The Year of Definitely Not Watching Any DVDs: July, 2008, Part the Second

Check it, man! Since it's November in a few days, it must be time to blog about more stuff I watched back in July. SUPERBLOG!!: Always timely.

The TV Set (2006)
The making (or unmaking) of a television pilot for an American network. Starring David Duchovny as the creative mind and Sigourney Weaver as his banally evil boss ("Original scares me a little."). During the course of the story you (well, I) get a sinking feeling that it's not even satire, but completely accurate in its depiction of how television gets dumbed down. Pretty good, but not hyper-funny. Doesn't really go anywhere. Spoilery trailer on YouTube.


The Omega Man (1971)
Hey, it's a movie with that guy at the top of this post. (You know, I can't watch any film starring Charlton Heston without thinking about dear, departed Phil Hartman.) This action-oriented adaptation of I am Legend has aged way more than the one with Vincent Price, from seven years previously (reviewed last time). The most embarrassing bit may be when a black woman takes offence at the word "spooked". Or, no, wait, it's the final image, with Heston in a Christ-like pose. Anthony Zerbe as the main baddie (Charles Manson?) is kind of effective. But the bad guys remind me of the mutants in Beneath the Planet Of The Apes. Boring as hell. Vastly superior: "The Homega Man" (from back when The Simpsons was Simpsons Good).



The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
Classic film noir. Very enjoyable, even the silly ending can't ruin it. Best of all is the relentless, deadpan, and psychotic Sterling Hayden. He's a little like Charlton Heston, only more extreme and unpredictable. It's exciting to watch him in a hooligan role because it seems like he's always two seconds away from getting violent. He's a volcano about to erupt. My God, how I love Sterling Hayden. Plus: Marilyn Monroe in a small role.


The Kingdom (2007)
Competent action drama about a team of FBI agents investigating a terror attack in Saudi Arabia. The team consists of the slightly (not very) badass Jamie Foxx, aided by Chris Cooper, Jason Bateman (comic relief), and Jennifer Garner (woman). Not as involving as it maybe should have been, considering the seriousness of its subject matter. Ends with the Americans shooting many an Arab.



Charly (1968)
Moving story of retarded guy who is given the chance to get smarter. Fine performance by Cliff Robertson in the lead, fine script, interesting direction. But it seems strangely abbreviated in places, and doesn't cut quite as deep as I would have liked. Still, good movie. Based on classic science fiction story Flowers for Algernon and, like everything worthwhile, pastiched in The Simpsons (in the episode "HOMR").


Real Genius (1985)
Amiable film about teenage geniuses unwittingly developing a laser weapon. Starring Val Kilmer and a guy who looks like a transsexual Sarah Jessica Parker. Silly, unbelievable ending. Awful soundtrack - the '80s SUCKED.


Repo Man (1984)
Emilio Estevez repossesses cars and gets entangled in a science fiction plot. Supposedly "fun" but actually pretty boring. (Although there are some nice touches and a couple of nearly-great lines of dialogue.) It's got a reputation as a cult classic but I'm not sure why. Probably you had to be there. Sweded on YouTube.


Yes, and in July I also watched a lot of other movies and TV series, which I don't feel like reviewing. But buy me a beer some time and I'll tell you all about them:

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
Wedding Belles (2007) (R)
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
Dune (1984) (R)
Without a Clue (1988) (R)
Eraserhead (1977) (R)
Spaced Series 2: (2000, 7 episodes)
Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt (2003)
House of Games (1987)
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Dune: Extended Edition (1984/1989)
Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (2007) (R)
In Bruges (2008)
The Lost Weekend (1945) (R)
They Might Be Giants (1971)
Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)
Father Ted: Series 1 (1995, 6 episodes) (R)
Strangers on a Train (1951)
Northern Exposure: Season 1 (1990, 8 episodes) (R)
Little Shop of Horrors (1986) (R)
Throw Momma from the Train (1987) (R)
Father Ted: Series 2 (1996, 10+1 episodes) (R)
The Anniversary Party (2001)
I Confess (1953)
The Grifters (1990)
Ricky Gervais Live 3: Fame (2007)
Get Carter (1971) (R)
Knocked Up (2007) (R)
The Long Goodbye (1973)
Father Ted: Series 3 (1998, 8 episodes)
Stage Fright (1950)
The Wrong Man (1956)
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
Smart People (2008)
Dial M for Murder (1954) (R)
Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy (2006)
Zero Effect (1998)
A Perfect Murder (1998)
The Descent (2005)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
NYPD Blue: Season 1 (1993-1994, 22 episodes)
Gothic (1986)
Mad Men: Season 1 (2007, 13 episodes)
Altered States (1980)
Wanted (2008)
Sunshine (2007)
The Third Man (1949) (R)
Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party (2005)
Niagara, Niagara (1997)

Now, you may be wondering how the hell I had the time to watch all that stuff and so do I. Did I do anything aside from watching DVDs that summer? It's all a blur at this point.