I've been sick and busy lately (funny how often the two go together, with the former leading to the latter), but I did watch Peter Jackson's version of King Kong over the weekend. I have to say, it showcases everything great about Jackson, and everything wretched. And here, the wretched outweighs the great. Far outweighs. The only reason I actually watched the whole thing is that (1) I never voluntarily stop watching a movie or reading a book once I start and (2) I didn't feel much like getting off the couch. I think perhaps Mr. Jackson should just produce giant spectacular movies, and leave the directing to somebody else.
The movie is actually quite boring despite, well actually because of the non-stop action. There is about 15 minutes of plot puffed into three hours of movie (kind of like a three hour porno movie -- if anybody was crazy enough to make one that long -- and just as believable) and it doesn't take long before it becomes clear that the criterion was that it didn't have to make sense, it just had to look good on film. And I'm not saying if you thought about it, it didn't make sense; it just obviously didn't make any sense the moment the photons hit your retinas. I don't mind suspending my disbelief, but I don't like to be insulted. If more is less, there wasn't anything at all to this movie, and more is less. I like movies that seek their proper length, whether that is 90 minutes or almost 4 hours, but there is nothing worse for a movie than to be very long and very boring (see The Horse Whisperer).
There was a nice ten minute or so short where Kong takes the girl skating in the park. That was about it. I kept hoping it would get better.
I will stop watching a movie (and have left the theatre sometimes) if crosses some lower bound of quality or boredom. But then you are more persevering and less prone to snap judgement than I am.
Who was who wanted to leave Cool World, and who wanted to stay because it has to get better?
Did we walk out on Hidden Fortress, or did I just sleep until the end? I can't remember anything except wondering how it could have inspired Star Wars.
Cool World did get better, just not better enough.
Hidden Fortress we both definitely left the theatre.
I went to see Russia House with some friends and was entranced all the way through, they fell asleep. I enjoyed THX-1138 but Rick and Kevin Mac kept asking if we could leave every ten minutes. I really enjoyed Mystery Men but Jeff and Lily wanted to go after about 20 minutes. Jeff used to bitch about all of the "art films" I would drag him to. So I have persevered.
Theresa and I saw Thelma and Louise (one we definitely should have walked out on) and immeiately went and saw Hudson Hawk (which seemed like a great movie in comparision, so funny, so life affirming given the taste in our mouth).
I remember almost walking out of Strictly Ballroom but persevering and there was an uncomfortable three or four minutes at the begining of "A Christmas Story" where Ralphie's initial fantasy scene made us think we had wandered into a kid's movie. I walked out of Wild at Heart after the dog ran around carrying someone's severed hand. There have been a couple of others.
When I didn't have a television and would go to several movies a week I was more inclined to cut my losses and try another (and movies were much cheaper).
In the last two years there have been several movies I have rented and turned off partway through and put back in the return sleeve (a variation on a theme): Lain #2 Knights (and cancelled the rest of the series), Mirrormask, Circus, California Split, and Trekkies.
Even the Chronicle has the "empty chair" rating for when the little man leaves the theatre, and he gets paid to watch the movie.