Garden State

[Mighty_Wingman]

From the trailer this is looking really good.
I think Natalie Portman in a bathing suit will make it worth the price of admission , if nothing else.

Check out the trailer (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/GardenState-10002061/trailers.php) and tell me what you think.

[Razorback]

It looks interesting. I will see it, but I won't see it in the theatre.

[DarthMaulRat]

Yeah, after seeing the trailer (after the Trailer Park column recommended it), I was amazed by the visual impact of it. Whoever is the DP deserves all the awards he/she can get. And Zach Braff, who knew? He seems to be the next big thing in independent cinema.

[Mighty_Wingman]

It's like the ol' saying about a picture being worth a thousand words. It looks like a visual feast, without special effects.

I think the greatest directors can catch just the right angles and POVs to express and convey the correlating emotion. It's rare when a trailer gives me chills.

Zach has given me alot of laughs on "Scrubs " I don't think he's going to let me down here.

[BAMSS04]

Scrubs is awesome!!!

[Zens_7s]

I was just discussing this trailer last Wednesday with someone. It looks exactly like the kind of film I enjoy, and I love both Zach and Natalie. It is going on my must see list...

[DarthMaulRat]

Now we have two icons from New Jersey to worship! No, not you RB, only in your mind...

[Razorback]

I am worshipped, and not in my mind. /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

[Zens_7s]

I may begin to worship Zach. He is a fine piece of man-meat, and to me that is all that matters.

[DarthMaulRat]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
He is a fine piece of man-meat

[/ QUOTE ]

Cannibal!!!!

[Zens_7s]

You bet your sweet ass, baby. /forums/images/icons/grin.gif

I have not had a chance to watch Scrubs in a long time. Hoping they will do a DVD release I can pick up on Netflix. Unfortunately, all my favorite shows I have to wait to watch that way. I NEED Tivo.

[ILovePapaSmurf]

<font color="purple">So, men will watch a movie for a hot girl in a bathing suit and call it good?</font color>

[Omaru]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
So, men will watch a movie for a hot girl in a bathing suit and call it good?

[/ QUOTE ]

If it didn't work for charlies angels 2, it won't work here.

[Mighty_Wingman]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
So, men will watch a movie for a hot girl in a bathing suit and call it good?

[/ QUOTE ]

If the "hot girl" in question is on my top ten list ? YES.

Portman ranks about sixth , though I haven't updated my list in a while.

[Mighty_Wingman]

...Finally.

Okay, so it wasn't everything I expected or hoped for. But it was very good. It is, essentially, a romantic comedy, though not nearly as schmaltzy or sickly sweet as a Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan pairing. Matter of fact, it was less schmaltzy than "Jersey Girl".

Quirky but realistic characters and mostly, really good ( not flawless ) acting. Braff and Portman are amiable and fun to watch together. But Sarsgaard keeps turning up as the best actor in whatever he's in . Someone get this guy a lead , STAT !

I didn't Imagine the theatre would be filled to capacity at an 11:15 am showing, and that I'd be sharing a cupholder with a complete stranger. The audience, very audibly showed their appreciation for the humor of the film , so much so, that I'm positive I missed a few of the better jokes to their reactions. ( and well, some of my own.) I wont mind seeing this again at the theatre, even if the last thirty or forty minutes are a bit slow.

Not to spoil anything, but I get the impression that Braff had a different ending in mind and someone made him change it, also more of Portman in a bathing suit would've been a good thing.

Wingman gives this movie 4.6 out of a possible 5. Though not without problems, it's definitely worth seeing.

Now who wants to play a game of "dodge the flaming arrow " !?!

[Ryall]

&gt;Okay, so it wasn't everything I expected or hoped for. But it was very good. It is, essentially, a romantic comedy

I suppose that's one way of looking at it, but since it was hardly "romantic," and since most everyone in the movie was a bit disturbed, I didn't see it as any kind of date movie. I mean, it worked as a date movie, yeah, but it's not in any way sappy. I liked it a lot. I had a few little issues, but they're minor things (such as, do they really let you off an airplane once you've boarded?).

&gt;Quirky but realistic characters and mostly, really good ( not flawless ) acting. Braff and Portman are amiable and fun to watch together. But Sarsgaard keeps turning up as the best actor in whatever he's in . Someone get this guy a lead , STAT !

I agree, he's great in everything I've seen him in. Braff and Portman were really good, too--you can tell when she responds to material (compare her work in this versus a Star Wars flick).

&gt;I didn't Imagine the theatre would be filled to capacity at an 11:15 am showing, and that I'd be sharing a cupholder with a complete stranger. The audience, very audibly showed their appreciation for the humor of the film , so much so, that I'm positive I missed a few of the better jokes to their reactions.

I was surprised, too--saw it in a primarily gay neighborhood here (the closest are to LA I've found in SD) and yet the crowd was really mixed, older married couples, younger kids, all over the place. Even three weeks after it's opened, people applauded at the end. I always find that odd, but sweet (when it's merited).

&gt;Not to spoil anything, but I get the impression that Braff had a different ending in mind and someone made him change it

That's possible, but since it was a tiny indie flick, I tend to think it wasn't compromised, but you never know. The sum wasn't as good as its parts, I don't think, meaning I didn't care as much about the ending as all the little moments throughout the movie.

[jjcourtright]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
such as, do they really let you off an airplane once you've boarded?).

[/ QUOTE ]

Did that back in May coming back from Oregon. I got yelled at, but they didn't put up much of a fight to stop me.

[Razorback]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
such as, do they really let you off an airplane once you've boarded?

[/ QUOTE ]

By law they have to let a passenger off any flight if they do not want to be on it.

[Mighty_Wingman]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
but since it was hardly "romantic,"

[/ QUOTE ] Wrapped in a blanket after a night swim, in front of a huge fireplace sharing an intimate moment. C'mon , really ? Into which genre would it fit, if not romantic comedy ?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
you can tell when she responds to material (compare her work in this versus a Star Wars flick).

[/ QUOTE ]

The role is definitely a better one for her, probabaly why she agreed to do it pro bono. But I mean, who can blame her ? U2s' early stuff is really great.... Though I can't imagine anyone else playing Amidala... Not now, anyways.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I tend to think it wasn't compromised, but you never know.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're probably right, but when you compare the opening scene with the parts closer to the end, you start to think " So that's what the dream meant ? Oh shit ! " I came to understand the real symbolism of the dream later , but it could've gone either way, when you think about it. Or perhaps that was just miss-direction ?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
The sum wasn't as good as its parts, I don't think, meaning I didn't care as much about the ending as all the little moments throughout the movie.

[/ QUOTE ]
Agreed, it's a movie of great, funny, moments. The "seeing eye dog" and "magic marker" sequences are enough by themselves, to make me shell out the price of admission again, and own it on DVD.

[straight2video]

I was watching Comedy Central at like 3 in the morning and I saw a trailor for Garden State and it looked like Natalie Portman wasn't wearing her thong. Anybody else catch that or was I just exhausted?

[EternalStrife]

Is anybody else up at 3 am watching Comedy Central?

[diet]

hey eternal, is that a pair of hot boobs or a farty butt in flames? /forums/images/icons/confused.gif

[BAMSS04]

So yeah I just now saw this. It was such an awesome movie. I was taken back by how great it was. I was expecting something way differant than that.

FOUR STARS!!!!
TWO THUMBS UP!!!
JUST WONDERFUL!!!

[ozchick]

Yeah I saw it over Christmas too. I thought it was pretty good. It was without doubt the best I've seen Natalie Portman act and Peter Skarsgaad (sp?) was brilliant too. Bits of the flick didnt sit right for me but I cant put my finger on what. Dont get me wrong, I enjoyed it but I think I expected to laugh out loud a bit more.

Now I Heart Huckabees - that was a laugh outloud movie - a comment probably which needs to go to its own thread.... eh too bad!

[code6enterprises]

I bought it the day after i came out and I think it's just amazing. Beautiful.

[ILovePapaSmurf]

<font color="purple">I cried like a bitch when I first watch it and everytime I watch it, I still cry like a bitch. It is just so awesome.</font color>

[TLS]

I haven't seen it yet.
Is it a 'City of Angels' sad or more of a happy sad?

[BAMSS04]

Very hard to explain. The only thing I can say is that you will walk away from that movie feeling pretty good. You will enjoy it when you watch it. I am pretty much addicted to it. /forums/images/icons/grin.gif

[TLS]

Thanks, I hope to enjoy it this weekend. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

[TLS]

I have now finally seen it (twice)... have to bring it back to the rental store soon. Just want to say you were right, I really enjoyed this movie. I think my favorite line it is 'and here comes the lipstick' (made me laugh both times)
/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

[BAMSS04]

I thought you would!

Good, I am really glad you enjoyed it. The lipstick part is funny but my favorite part is the dog scratchng himself. /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

[karmattack]

I rented it last night and really enjoyed it. It wasn't quiiiiiiite as good as some people built it up to be, but it was damn good.

[BAMSS04]

I'm glad. I hope I didn't get you too pumped up about it. I am really glad to see you liked it, though.

[karmattack]

No, it was my cousin. He was talking about how he just watched it twice in a row, and for me not to bother renting it and just bu it, etc.

[FanGirl]

I finally watched it over the weekend. It may have been a bit overhyped for me because I didn't seem to dig it as much as everyone else did. I thought it was great, but it didn't strike that cord with me. Topher's character in "In Good Company" struck more of a nerve with me than Zach's in this.

[BAMSS04]

Sorry, if we hyped it up for you. /forums/images/icons/frown.gif I'm glad you liked it though!

[FanGirl]

It wasn't just you guys. All my friends were ranting and raving about how good it was. It's hard to live up to that hype unless, of course, it's Shaun of the Dead.

[BAMSS04]

I still haven't seen that.... I think I'm gonna rent it tonight. I hope its as good as I have heard.

[FanGirl]

Would our lord and master, Ryall, work on making it a comic if it wasn't a 1000% awesome? The the answer to that is yes, but it's still an amazing flick. I kind of want to own a cricket bat now just in case.

[Robbo_the_Hood]

I agree. I saw it a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't that great. The soundtrack is amazing, and it's an all right movie. I can see why it struck a chord with so many people, but it was just all right. It seems like the twentysomething version of "Lost in Translation."

[marksiwel]

I just got the soundtrack in the mail today.

[Mighty_Wingman]

Ripping off Columbia House again?

... Or do you have a musical mailbox?