Describing Steven C. Miller’s The Aggression Scale as a violent Home Alone riff feels almost too retro-hip for my liking, but it’s almost impossible not to. The similarities between the two films are clear; pit seemingly defenseless children against brutish home invaders, watch the former embarrass and defeat the latter. But Kevin McAllister didn’t know how to work a pump-action shotgun, and possessed a much cuter propensity for violence. Owen (Ryan Hartwig), his analogue here, favors all manner of sharp objects and potent cocktails of ammonia and bleach. (They both admire the efficacy of a nail through the foot.) The clearer difference, though, lies in pathos– Kevin’s just a self-indulgent…
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Off the Netflix Queue…'Jiro Dreams of Sushi'
If Jiro Ono, the subject of David Gelb’s documentary, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, hadn’t found his passion in making sushi more than seventy years ago, he very well could have found a lucrative, successful career in life coaching. In his 80s and still working more steadfastly and efficiently than most young men in their 20s, Ono professes early on in the film his belief that one must fall in love with their profession and that hard work is “the key to being regarded honorably”, a sentiment which he expresses directly into the camera. He speaks with a firm but quiet earnestness that nonetheless bears a timbre of erudite command; you…
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Off the Shelf…'John Carter'
Watching Andrew Stanton’s adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ seminal science fiction pulp novel, A Princess of Mars– here blandly labeled John Carter– is equivalent to a genre-fueled out of body experience. You’ve seen this film before. You’ve seen it in Star Wars (both the original trilogy and the prequel films), you’ve seen it in Avatar, you’ve seen it in Superman. John Carter‘s influences read so blatantly that watching the film feels akin to playing a movie association game in which elements from its plot and narrative are connected to those of other essential sci-fi blockbusters. What we’re really watching, of course, is the big-screen arrival of the story that informed each of those aforementioned properties and more;…
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Off the Netflix Queue…'The Red Violin'
Go,See,Talk is proud to present this Off the Shelf/Netflix Queue entry as the first post from our new contributing writer Jessica. She’ll be making more appearances on the site in the next few months and we’re glad to have her aboard. So enjoy her view and welcome her to G-S-T. I am drawn to films that are capable of introducing an audience to multiple story lines, and then carefully crafting them together so that these seemingly fragmented parts become one whole by the end. So when Netflix suggested The Red Violin, about the life of one mysterious violin and its many owners, I imagined this multi-narrative structure would likely be…
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Off the Shelf…’Saints and Soldiers’
It’s probably safe to assume that everyone in some way is fond of stories of WWII, and has at least one great film in their video library. Patton and Saving Private Ryan are usual suspects but once in a while there comes a lesser known story of war-time heroism that few know exist. Saints and Soldiers probably doesn’t ring any bells for a good number of film fans, but really it deserves more attention that it gets. A very underrated but stellar WWII movie it was made with very little money but looks as if it had a huge budget. It’s not quite Saving Private Ryan in terms of scale, but has moments of…
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Off the Shelf…’The Secret World of Arrietty’
From the world-renowned Studio Ghibli comes this entirely delightful and fascinating feature based on Mary Norton’s novel The Borrowers. Ghibli films are a wonderful mix of immensely detailed worlds and great storytelling and in this adaptation, director Hiromasa Yonebayashi shows us that we don’t have to go very far from our own bedroom to find an imaginative and rousing tale. Sure there is a small touch of special Ghibli magic and otherworldly themes to The Secret World of Arrietty but it’s easy to believe in a story like this when it comes across so realistic and grounded…like right under your floor boards grounded. Arrietty is a real treat that simply shines on this stunningly beautiful Blu-Ray transfer. Right…
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Off the Shelf…’Lady and the Tramp’
And we call it bella notte. Disney’s Lady and the Tramp arrives on Blu-Ray as the latest addition to their remarkable Diamond Edition series. We’ve seen how features like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast look on Blu-Ray, but how about a feature from way back in 1955? Well, in short, it is glorious! This fits right in place alongside all the Disney treasures and love stories. Sure it’s not of the Princess/fantasy variety we’re used to seeing but still a wonderful tale for any fan of Disney films, or canines, or both. Kids have a lot thrown at them these days so sometimes you need a trip back to…
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Off the Shelf…’The Lion King’
There’s more to see than can ever be seen, more to do than can ever be done. Disney’s amazing and beloved feature The Lion King roars to life on Blu Ray and for a film that is 17 years old the transfer is just stunning. The tale of young Simba traumatized by the loss of his father is a powerful (and Shakespearean) story that can be appreciated by all age groups and all walks of life. Hakuna Matata this is always such a great film to revisit!
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Off the Shelf…’Cars 2′
In a case of mistaken identity, similar to The Man Who Knew Too Much, Lightning McQueen’s affably oblivious best friend Mater is swept up in a dastardly and ingenious plot that would make Ian Fleming smile. John Lasseter has a fondness for spy films (as described in his very informative commentary with co-director Brad Lewis). He and his whole family are huge fans of the Bourne series so he felt making Cars 2 a throwback spy film was the best way to approach this sequel. There are lots of amazing sequences and intriguing plot devices that make this like 007-lite as secret weapons, mysterious villains and action packed sequences abounded. However, like any kid who takes all their toys out and plays with them at once there’s a…
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Off the Shelf…’Winnie the Pooh’
If there’s one Disney staple that I am the most ignorant of it is Winnie the Pooh. Not that the world is hard to comprehend or that I’m oblivious of the characters but I’ve just not had much time with everyone’s favorite rumbly tumbly bear and his endless quest for honey. Not like it takes a lot to become familiar with the inhabitants of A. A. Milne‘s stories, I’ve just never been drawn to those characters. That said, after seeing this newest (and infinitely pleasing) story about Pooh and his friends I don’t mind telling you I am growing quite fond of them all.