I decided that this weekend I was going to have a go at getting into watching the women's soccer world cup. I don't know whether I can say it's been a successful endeavor, but it certainly hasn't been an unpleasant one. All told, I've enjoyed some really impressive exhibitions of athleticism and teamwork. I've also fallen asleep … a lot. In fact, it's hard to tell whether I've spent more time watching or more time napping. Probably the latter.
Having said that, I did manage to stay conscious long enough to go and see the new Mad Max film. I was going to wait and see what Melba thought of it, but I guess she hasn't got around to going, and it looked like the run was winding up at the cinema here. I haven't decided yet, if I'm happy with my decision, but I'll get back to that later.
Primarily, I'd like to say that I thought it was a good, solid action flick; however, it did have a few peculiarities that, while I thought they worked in the film's favour, may not be everyone's cup of tea. Firstly, there was very little dialogue, and almost none of it was used to move the story. So, while there's a decent amount of character development, and a surprising amount of emotional heft for an action flick, most of that gets achieved through the visuals. It's a very visual story. Which brings me to the way things look; specifically that most of the action looks like it's either slightly sped up or slowed down, and there's a lot of quick cutting. Thankfully, this isn't done in a "Matrix-y" kind of way. Instead, it gives the movie a SLIGHTLY "unreal" dreamy/nightmarish feeling. I might even go so far as to describe it as a post apocalyptic fantasy vibe. Also, yes, the movie really is just one extended chase sequence, with 90% of scenes taking place in, on, or beside a truck in the middle of nowhere — which also makes it kinda feel like a bit of a road movie.
I do have a few quibbles: The performance from the bloke playing Max was kind of underwhelming, there were a few visual effects here and there that felt out of place, and some of the Aussie accents were a little jarring; but really, these were pretty minor distractions. The big question for me is whether or not it was worth the admission price of $18, and honestly, I haven't been able to make up my mind. It's definitely worth $10. It's probably worth $15. But for $18, I want to see something pretty bloody top-notch, and I feel like this might have just been one or two notches below that mark.
Still, it's really good, and if you get the chance to watch it on video or telly, you definitely should. No doubt about it.
As a side note, I'd also like to mention the bizarre wave of nostalgia that hit me while I was watching this. Even though the landscapes don't look at all Australian, the images of burning around on dirt roads in old frankenstein vehicles, while hanging off the back/roof and shooting at things … well, it really made me think of being a teenager again. Also, the way the "war boys" overcame their fear of death by huffing aerosol chrome … but maybe the less said about that the better.
Oh, and one last thing I'd like to mention about my trip to the cinema: The ads. I've mentioned before that I thought the preview for this movie made it look like a steaming pile of dung. Well, after today's outing, I'm going to put forward the theory that all modern previews make all movies look similarly execrable. I saw previews for a Marvel Comics action flick that looked ridiculous; an Amy Schumer vehicle and a sequel to that talking teddy-bear thing with Marky Mark, both of which looked like the most juvenile and puerile forms of comedy imaginable; and some crap about male strippers that was pitched at the female demographic in such a manner that it felt like someone was purposefully attempting to insult my intelligence.
Seriously, preview makers, lift your fucking game!
And while I'm having a whinge about the pre-roll — the regular ads weren't much better. Pretty much all of them were for mobile phones or mobile data plans — one of which appeared to be selling the idea of people (children, teens, adults, oldies) going through their entire lives staring at their phones and tablets while oblivious to the world around them. That imagery doesn't make your product seem appealing, it makes it seem fucking horrifying! Also, Samsung, your ad was such a wanky load of pretentiously artsy bollocks that I didn't have a fucking clue what you were trying to sell me!
Oh, and a message to the cinema — the music you were playing when I came in and sat down had some cunt rapping about how he was going out to score drugs and if his bitch missus didn't like it he was going to smack her in the mouth. And yes, I appreciate that you were playing the "radio friendly" version of the song that had the name of the drug and the word "bitch" muted out, but frankly, I doubt that was really what was going to cause the most offense to the most number of people.
Since I'd rather not end this post on a sour note, I'll finish with what was possibly the most positive thing to come out of my foray into the world of women's soccer. Remember how I said the musical act they had playing at the opening ceremony sounded a lot like '80s synthpop? Well, it turns out they're a pair of Canadian identical twins named Tegan and Sara, who go by the name "Tegan and Sara", and that one retro synthpop song comes off an entire album of retro synthpop songs … and it's actually pretty decent. Even the videos for the songs are surprisingly good. Enjoy!
8 comments :
For synthpop - you can't go past Grimes. Makes me want to chew bubble gum and wear a pink, fluffy jumper
Still haven't seen MM. Think I'm just hanging out for the space movies. I started to read The Martian - couldn't hack the crap writing
I've never heard of Grimes, but I just listened to a couple of the songs on her Youtube page — wow, you weren't wrong. Thank you — I'm going to go listen to some more.
A lot of the tech shows I listen to have been raving about The Martian for months. I had no idea it was poorly written though. I couldn't muster any interest in the film once I heard it was going to star Matt Damon. Nothing against him personally, but I feel like I can already see it in my mind, and I don't particularly like what I see.
Okay, having listened to a little more of Grimes' work, I'm going to say that some of it may be a little too, um, experimental for my palette.
Which ones are the top-notch tracks, Squib?
Not so keen on this year's stuff from her but I have three CDs and like them all: Visions, Halfaxa, Geidi Primes. Quite a few songs are really good for running through the woods! Especially Genesis, Oblivion, Avi, Swan Song, River
Another one I'm enjoying is a playlist on 8tracks called Russian Cosmonaut by verabeara. Good background music when you're trying to do stuff
Have to use headphones though unless you have great speakers
I've been AWOL sorry. I saw Mad Max. Saw it twice. Loved it so much had to go back again two nights later with Princess. She loved it so much she had to go back two days later to see it again with a friend. I loved it so much I think it's broken the cinema for me, and I won't go again to see anything else until the next MM film.
I am serious. I loved it so much, it stayed with me for days, I was obsessed, reading all I could find about it.
It's faded now a bit but thinking about it. I'd see it again.
Loved it.
Hey Melbs, not surprised you've been AWOL. Ever since I got to know you, the one big goal you've had is getting a book published. Now that the date's fast approaching, I imagine you're sinking the majority of your time and effort into that. Exciting, no?
Also, wow; I liked Mad Max quite a bit, but obviously not as much as you. What was it that captured your imagination to such a degree?
*MILD SPOILERS*
I think the thing that stuck in my brain the most was actually the character arc for Nux, the war boy. From time to time I've found myself going over his dialogue in my mind.
To start with, he seems like this evil, ghoulish, menacing, fanatical, subhuman; what with his body paint and scarification and schizophrenic speech patterns and all. Then you find out that he's spent his whole life immersed in an entirely male, warrior culture, and literally the only thing he wants to do before he dies is make his "father" proud. But this all leads to his emotional destruction — and then we see him get rebuilt under a maternal influence.
I never really bothered to find out exactly what the anti-feminist wankers were up in arms about; I think it was something to do with Furiosa and the wives being the central story, with Max sort of pushed off to supporting status; but having seen it, I reckon if they were going to whinge about anything, it probably should've been Nux.
I thought he was great.
I loved Nux, found him an entirely sympathetic character and while after the first viewing I couldn't rally understand why he changed from antagonistic force to helping them, Princess explained to me and I got it more after seeing it again. I think it was when he was called 'mediocre' by Imortan Joe and it was so crushing to him after he'd given everything and was prepared to die for the cause.
I loved the character names, I loved the way it was shot, it was so beautiful, especially that night section. To me it was a work of art (the aesthetics are incredible) and it’s probably a masterpiece and is going to be one of those films that is an instant classic (no, I can’t think of another one. It’s that unique.)
It’s beautifully shot, the colours are amazing, the setting wide and wild. It’s thematically rich and interesting: redemption, revenge, females in front of the action, in the middle of the action, in the thick of it, driving it. And a whole bunch of female characters, of all ages and beauties and capabilities. It’s a display of stunning inventiveness; from the vehicles being driven through the desert to the apparel the characters wear. It moves fast, so fast you can barely breathe, but it’s dense and packed with meaning (which is why I want to see it again, and also with subtitles, though I’m not sure how much dialogue I missed. Apparently, one aim of the makers of the movie was that it could be ‘seen in Japan with no subtitles and the audience would understand everything). So it’s dense and detailed visually but stripped back narrative-wise, so there is little dialogue, no set-up, you are launched into the situation, and have to fill in gaps, make assumptions. It’s beautiful storytelling in that way (how I like to read books, not being told everything). I found it completely fascinating and wondrous.
Now you've got me wanting to see it again. LOVED IT. I also liked that the dialogue was so sparse, you didn't get everything told to you. Some looks between Max and Furiosa were enough. Also that there is a whole backstory and we don't get to see it, or learn it. It was brave in that way; maybe so confident the chase scenes and action would carry it but it wasn't just about the action, there was real depth to it, real story and heart.
It wasn't just that Joe called him mediocre; it's that his failure resulted in the death of the favourite wife. And to make matters worse, Nux's blood-bag, whom he had taken out into the field against regulations, was driving the rig when she died. I deciphered some of this from his fevered sobbing when the redhead wife found him.
I also like that we weren't told any needless backstory, and also there is no real lead-in to the story — it just starts. Great decision.
I think the low point was the big crash at the end — where the steering wheel flies out of the screen — it looked like it was filmed for 3D. Looked absolutely shocking. But that's the only dodgy bit I can think off.
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