Comments for The Long Take http://thelongtake.wordpress.com Notes from the world of graduate film studies Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:47:39 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Midd Visit by Derek Long http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/midd-visit/#comment-23 Derek Long Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:47:39 +0000 http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/?p=192#comment-23 Thanks, Finn! It's a good thing you're a dog and won't fall victim to a resurrected Spanish flu! Also, tell Jessie that Derek and Co. went to The Single Pebble, and that a certain mutual friend of ours stole said pebble. Thanks, Finn! It’s a good thing you’re a dog and won’t fall victim to a resurrected Spanish flu! Also, tell Jessie that Derek and Co. went to The Single Pebble, and that a certain mutual friend of ours stole said pebble.

]]> Comment on Midd Visit by The Finnster http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/midd-visit/#comment-22 The Finnster Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:00:34 +0000 http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/?p=192#comment-22 http://www.news.wisc.edu/16103 HI. I'M FINN. JESSIE SAID YOU WOULD FIND THIS INTERESTING. I DON'T KNOW, THOUGH, BECAUSE I AM A DOG. ALSO, JESSIE SAYS THAT SHE IS NOT IGNORING YOUR MESSAGE ON FB BUT THAT HER PHONE MAKES RESPONDING TO FB MESSAGES CONFUSING (I DON'T GET IT, BUT THEN, I AM A DOG) AND THAT SHE WILL RESPOND SOON SHE SWEARS. http://www.news.wisc.edu/16103

HI. I’M FINN. JESSIE SAID YOU WOULD FIND THIS INTERESTING. I DON’T KNOW, THOUGH, BECAUSE I AM A DOG.

ALSO, JESSIE SAYS THAT SHE IS NOT IGNORING YOUR MESSAGE ON FB BUT THAT HER PHONE MAKES RESPONDING TO FB MESSAGES CONFUSING (I DON’T GET IT, BUT THEN, I AM A DOG) AND THAT SHE WILL RESPOND SOON SHE SWEARS.

]]> Comment on Midd Visit by Jason Mittell http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/midd-visit/#comment-21 Jason Mittell Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:06:07 +0000 http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/?p=192#comment-21 Cool - be sure to stop by the new Axinn Center to see our fancy new digs! Cool – be sure to stop by the new Axinn Center to see our fancy new digs!

]]> Comment on Crossing the Atlantic, Hearing Other Voices: Diegetic Sound and the Continuity of Lang’s Style by Matt Levine http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/crossing-the-atlantic-hearing-other-voices-diegetic-sound-and-the-continuity-of-langs-style/#comment-18 Matt Levine Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:12:47 +0000 http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/?p=106#comment-18 Took another look at your paper, Derek; it's just as great the second time around. Nice work. See you soon. Took another look at your paper, Derek; it’s just as great the second time around. Nice work. See you soon.

]]> Comment on September update! by benjibrian http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/september-update/#comment-17 benjibrian Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:30:50 +0000 http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-17 hey derek, Throw a shout out to benji as well (or this will suffice). Did you see tropic thunder? You should have dropped this quote at the presentation: Kirk Lazarus: Everybody knows you never go full retard. Tugg Speedman: What do you mean? Kirk Lazarus: Check it out. Dustin Hoffman, 'Rain Man,' look retarded, act retarded, not retarded. Counted toothpicks, cheated cards. Autistic, sho'. Not retarded. You know Tom Hanks, 'Forrest Gump.' Slow, yes. Retarded, maybe. Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off Nixon and won a ping-pong competition. That ain't retarded. Peter Sellers, "Being There." Infantile, yes. Retarded, no. You went full retard, man. Never go full retard. You don't buy that? Ask Sean Penn, 2001, "I Am Sam." Remember? Went full retard, went home empty handed... hey derek,
Throw a shout out to benji as well (or this will suffice). Did you see tropic thunder? You should have dropped this quote at the presentation:
Kirk Lazarus: Everybody knows you never go full retard.
Tugg Speedman: What do you mean?
Kirk Lazarus: Check it out. Dustin Hoffman, ‘Rain Man,’ look retarded, act retarded, not retarded. Counted toothpicks, cheated cards. Autistic, sho’. Not retarded. You know Tom Hanks, ‘Forrest Gump.’ Slow, yes. Retarded, maybe. Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off Nixon and won a ping-pong competition. That ain’t retarded. Peter Sellers, “Being There.” Infantile, yes. Retarded, no. You went full retard, man. Never go full retard. You don’t buy that? Ask Sean Penn, 2001, “I Am Sam.” Remember? Went full retard, went home empty handed…

]]> Comment on Review: The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) by Derek Long http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/review-the-dark-knight-christopher-nolan-2008/#comment-14 Derek Long Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:02:34 +0000 http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-14 Thanks for your comments, Garrett. I appreciate your point about the possible symbolic relationship between Gotham, the Joker, and the Batman and the soul/Devil/Christianity. Another of the strengths of the film is its ability to tap into that particular moral tradition; I doubt Nolan was expressly thinking of Christianity when he wrote the script, but the moral thematics that run through The Dark Knight have a universal enough quality to where I think many people from many different traditions and faith backgrounds can interpret the film according to their own system. I hadn't thought of that, so thanks. Also, I am also a big fan of the soundtrack. It's oddly minimalist in its awesomeness. Thanks for your comments, Garrett. I appreciate your point about the possible symbolic relationship between Gotham, the Joker, and the Batman and the soul/Devil/Christianity. Another of the strengths of the film is its ability to tap into that particular moral tradition; I doubt Nolan was expressly thinking of Christianity when he wrote the script, but the moral thematics that run through The Dark Knight have a universal enough quality to where I think many people from many different traditions and faith backgrounds can interpret the film according to their own system. I hadn’t thought of that, so thanks.

Also, I am also a big fan of the soundtrack. It’s oddly minimalist in its awesomeness.

]]> Comment on Review: The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) by Garrett http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/review-the-dark-knight-christopher-nolan-2008/#comment-13 Garrett Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:20:32 +0000 http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-13 Very good review of The Dark Knight. As for "what happened to the Joker after throwing Rachel out the window," one can only conclude, from later dialogue in the movie (interrogation scene with Batman), that the Joker simply left due to believing Harvey Dent was Batman. At least that's the way it seems to me. Your point about minimal C.G.I. use was extremely appreciated. I think so many people are so brain washed from its extreme over saturation that they were blown away after seeing a blockbuster use very little. It really gave the movie a sort of tangible realism. Like there really is a true Gotham City out there somewhere with a masked man fighting crime. I also think the movie goes beyond just a gritty story and hits deeper into the human psyche: The Joker is a force of nature (the Devil), trying to corrupt Gotham City (the soul), while Batman (Human Morale, maybe Christianity) refused to give into the Jokers anarchy ways. The movie really brings home these theories by leaving and open ending. Just like in real life, sometimes, there aren't always happy endings... Another thing that can be said is the soundtrack conducted by Hans Zimmer/James Newton Howard is quite possibly the best soundtrack ever to be recorded. During the movie, there are certain parts (like when the GPD are transporting Dent in the armored vehicle) where the electric cello kicks in, slowly building to a climax, and as the viewer you know HERE COMES THE JOKER. It simply is an unbelievable and if you haven't listen to it already (which I'm sure you have) then you're truly missing out. Ok this is long enough! Nice blog you have here keep 'em rolling. You should check out our blog sometime www.moviegoon.com it's in the same vein as this blog. I'll link to you and maybe you can get some more traffic. Very good review of The Dark Knight. As for “what happened to the Joker after throwing Rachel out the window,” one can only conclude, from later dialogue in the movie (interrogation scene with Batman), that the Joker simply left due to believing Harvey Dent was Batman. At least that’s the way it seems to me.

Your point about minimal C.G.I. use was extremely appreciated. I think so many people are so brain washed from its extreme over saturation that they were blown away after seeing a blockbuster use very little. It really gave the movie a sort of tangible realism. Like there really is a true Gotham City out there somewhere with a masked man fighting crime.

I also think the movie goes beyond just a gritty story and hits deeper into the human psyche: The Joker is a force of nature (the Devil), trying to corrupt Gotham City (the soul), while Batman (Human Morale, maybe Christianity) refused to give into the Jokers anarchy ways. The movie really brings home these theories by leaving and open ending. Just like in real life, sometimes, there aren’t always happy endings…

Another thing that can be said is the soundtrack conducted by Hans Zimmer/James Newton Howard is quite possibly the best soundtrack ever to be recorded. During the movie, there are certain parts (like when the GPD are transporting Dent in the armored vehicle) where the electric cello kicks in, slowly building to a climax, and as the viewer you know HERE COMES THE JOKER. It simply is an unbelievable and if you haven’t listen to it already (which I’m sure you have) then you’re truly missing out.

Ok this is long enough! Nice blog you have here keep ‘em rolling. You should check out our blog sometime http://www.moviegoon.com it’s in the same vein as this blog. I’ll link to you and maybe you can get some more traffic.

]]> Comment on First View: Shadow of a Doubt (1943, Alfred Hitchcock) by Kris http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/2008/08/02/first-view-shadow-of-a-doubt-1943-alfred-hitchcock/#comment-10 Kris Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:41:17 +0000 http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-10 hey--check out To Catch a Thief if you get some free time. Bertolini thinks it's one of Hitchcock's most underrated films. the cinematography is absolutely gorgeous and it has a different feel to it than his other works. also, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly are hotties ;) hey–check out To Catch a Thief if you get some free time. Bertolini thinks it’s one of Hitchcock’s most underrated films. the cinematography is absolutely gorgeous and it has a different feel to it than his other works. also, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly are hotties ;)

]]> Comment on First View: Shadow of a Doubt (1943, Alfred Hitchcock) by Steve-O http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/2008/08/02/first-view-shadow-of-a-doubt-1943-alfred-hitchcock/#comment-5 Steve-O Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:30:12 +0000 http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-5 You may want to check out the Noir of the Week on Shadow of a Doubt http://tinyurl.com/5vm8xo You may want to check out the Noir of the Week on Shadow of a Doubt

http://tinyurl.com/5vm8xo

]]> Comment on Review: The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) by Daniel's Critical Corner http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/review-the-dark-knight-christopher-nolan-2008/#comment-2 Daniel's Critical Corner Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:32:42 +0000 http://thelongtake.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-2 Very well put ! An entire thesis paper could be written about this film, and there would STILL be more that could be said. I love the fact that it has become a "cultural phenomenon". It's been a long time since a movie has had such an impact on the world ! Very well put ! An entire thesis paper could be written about
this film, and there would STILL be more that could be said.
I love the fact that it has become a “cultural phenomenon”.
It’s been a long time since a movie has had such an impact
on the world !

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