Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
scott@scottlongonline.com
Ok, let me begin by acknowledging that "Pulp Fiction" might be my favorite movie of all-time and "Reservoir Dogs" is not too much behind it, so I'm a huge fan of Quentin Tarantino's work. While I didn't like "Jackie Brown" on the same level, I think it's an excellent movie which probably gets a bit short-changed, being compared to the two previous Tarentino masterpieces. I mention this, because I went into seeing Kill Bill 1, with some great expectations.
What a huge disappointment. The first movie is a martial arts/blaxplotation-influenced mess. With a body count that Rambo would find appalling, reality is a quality basically ignored in Kill Bill 1. Now, to be fair, I don't like Kung Fu flicks, so I'm not the best person to review a movie like this, but Tarantino is too much of a special talent to be wasting time on a meaningless cartoon. The one thing which is spectacular in the first of the series is the gorgeous cinematography, but it can't overcome the ridiculous storyline.
After this waste of my time, I did not rush out to see the second installment at the theatres, waiting until it came to premium cable. Considering I had read where Kill Bill 2 was the more dialogue heavy of the two, I was hopeful it would redeem the first mess. NOPE. It basically was like a 2 hour Kung Fu episode, without Grasshopper.
I think the Carradine family is pretty talented, you know, the guy from "Nashville" and "Pretty Baby" and the star of the Nerd movies, but the one brother I don't get is David. His whole acting style is deadpan, which fits his looks. Add to this mix, Daryl Hannah, who unless she's playing a mermaid, I'm not digging and Uma Thurman who is not the super fine fox she used to be and there isn't any ingredient besides Michael Madsen worth watching.
Grasshopper Say: "When you're doing an explotation flick, your femme fatale should resemble young Raquel Welch or Pam Grier to keep the audience's focus."
Tarantino's film school was working in a video store, which is a blessing and in the Kill Bill's movie, a big stinking curse. Here's hoping he picks a genre of film that allows him to demonstrate his revolutionary film-making talents, instead of the Tarentino version of a 70's episodic television show that Kill Bill 1&2 are.
"meaningless cartoon"...that's a spin on Japanese anime. incredibly influential to eastern and western cinema.
http://www.animenfo.com/
as for the rest, well...you no likey the uma/hannah fight scene? there's no hope for you, scott ((:-))
the scence where uma meets carradine out on the porch of the church where she eventually gets slaughtered? pure classic. scene, acting, music, prescence, empathy, character development, direction, etc., etc., etc.
and really, where do such female characters exist in western film anymore (ever)?
i could go on....
the only problem i have with tarantino in regards to KBV I & II is that he didn't stand-up more fervently to Harvey Weinstein when the hatchet-man demanded splitting up the baby for commercial purposes. arrgh.
As much as I love Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, Tarantino is fast becoming self-parody. His direction of the CSI finale was great and extremely tight -- save for two vintage Quentin moments of pseudo-pop references for no reason other than the reference. (For those that watched, Dukes game and Trigger.)
Tarantino is fast becoming the anti-Miike with similar results.
The thing I think I dig most about his movies are the seamlessly integrated soundtracks. The music is of great importance in his films and while it is front and center sometimes ("Stuck in the Middle with You"), to me at least, I don't feel bludgoened by it. Most movies might as well have a voice over announcing, "Now for the Music Video portion of our show," then getting right in to whatever shitty Goo Goo Doll or Matchbox 20 song they had written/bought for them.
surely you jest.
And don't make me bring up that piece of crap Spielberg. ((:') Yeah Schindlers List was great, but what else has he done lately? The Terminal..Catch Me If You Can (popcorn)...Minority Report (horrible final act)...and the God-awful AI (kubrick rolling over in grave)..??? Amistad...Hook..
Tarantino may miss the mark a little here and there, and we can surely quibble about the uber-violence in KB, but he's out there taking visionary, artistic challenges; meanwhile Spielberg is walking the easy road by making mega-plex/middle America/feel good/overly-sentimental dreck.
/rant
As for KB I & II, they are obviously nowhere near as good as Tarantino's more groundbreaking flicks, but I think they both work very well as satires of/homages to the genres of anime, western, and kung fu. I would agree that Quentin has been moving in the direction of self-parody, and I hope he makes another great movie, but KB I & II are still pretty cool.
"they are better than almost everything else that comes out of Hollywood with a few notable exceptions. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't hope for more though."
Very well written and I completely agree.
That chris in illinois...he's one smart cookie.
btw, how've you been dude?
I've been pretty busy with work and life and my 13 month old little guy. I'm trying to recover from the news that my wife is expecting twins in early December: so far no luck.
I've also been hiding a bit since I said before the season that the White Sox could potentially be the worst team in the AL this year. Do you have a date when you expect the Twins to overtake the Sox?
Cheers,
Chris.
Congrats, I think. As someone who loves my 22 month old daughter like nothing else on this earth, I can honestly say that I have no idea how someone deals with twins, but others have done it, so I guess it's possible.
I've been quiet on your post and others telling me how pathetic the Sox would be, before the season, but it's about time to pay the piper. I'll be out shopping for a flute, so start getting prepared.
One way you prepare for twins is to trade in your Magnum with a Hemi(tm) for a Mini-Van [sigh]. I'm not sure how I'll manage to survive the dream of three kids under two years old at once, but others have done far more with less.
RE: Sox. I have no rooting intrest in the AL Central, but I am looking forward to a Twin/Sox race to the end---the posts around here could get interesting...
Re: Twins/GFWS, I really think the Sox will win the division and the Twins will win the WC. After all, the Sox really only have to play .500/.550 ball the rest of the year to win 97/96 games, and I certainly think they are capable of that (as much as it pains me to say it about those A**holes).
The key though will be six games in August 15-17 23-25. The last four years when big series have come up late in the year, the Twins have always punked. If they're within 4 games this year it will be interesting to see if the trash-talking Sox can hold their own.
Again, congrats to you. Good to see your wit and wisdom is still around these parts. You've always been one of the best commenters around.
Stay in touch,
TFD
You flatter me. We do know that they are fraternal and we'll probably know he sex(es) in another 7-8 weeks. As soon as I sell my house and move into another one I think I'll be able to relax a bit, but until then....
Chris
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.