Hey Editing Bin faithful, Stephanie and I are psyched about bringing you the latest movie reviews over the holidays! As you can imagine nothing is a better Christmas present for us than spending time with our families and checking out new films (preferably both at the same time). So watch out for our special “Holiday Blitz” where we will be reviewing the best that Hollywood has to offer this season: Sherlock Holmes, Up in the Air, and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus! Look for a fresh new episode this week.
“Holiday Blitz” Coming Soon!
December 28th, 2009Snow, snow, snoooooooooooow!
December 21st, 2009The northeastern United States is under several feet of snow thanks to storms that started last Friday evening. Entire cities have called it quits in the face of winter’s handiwork. For The Editing Bin, this meant that Rachel was the only one able to get to a showing of Avatar. In honor of her bravery, and as a proof of my existance in this frozen tundra, I’ve attached a picture of what a weekend without Avatar looks like.
For those of you stuck in the airport, my deepest sympathy. For those of you curled by the fire, enjoy the snow day. For those of you who wish you could have a white Christmas, you are welcome to all of the snow you can carry. Please, bring your 4-wheelers, buckets, and shovels. Just grab your snowshoes and make sure your vehicle is insured. Because we have snow – lots of it – and thanks to the freeze of last night, we also have premium ice available for low rates. It’s fun for the whole family.
I, in the meantime, will remain curled in front of my radiator enjoying the picture of fire that glimmers so beautifully on my television screen, and look forward to next weekend’s podcast: The Editing Bin’s Christmas Blitz.
Happy Holidays everyone!
-Stephanie
Rest in peace Brittany Murphy
December 21st, 2009Brittany Murphy passed away this weekend after being found unconscious by her mother in her home. As of now, no foul play is suspected.
The star’s popularity had diminished of late, but her career contains well known films like Clueless (1995), Girl, Interrupted (1999), and Happy Feet (2006). I am sorry to see her go. She was one of the stars who couldn’t quite make it off the ground, but who I always hoped would be a success.
Rest in peace Brittany.
Because, unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent.
December 15th, 2009
The trailer for Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood (2010) took the internet by storm today. Everyone is talking about the costumes, the leading couple (played by Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett), and the giant explosions that leave the trailer (here) barely coherent. We are left to guess whether Russell Crowe can even do a real British accent. As for Blanchett – the back of her head looks very nice. Maybe in the next teaser we’ll actually get to see more of her face.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. The truth is, I’m actually kind of excited about this movie. I’ve been a fan of the Robin Hood mythology since I was old enough to sneak attack the good for nothing nobility (read: the family pets) for trespassing through Sherwood forest (read: the living room).
I have always wished for a Robin Hood film that dared to break the mould and show the raucous, gritty, adventurous side of the legendary figure – none of this theatrical, over-staged nonsense. I may get my wish in Ridley Scott’s brainchild, but the Michael Bay effect of the trailer leaves me slightly skeptical … and slightly dizzy, but that’s probably due to all of the hyper-editing. Seriously, I know we’re trying to be vague, but it would be nice to see something. I guess I’ll have to wait for the rest of the footage the studio is sure to “leak” before this movie hits theaters.
In the meantime, I’ve decided to fill the marauder shaped void in my life by looking back at this capeless crusader’s reign in American cinema.
Shrek (2001): The scene isn’t long and Robin Hood is French, but … he gets the crap kicked out of him by Cameron Diaz. That along makes this movie worth watching.
-Stephanie
*The post has been edited. Thanks Harmony for catching the error. 
What every girl needs in her life: romance and zombies.
December 14th, 2009
Now Portman, through her Handsome Charlie production company, plans to bring the undead regency tale to the big screen with Annette Savitch and Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly (as a producer). Lionsgate is on board to finance and distribute the film. David O’Russell (I Heart Huckabees) has agreed to direct and write the screenplay. Who knows, maybe zombies will be the next vampires. Personally, I’m all for it – so long as undead creatures of all persuasions cease their sparkling immediately.
So tell me, have you read this literary zombie extravaganza? If so, what do you think of a big screen adaptation?
Step aside ickle children, Harry’s a big boy now
December 12th, 2009
The first teaser trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 hit the net on Monday to much excited clapping from at least this fan. But my reaction was slightly less enthusiastic when I heard director David Yates’ comments about his vision for the new films.
According to Yates, the upcoming movie (which will cover the first half of Deathly Hallows) will be different from anything we have already seen in the series. Because the Golden Trio is running from the Death Eaters in muggle England, this film will be grittier and less fanciful than its predecessors. I’m all for bringing greater gravity to this chapter in the story by adding more realism. This is the beginning of the final battle and that should give the audience a taste for the reality of the fight.
What has the internet hopping and me concerned, however, is a different revelation from Mr. Yates. Apparently this movie will feature a nude sex scene between Harry and Hermione. Yes, you read that correctly. Harry and Hermione are getting it on in the next film adaption of this children’s book series.
HP fans may wonder where this scene was in the final novel. Hint: it wasn’t. Unless Yates got his own special “adult” copy.
I guess this is Yates’ way of letting all of the series’ prepubescent fans know that Harry’s a big boy now.
Read the article here.
Sometimes a spade is a melodramatic teenager
December 9th, 2009
It’s not really fair to solely blame Director Chris Weitz for “the Hindenburg” that Twilight is to the teen psyche. After all, Stephanie Meyer’s books were hardly groundbreaking literature – unless you count their ability to cause riots at Hot Topic stores. But Weitz is the one who said:
“Nothing surprises me in terms of reviews. Having been a reviewer myself, there are only two ways to spin this story. You can either be the one guy who says this is a great movie, or more likely, take a more jaundiced view of the whole thing. And given the media blitz that has accompanied ‘New Moon,’ it’s rather unsurprising. I do wish there was more appreciation for cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe. I think he’s a genius, and I think he made something beautiful.”
I could ignore this as a wounded ego talking. But where’s the fun in that?
Followers of the editing bin are familiar with the general skepticism through which I view the entire Team Edward/Team Jacob phenomenon. I was happy to give Twilight a chance, and had high hopes for the sequel. I read the books and even slogged my way through the drug trip that is Breaking Dawn. 
Meyer’s characters wouldn’t know a healthy relationship if it bit them. Her female lead, Bella, actively puts herself in life threatening situations, lies to her parents, ignores her friends, and uses the people who most want to help her for her own personal gain. She treats everyone around her like something she stepped in, and that’s “okay” because she loves Edward. (He’s got his own fun bag of issues but they come out in Eclipse, so he gets a reprieve for now.)
In real life, the relationships in Twilight would lead to spousal abuse, but on the big screen it earns millions. Maybe, ten years from now Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson plan to balance their karma by gracing us all with a film remake of 
Enough (2002). Until then, we have a generation of impressionable young women who believe that “this is love.”*
Let’s assume for a moment that I (as one of these CRAZY critics) am not a raving man-hater, that I didn’t enter that theater beating my tambourine and screaming “all romance must die!” Heck, I’ll even agree with Weitz that the film is quite beautiful – at times. It certainly was a drastic improvement on the blue monotone of Twilight Saga: 
Twilight (2008).
But the vast majority of the criticism that has been levied against this film (not just by me) has been in regard to Bella and the fact that we are made to freaking hate her by the end of the film. Why? Because she simpers, whines, and otherwise drags her way through the movie over a boy who posesses one facial expression. Weitz had a bit of an uphill battle to take Meyer’s work and make it a well rounded story suitable for the big screen. But come on! He completely ignores or glosses over the FEW rational or kind moments that Bella has in the books.
Rule #1 of storytelling: provide a sympathetic character to whom the audience can relate. The most relatable person in this film was Taylor Lautner as Jacob (which would be great if this was a film about Jacob and his relationship troubles). Edward, meanwhile, is a hologram (though I’m not sure how upset I am about this given Pattinson’s inability to make eye contact … with anyone). Instead, we are left to watch as Bella goes from being a generally unlikable storybook character to all out bitch. By halfway through the film, I didn’t care whether she found her boyfriend; I was too busy counting the victims she left in her wake.
Maybe I am jaundiced. Maybe, I am “a murderer of love!”** Or, maybe, I am just not willing to bow to the “oooh, shiny!” effect. Being the one critic who looks at this movie and says: “that’s the greatest love story since the 
Titanic!” doesn’t give you taste, anymore than rating this movie negatively because everyone else is doing it would.
It’s sad that Mr. Weitz believes his movie has been reviewed unfairly. He made the fans happy, that’s great! But he did so at the cost of producing a quality film. Weitz argued so strongly for the right to pursue his personal vision for The Golden Compass, that I hoped to see him carry that integrity forward in his career. Instead, he has chosen to blame the critics for calling a spade a bitch.
Twilight Saga: New Moon is a pretty film, but its initial box office record is a measure of the book’s astronomical popularity, and not the film’s cinematic merit. I’m sorry that Weitz felt the media response was a personal attack, but if he can’t take criticism, he shouldn’t work in Hollywood.
-Stephanie
link to article: MTV: Chris Weitz Responds To Negative ‘New Moon’ Reviews
*See my post Twilight In Love
**Cara Burns, Dan in Real Life (2007)
The Top Five Animated Tear-Jerkers
November 27th, 2009Want to watch a film that can tug on your heart strings and is a family friendly treat? Well these films are just some of the things we can be thankful for this season! Check out my top five animated tear-jerkers and order them to enjoy with your family or to pass on the animated genius to another generation. So here they are in no particular order… watch with kleenex nearby.
The Land Before Time (1988)
Before the cutest dinosaur baby hit the TV screen in “Dinosaurs”, this movie had us all rooting for the cutest motley crew of pre-historic reptiles. The director Don Bluth also give you an early tug at your heart-strings, so watch this movie with tissues at the ready.
Bambi (1942)
Old Hollywood had the cute-and-cuddly-till-it-makes-you-bawl-like-a-baby movie formula down, and nowhere is that as evident as the classic Disney film, “Bambi.” It has everything, nature, a thrilling score, and a scene that is guaranteed to have you crying for your momma.
The Lion King (1994)
Now admittedly the best song in this film is sung by the villain, but this romping good time of a movie has garnered a place in the hearts of both movie-goers and Broadway buffs. And you can go from laughing to crying and back again in less time than it takes you to say, “Hakuna Matata!”
The Fox and the Hound (1981)
Disney does it again with another film that will have you pretending that you just have something in your eye. As you follow these two cute friends on their journey to adult hood, you’ll be surprised how much you can learn about life from a kids flick.
Wall-E (2008)
This new classic, directed by Andrew Stanton, is sure to bring tears to your eyes. In fact for a movie with so little words it shows more emotion than many of its modern counterparts. I dare you not to cry when you hear that little robot squeak out “Eva”!
-Rachel
Shakespeare on the Silver Screen
November 23rd, 2009It’s finally here as I promised, the best film adaptions of Shakespeare’s classic plays. After wading through many, many horrific hours of poor translations and cheesy acting, I have narrowed down the list to five. So here they are, in no particular order, the best of Shakespeare:
Hamlet (1996): Nothing rounds out the perfect date night like watching a family self-destruct violently. To you it’s a tragedy, to the residents of Elsinore Castle it’s just another day with the family. Kenneth Branagh’s production of Hamlet is a visual masterpiece that draws the viewer into court life. This film is a must see for over-emotional aristocrats everywhere.
The Merchant of Venice (2004): If you prick me will I not bleed? If you tickle me, will I not laugh? If you make me watch a different version of this film, will I not cry? Al Pacino brings genuine sympathy to his role as Shylock. While Jeremy Irons evokes empathy for Antonio’s plight and scorn for his general wimpiness. The true star is Lynn Collins as Portia, the woman who uses her education and flair for men’s fashion to win back her man and prove why the pixie cut doesn’t look good on anyone. This movie is definitely worth a whole barrel of monkeys.
Romeo and Juliet (1968): For those unfortunate ones of my generation who have not experienced the acting chops of Olivia Hussey, run don’t walk to your nearest movie rental facility. This girl’s portrayal of Juliet is emotional, irrational, and spot on. The costumes won an academy award and the film was nominated for best picture. Small children beware, Romeo’s derriere gets some good screen time.
The Taming of the Shrew (1967): The leading lady of this film adaption is also relatively unknown to members of my generation who most commonly think of her as “that lady with the perfume commercials.” But before she sold cosmetics, Elizabeth Taylor pushed burly men down stairs and wore dresses that made Joseph and all of his technicolors jealous. Richard Burton acts as a worthy, though he be bearded, foil to her scheming. The chemistry between the two is fiery and the result is some great humor.
Honorable Mention: 
Moonlighting: Atomic Shakespeare (1986) This episode aired during season 3 of the popular 1980s detective show. It is recorded entirely in iambic pentameter … or … at least it rhymes a lot. Bruce Willis and Cybil Shephard give a modern treatment to the classic Taming of the Shrew that involves a horse wearing sunglasses, a sun that isn’t, ninjas, and a wedding rock band. You’ll never look at Shakespeare the same way again.
-Stephanie
Twilight in Love
November 21st, 2009
New Moon is a watered-down version of Romeo and Juliet with more angst and less purpose. There’s no point in denying it. In fact, Stephanie Meyer alludes quite frequently to the lovers of classical literature in the Twilight series. 
Twilight refers to Pride and Prejudice. Eclipse reveals the Heathcliff in Edward and the Cathy in Bella. Breaking Dawn is… Alien – so, okay, Stephanie Meyer broke her pattern with that one. But at least she offers a nod to The Merchant of Venice and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
With New Moon in theaters, I’ve decided to hide away from the hordes of squeeing fans and take a peak at the Romeo and Juliet in this Twilight sequel. (Dr. Tubbs, this one’s for you.) Romeo and Juliet is a love story for the ages. It’s origins go back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, because, let’s face it, we all love a good tragedy. Nothing makes a story live forever quite like a premature death and a priest who moonlights as a pharmacist. 
Similarly, Bella and Edward are facing some challenges. He’s a vampire and she’s not. Okay, make that one challenge. Still they are in love, they’re young, and they’re too emo for their own good. The book and the movie revolve around the classic he said, she said. He crushes a phone; she dives off a cliff. Someone is dead and all hell breaks loose. True love at its finest.
Shakespeare pulls no punches with his young couple – two beats before seeing Juliet, Romeo is mooning over another girl! Yeah, that’s a love for the ages! Finicky, selfish, young, irresponsible, lust-driven, obsessive love in a relationship that lasts for a few days before Juliet’s boy toy kills her cousin. It wasn’t his fault? Fine. But he agreed to fight, the guy died, and he’s sent into exile. Juliet, like a good little fourteen-year-old, throws a tantrum. Then Romeo imbibes some punch, and the rest is literary history.
What Meyer forgets is the classic tale doesn’t die with a kiss. The poncy Prince doesn’t get to say much, but what he says is important. 
The thwarting of a great love is not the tragedy. The real grief and power in the story comes from two families who have traded their children for a vendetta. The town is littered with their dead. Romeo’s mother has offed herself due to the grief of her loss. People are killing each other in the streets, and now the fathers have killed their own children. Romeo and Juliet’s deaths are significant because they brought the cost of the war home. The book is a political and social statement told through a love story – a tactic Shakespeare used in most of his work.
That is what gives Romeo and Juliet’s teeny-bopper relationship such power. Would we really have liked them if we’d had to watch that relationship develop over four books as we have with this sparkly vamp and his girl? Would we even like Ed and B if we saw them 40 years into their relationship? I’m not so sure.
Stephanie Meyers isn’t trying to make an eternal statement, she’s telling the story of two teenagers (apparently 109 is the new 17) in crazy, erratic, suicidal love with each other. She’s done so with flourish and aplomb. But at its best, her work contains only a shadow of the greater story that she works so hard to mimic. In that brief flicker of similarity there lies a danger to those who cannot tell the difference between a teen romance and a true “in sickness and in health” kind of love.
Meyer’s characters, like Romeo and Juliet, are still children in how they view commitment. They don’t have to consider the possibility of regret or the work that goes into building a real relationship.
Meyer’s fans look at Romeo and Juliet as far off characters who wear weird clothes and speak like the Queen. But Bella and Edward go to high school and listen to Linkin Park.
Or as the girl sitting next to me in the theater gushed, “That is love.” But is it? And, what happens when the impressionable members of Team Edward and Team Jacob are unable to tell the difference?
-Stephanie
