Lobster (2015) by Yorgos Lanthimos

[cranefly]

Another huge disappointment.

This movie is very slow moving.  Why, on top of this, would they then add long slow motion sequences?  Jesus Christ!

The dialog is infantile, and people pause for a long time between their exchanges.  I suspect this is to ensure the audience has sufficient time to ponder the profound nature of the drivel.

I'm fine with weird world-building or society-building, as long as there's some thought behind it, and rules by which things operate.  This was incredibly shallow, with no credibility to it at all.

There's also lots of voice-over.  I can accept that, if well-done.  But there are places where characters have a slow conversation, and then as they sit there in silence, there's voice-over repeating everything they just said to each other.

Still if there's compelling characters, I can forgive a lot.  Too bad all these characters are despicable and utterly uninteresting.

This reminds me of great literary writers attempting to do science fiction.  They invariably fall flat on their face -- because they don't get it.

I'm way overdue for a decent movie.  Maybe Netflix will finally send me Shaolin Grandma (very long wait) or maybe Karaoke Terror.  Or Horrors of Spider Island.  Because I deserve the very best.  

Not this crap.

[Drunk Monk]

Shaolin Grandma sux. 

http://www.brotherhoodofdoom.com/doomFor...p?tid=2553

[cranefly]

Thanks for the heads up, DM.  Just removed Shaolin Grandma from my queue.

Guess I should've known you'd seen and reviewed it.

Ah, almost midnight.  Time to watch my recording of tonight's Olympics (I only watch the track and field segments).

[Drunk Monk]

Thanks for the heads up, DM.  Just removed Shaolin Grandma from my queue.

Guess I should've known you'd seen and reviewed it

That's what we do here. Hey cf, u up for another Chinese 3D flick this Friday? Jack Tu's Time Raiders opens, and I gotta see it.

[cranefly]

Yes, let's do it.
I really really enjoy wearing funny glasses.

Hmmm.  I know all about Jack Tu, but don't think I've seen him yet in film.

[Drunk Monk]

Jack has been in a few Jackie flicks but he's super hard to find, harder than a Marvel Easter egg. I posted a trailer for this in our Coming Soon forum. I won't know the times or even the location until later in the week. I'm guessing Cupertino Square again, maybe Mercado or Great Mall too. I'll touch base with you on this on Thursday if not earlier. 

Gigi really wants to see this too. If she goes when we do, I'll try to get her to spring for tix & popcorn.

[Drunk Monk]

I got about halfway through this based more on cf's previous mention, until I got sleepy and decided to switch over to other Netflix offerings.  Is it working for me?  Not really.  Pudgy neurotic Colin is a big nope.  Not sure if I'll finish it.  Maybe I might just to see if it goes anywhere.  It's interesting to see how Yorgos works with Rachel and Olivia in very different roles that with The FavoUrite.  I'm hoping there's some metaphor or message in the end, but given cf's previous comments, I'm skeptical.  One thing is for sure - Yorgos has an oddly dispassionate take on sex.

[Drunk Monk]

I finished this. It was quirky and slow, but my overall reaction wasn't as negative as cfs.  Mind you, my reaction was negative - this sux in that pretentious art film sort of way, but I was amused by some of the randomness, like the camel. Actually, that kinda made it worse because it kept me watching. The ending was completely unsatisfactory crappy-French-art-film sort of way.

[Drunk Monk]

Totally off topic but I had to post this somewhere. 

Officials warn of 'acid-shooting land lobsters' roaming a national park in Texas

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Updated: 7:59 PM EDT Jul 26, 2021

Infinite Scroll Enabled

Rachel Trent, CNN
This vinegaroon was spotted near the Chisos Basin campground, according to Big Bend National Park. 
SOURCE: From NPS/CA Hoyt/Big Bend National Park/Facebook

Some freaky-looking creatures are out looking for mates this summer.
Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas is alerting visitors that summer rains are bringing arachnids called vinegaroons "out of their burrows in search of food and love."
These three-inch creatures, also known as whip scorpions, can pinch with their heavy mouthparts, according to a Facebook post from the national park. They also have long, whip-like tails which can shoot a spray of 85% acetic acid, a main component of vinegar.
The critters sound frightening and have inspired sensational headlines about "acid-shooting land lobsters."
But the vinegaroons, which are nocturnal and can't see very well, are "relatively benign unless you annoy them," the park says.
They are primarily found in west Texas, especially the Trans-Pecos region, according to Texas A&M's AgriLife Extension Service. They're more commonly found in the desert but have also been reported in grassland, scrub, pine forests and mountains.
The park says they hunt millipedes, scorpions, crickets and other invertebrates by sensing vibrations with their front legs.
While they may be unsettling to look at, don't panic if you come across one. Vinegaroons are not poisonous.
In fact, Big Bend seems to be encouraging people to look closer at the strange, insect-like creatures. The park notes that if you spot a female, she may be carrying hatchlings on her back.

...because Acid-shooting Land Lobsters is a great band name...

[thatguy]

Personally, I like "The Vinegaroons"

KB will probably remember since one Otis, was a science teacher there, but in Jr High, at Kennedy, they had one in a specimen in a jar, among other treasures like the "two-faced cat" (another good band name)...

I enjoyed 7th grade science w/Mr. Jones so much that I was his TA in 8th grade and got to visit the specimens frequently.

--tg

[thatguy]

I watched The Lobster the other night and while it was slow and quirky, I wasn't put off by it. I think the slowness and the drolling, dead pan narration were just part of the atmosphere. Speaking of "oeuvre", I had a Humanities professor at SJSU, Mr. Caldwell I think...when he wasn't reminding you that he went to Cambridge (or was it Oxford), or that "Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny", he was telling you that Oedipus's eyes represented his testicles and his final act was in actuality a castration. I couldn't help thinking of that while watching this as the allegory was thick...

No one mentioned John C Reilly is in this, as well as Ben Wishaw (Rabbi Milligan in Fargo Season 4)

--tg

[thatguy]

I have such a vague memory of this. I don't know why but The Lobster made me think of this Spike Milligan movie I saw on TV with my sister when I was pretty little (probably around '74). 

The Bedsitting Room (1969)



Maybe it's the absurdity. Enjoy!

--tg

[thatguy]

I forgot to mention one of the best lines from The Lobster, from the loner leader:

"We dance alone. That's why we only play electronic music."

--tg