JazzyJeff (Level 11)

@Moviemaniac: Mark Kermode is actually really intelligent and insightful. I got a bad first impression of him too, but his Sex and the City 2 review made me at least respect his opinion. Then after watching some of his video blogs, I was finally won over. I doubt you'll change your mind, but try not to write him off. He's worth listening to.

Like most people here, I love film. I hold no prejudice when it comes to the many genres and sub-genres that encompass the wonderful medium. However, here I am watching The Music Man on Detroit Public TV, and I find myself with the same thoughts and feelings that often run through my mind when watching musicals, which can basically be summed up as: "How silly."

It's weird. I like musicals when it comes to animation and plays, but not when it's a live action movie. I just can't accept that all the theatrical singing and dancing is occurring as part of the narrative of the film. It kills my immersion.

That's not to say that I don't appreciate them. I get that it can be a beautiful thing, but I just have a hard time taking them seriously.

I'm curious to hear how others feel about musicals. If you're a fan, what are some of your favorites? Maybe I'll check 'em out.

Just got back from the theater.

I didn't care for the first Transformers, and I disliked the second. I felt like I got my money's worth on this one. It's pretty dumb, but a lot of cool shit happens. People clapped multiple times, and everyone seemed entertained at the end. What else could you really ask from it?

There are some laughs, but the music is cringe-worthy.

Road to Perdition, The Departed, and Miller's Crossing immediately come to mind. Also, Gangs of New York, Boondock Saints, and A History of Violence kind of fit the description. Probably nothing you haven't seen before.

Eh. He doesn't hurt anybody.

I too am a resident of metro Detroit, and this news upsets me greatly. Mayor Bing obviously doesn't know what's good for the city.

I stumbled upon this little gem earlier today on Netflix Instant Queue. It's a documentary about a parking lot in Virginia, and its attendants. It can be pretty funny, but it's also interesting to hear these people talk existentially about their job.  Recommended for people who are in the mood for something not that serious, but still thought provoking.

@Arjuna:  Ahhh, someone with a set of balls! 
 
It's crazy that someone, whose entire goal of being a filmmaker is to celebrate movies, gets the amount of hate that he does. It's also kind of a shame. I'm not saying everyone has to love what Tarantino does, but if you truly love film, then you should at least appreciate it. I don't care how cool it gets to dislike QT, I'll probably always love his work.

Angelo Badalamenti at the moment. His music is hauntingly beautiful. 
 
  

I'm a fan of "motion picture". It sounds grand and artistic.

You've Got Mail.
 
I realize that liking this movie makes me disgusting, but I can't help it. I like the characters, the writing, and the setting. Plus, it just makes me feel good.

For years, my friend told his cousin that they saw Donald Duck walking down the street when she was really young. She basically grew up with this idea being pushed into her head. Now, in her early twenties, she swears that she remembers seeing Donald Duck walking down the street. She knows it didn't happen because he's told her the truth since then, but she remembers it as perfectly as something that actually took place.
 
So yeah, I do think you can "contaminate" people's memory in certain cases and in certain ways. The idea of inception -- as it's done in the film Inception -- seems kind of ridiculous to me, though. I can't speak for everyone, but I know that I don't dream in the manner in which it is represented by in the movie. My dreams are far more abstract.

Roger Ebert just posted a great blog post concerning Inception and negative reviews, in general. Here it is, if you're interested.

I don't know who the better martial artist is/was, but I prefer Jackie's movies. Well, at least his older movies when he didn't use wires or special effects. Not that special effects don't have a place in these types of movies, but there is something to be said for realism and busting your ass in the way of smashing your face through glass or falling off a building.

I'm totally down for this. I've already seen this movie three times, but I'll watch it again to give a fresh a take. Great idea, dude.
 
Here are some suggestions:
Broken Flowers
25th Hour
Any Michael Moore movie (always produces heated debate)
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
No Country for Old Men
The Science of Sleep
Revolutionary Road

The only way I can help is to direct you towards this list. If the movie you're thinking of deals with racism, chances are it'll be there.

Just do what you're doing, man. Watch a lot of movies, and stay passionate. The like-minded people and encyclopedic knowledge will come as a result of that. :)
 
Side note: I prefer the term "movie geek" to describe myself because I'm very passionate about the stuff I like, but indifferent towards things I don't care about. A "film buff", to me, is someone who needs to consume anything and everything that has anything to do with the film industry. These are just my own made up definitions, though. :)

@Daemon:  I've had the displeasure of seeing a couple of scenes from August Underground and its first sequel. These movies show exactly what's wrong with the modern horror scene; it's no longer about art and using a well-crafted story to give the horrific events meaning. Now it's about producing the most shocking and brutal imagery conceivable in an effort to gain a reputation.
 
I'm not going so far as to say that these types of movies don't have a place in cinema, but I'm happy they really only exist in small, tucked away corners.

lol. I guess I'm more or less asking if it's normal for your Image Sub page not to tell you if you have images pending.