When we were having our garage sale in Seattle this odd man who bought my desk went to extraordinary lengths to rack his brain so he could draw me a map to the “only theater in Paris that plays movies in English”. He informed me this location would be of great respite after a few weeks of not being able to understand anything people were saying on the streets and on TV. So of course I conjured up thoughts of every French cinema playing these black and white arthouse movies of crying clowns holding black balloons standing in empty train stations.
I’m not sure when this guy was last in Paris but he really could not have been more wrong. Oh, it is certainly true that Paris is any cinema lovers dream city with tons of theaters and movies from around the world and there are several where you can’t find an English language movie playing. It’s just that it turns out Hollywood is not only the movie making capital of America. Granted, we were walking on probably the most tourist-ridden street in Paris but there were many cinemas and they were all playing at least one major English language film. Also, our internet search of potential movies to watch seemed to confirm this was not confined to the area we were in. As Chizzy smartly informed me, all you have to do is look for the words ‘version original’ (there are probably supposed to be some accents in there or a slightly different spelling) to identify the movies that are playing the original version. They are just subtitled in French.
Unfortunately the movie we decided to see was Oceans Twelve. I didn’t care for it. Call me petty but the primary requisite for my enjoyment of a movie is a plot that actually makes sense. I can’t get excited by good acting or witty dialog. I can only appreciate those things once I have convinced myself the story actually holds water. If you have seen this movie and think I missed something please let me know.
Sometimes the names of the movies are just slightly off or a mix of the languages. In France the movie is called The Indestructibles instead of The Incredibles. In Zurich we could have watched Spongebob Schwammkopf. It rolls of the tongue quite nicely.
Nick and I saw Oceans Twelve too and I agree with you assessment. I thought the characters were funny at times, but it wasn't enough to overcome the completely confusing plot. The ending made no sense to me (I'm just happy to know that this time, it wasn't just me).
Wheelson, January 27, 2005 06:57 PM:Have you hear reports that here in the US people are leveling accusations made that SpongeBob Schwammkopf is gay? Not that there's anything wrong with that, but the people making the accusations are close minded and think there is something wrong with that.
I've not given those reports much though because they're just silly. However the picture you're using for your post I can't help but notice that SpongBob is...well...riding a big pink...er...anyway...I'm sure the accusations are totally unfounded it's just a big jellyfish right? Nothing more.
Burner, January 27, 2005 08:04 PM:Nielson's right, G-Bush has already made a statement saying Spongebob is a bad example for kids. The FCC is considering fines...looks like another Murphy Brown on our hands for President Dan Qayle George Bush...
As for 0-12 - it wasn't that great, but you can't be serious that a movie must hold water to be enjoyable? Spiderman seems plausible....
Just crying clowns...hilarious.
Bryan, January 28, 2005 11:20 AM:No, I have not heard those reports. Well, I'm not a huge fan of Schwammkopf so I can't say I know his preferences but it does seem like if any cartoon character does not have an opposite sex attraction to some other character they run the risk of being called gay. I say political correctness is killing the US. Piro says it's litigation. If the airing of Spongebob becomes a supreme court case I will side with Piro.
Bern, plausible isn't the critieria I meant. I can let my mind go and enjoy things that really wouldn't happen in the real world. The thing that drives me crazy is what happen in 0-12 (minor spoiler ahead). It's when they reveal an important detail at the end of the movie that made everything that happen in the last hour completely meaningless.
Puppy Power!, February 1, 2005 04:03 AM:Based on that pic, Schwammkopf is also obviously a dominant top. At the very least he is an aquatic bisexual, with an obvious jellyfish fetish. He must hear, "We don't serve sponges like you here." You'ld think that they would at least paint him in leiderhosen in the spirit of internationalism. Sniff the Zeitgeist.
buster berns, February 2, 2005 08:35 AM:yer right - his mom just showing up was stupid. I hate myself...
bingum, February 2, 2005 08:37 AM:Cheryl - do you get US Weekly over there? How are you taking the Brad and Jenn split? Its a sore subject over here...Shelby's emailing Jenn condolences every two hours...
chiz, February 3, 2005 10:48 PM:I don't have US Weekly. I need it desparately to keep up with reality.