raybear: (Spike)
raybear ([personal profile] raybear) wrote2003-01-21 11:11 am

And in the winter extra blankets for the cold, fix the heater getting old

Last night I finished watching The Thin Red Line, which probably would have been better if viewed all in one sitting while also having a stronger attention span, but at this point I've been waiting to see it for so long, there was never going to be a 'right' time. So I just did it anyway. It was somewhat bizarre to see a movie that was exactly the opposite of traditionally casted movies -- usually the main character or two are well known faces and names, and the rest of supporting case is predominantly generic looking no-names. In this case, the main guys were Jim Caviezel and Adrian Brody, relative unknowns, especially in 1998. But then periodically random people like John Travolta or George Clooney or Woody Harrelson would pop up for two scenes.

Malick makes these movies that are slow and lulling and hypnotic and then suddenly this one line gets delivered and the main character's face falls and it's this huge gut-wrenching experience. So it's like I sit through 2 hours of visual imagery for that one moment and it works for me, though I can understand why other folks would be bored to tears. Hell, I'm bored half the time. Though in this movie there were a few exciting fighting scenes in between the slow camera pans that were amazingly well done.

Last night I made a cake. It's the best chocolate cake in the world, in case you were wondering. Not so much the specific cake I made, but the recipe itself. Basically it's a devil's food box cake mix, a cup of chocolate chips, a package of chocolate pudding, and some 1/4 c. oil, 1 1/4 c. water, and 2 eggs. You don't even need a bowl -- you mix it right in the pan you bake it in. The result is a moist rich cake that's so chocolatey it hurts. I can't believe I don't make this cake more often. It's the lazy-person's cake.

In Other NewsTM, I'm a little too excited about the new episode of Buffy tonight.

[identity profile] muffinlove69.livejournal.com 2003-01-21 10:31 am (UTC)(link)
I agree with you on the cake, but mine varies with chocolate cake mix and 4 eggs. It depends if I went gorcery shopping, but regardless, it is a damn good cake.

[identity profile] raybear.livejournal.com 2003-01-21 10:33 am (UTC)(link)
Four eggs? Does this make it more fluffy and cake-like, or more dense and brownie-like? I'm forgetting my baking chemistry here.

[identity profile] muffinlove69.livejournal.com 2003-01-21 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
I think the additional eggs make the cake heavier and more brownie-like, making the cake into a massive chunky wannabe brownie. Hmmm. Brownie . . .

[identity profile] limenal.livejournal.com 2003-01-21 11:48 am (UTC)(link)
Will you tape Buffy for me? I expect to be home around 9:30 or 10. I won't mind if you watch it without me, I just want to be sure and see it myself. Thank you thank you!!!

xo

[identity profile] sometimes-nate.livejournal.com 2003-01-21 11:59 am (UTC)(link)
I want cake!!!

[identity profile] sharkysmachine.livejournal.com 2003-01-21 01:56 pm (UTC)(link)
do you find that malick belabors the point?

[identity profile] raybear.livejournal.com 2003-01-21 02:12 pm (UTC)(link)
what point?? he has points??

seriously though...malick is weird. I can't tell if he makes me feel dumb becaue I don't get it, or if I just get it so well that it's obvious.

the man knows how to work a camera. and do voiceovers. but i'm not as sure about all the rest. I like setting atmosphere in my movies, but he's just sort of ridiculously over the top. which is almost why I like it. (in case you didn't obviously know already, I like over the top.)

so I guess I'd answer your question by saying he dances around his point for too long.

over the top, you mean like stallone?

[identity profile] sharkysmachine.livejournal.com 2003-01-21 02:57 pm (UTC)(link)
hahah. i hadn't noticed!!!