast and a great twist on conventional fairy tales makes this a personal favorite.
When a green ogre called Shrek discovers his swamp has been 'swamped' with all sorts of fairytale creatures by the scheming Lord Farquaad, Shrek sets out, with a very loud donkey by his side, to 'persuade' Farquaad to give his swamp back. Instead, a deal is made. Farquaad, who wants to become the King, sends Shrek to rescue Princess Fiona, who is waiting for her one true love. But once they head back with Fiona, it starts to become apparent that not only does Shrek like Fiona, but Fiona is keeping something secret.
With the 246th Overall pick The All Or Nuttin team is proud to select in the "Sports" category, a story of James Braddock, a supposedly washed up boxer who came back to become a champion, starring Russell Crowe, Paul Giamatti and Renee Zellweger, directed by Ron Howard, Cinderella man.
Roger Ebert:
"Cinderella Man" is a terrific boxing picture, but there's no great need for another one. The need it fills is for a full-length portrait of a good man. Most serious movies live in a world of cynicism and irony, and most good-hearted movie characters live in bad movies. Here is a movie where a good man prevails in a world where every day is an invitation to despair, where resentment would seem fully justified, where doing the right thing seems almost gratuitous, because nobody is looking and nobody cares. Jim Braddock is almost transparent in the simple goodness of his character; that must have made him almost impossible to play. Russell Crowe makes him fascinating, and it takes a moment or two of thought to appreciate how difficult that must have been.
The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true. Go Flames Go!
NCFOM commentary might be the best I've read about that movie, Ro! I still have yet to see it a second time, great, great stuff!!
Thanks a lot. I mean that! I think you'll find you'll enjoy it from a different perspective upon seeing it a second time, and perhaps even moreso after some time to reflect on it.
But a great deal of that came from reading hours worth of material about it from various sites, and redigesting the film over multiple viewings. It really is a remarkable film in that so much of what the viewer gets out of it is directly related to the effort they put into reading it, but also that the Coens purposefully and masterfully created it to be that way- so many things are deliberately left open to critical analysis and interpretation. In the hands of lesser filmmakers and if the material came from a lesser source, Chigurh may have been captured by Ed Tom, and the scene in which Moss's fate is sealed may have been shown onscreen, and the ending may have been wrapped up with a bow on top. So much of the film's strength is in what it does not show explicitly. I found that gratifying and refreshing right from the first viewing, and probably will for the rest of my life.
Here's a link you might enjoy- one of the best takes on the film I've read anywhere:
Team Lucky the Donkey will take, in the category of Animation: Ninja Scroll
My favourite animation flick. All your "classic" japanimation movies are ok, but for me this one takes the cake. I'm a huge fan of the animation, just looks so great and fluid. It also helps that they don't seem to do the standard "same background with things in front of it moving" constantly. I definitely prefer this style of animation. The director was the same man who did "Wicked City", which is a good movie in it's own right, but borders on hentai.
The story between Kagero and Jubei is engrossing, stock creepy old guy is always a plus, and the Eight Devils of Kimon are some of the best villains ever. The fight scenes are epic, extremely well thought out and drawn beautifully.
It's understandable that this movie had ratings problems when it was released. Brutally violent and explores some themes that are definitely not for the kiddies. I'd add some clips, but most are past NSFW and may get me in a bit of trouble. Even the trailer has some animation boob in there. Ohwell, here's the box cover. Check it out if you're into this kind of stuff. Also, see the subtitled version if possible, to me any of these that are dubbed lose a lot of emotion in translation.
...I just guess I never really considered TA:WP very musical......
