The Importance of Being Idle

Movie Day!

After last nights Speed Racer overload today I've seen The Day The Earth Stood Still (still an absolute classic in my book!). It's a shame that they just don't put old black and white movies on TV anymore, so much of the basics of my film education was the old matinees on BBC2 back when I was a kid. I know I saw DESS when I was of a fairly impressionable age 'cos the idea that the military is essentially run by idiots is still in my head! I shake my head in disgust when Klaatu's shot after being on Earth for just two hours, but we all know the American military shoots first and asks questions a very distant later, no matter whose side you're on! I have to say though, Klaatu takes being shot twice, killed once and having them attempt to dismantle his saucer and robot with remarkable even temper and delivers his warning rather than just saying "fuck the lot of you" as I know I'd be tempted to do (but then I'd be a rubbish superior being, I'm just as sick of the petty squabbling but far less likely to give a second chance).
Now I've got James Cameron's Aliens on in the background. It's been a long time since I (or anybody!) has seen a James Cameron movie (although Avatar is due next year I believe) and I'd forgotten how good he was, especially at all this hardware/sci-fi stuff. Another thing I'd forgotten is how terrifying the Alien is supposed to be! I mean I've not even seen one in the movie yet, but just watching Ripley's nightmares reminds you of how awful those things are supposed to be and yet in the AvP films they're almost like pantomime baddies. I'm not saying I haven't enjoyed the AvP movies, 'cos you know I have, they just seem to devalue both the great movie monsters that are employed in them. I dread to think what Ridley Scott would have to say about them...

posted by BadMonkey @ 5:13 PM