cleolinda: (Default)
[personal profile] cleolinda
For some reason, I can't eat. I'm just... not hungry. I'm actually kind of hyper, too, which is weird--I think it's a side effect of my cold medicine, because I switched from Tylenol Sinus to Drixoral. But in the last 48 hours, I've had two Slimfasts and a sandwich. That can't be good.

Heard back from my agent--the Matrix looks fine, she says. Which is basically what I needed to hear--that it's okay, it works, and by extension the rest of the (completely unfinished but extensively drafted) book will work, because it's all pretty much like that. After doing Phantom this weekend, I did realize something (yes, something else) about the whole process, as well: the better the movie, the further afield I have to go for the funny. Like, dragging in something else one of the actors was in, or adding some surreal, loopy element. And say what you will about The Matrix, but the FIRST movie is extremely well-made. Great pacing, great story, great action sequences. It's when they made the sequels that the thing started to wander all over the place.

But if the movie--no matter how much I enjoy it; "good" and "enjoyable" are not necessarily the same thing--is sort of... well, I don't even want to label it, but if it's a Phantom of the Opera or a Van Helsing, you can pretty much just transcribe what's happening and it's dead funny. I almost feel guilty taking credit for it, you know? I just wrote down what I saw. Granted, I bring a certain way of seeing things to the table, I guess.

Speaking of which: it's time for the official Just Because I Wrote a Parody Doesn't Mean I Didn't Like It speech that I have to give out every few months. People who like the movies always seem sort of sad--or, in the case of Harry Potter, downright angry--that I'm making fun of something. (Strangely, King Arthur was the one movie that no one took me to task for. Make of that what you will.) Here's the thing: Everything is funny to me. I make fun of movies I hate. I make fun of movies I love. If I really love a movie, I tend to have a Rocky Horror-style running patter that makes it hell to watch with me. It's making fun, people--providing and creating the fun. FUN. Fun is not bad. We're not mocking the movie until it runs home crying unless it really, really deserves it, and oh my Lord do I dislike Independence Day. But mostly? These things tend to run 4000-5000 words. I'm not writing that much about something I despise, and if I do--if I were really, truly disgusted--you would know it. Trust me.

Because see, this is the thing: Movies are just funny. Just, as a medium. They just are. They're not real life, and the coincidences and contrivances necessary to make everything that happens relevant and timely and meaningful to this particular group of characters, even in the best movies, can be really, really funny if only you stop to think about it. Even the most realistic, naturalistic movies are still life compressed into two or three hours. And if it comes to that? Life's pretty funny, too.

And then, on top of that, you have "good" and "enjoyable" as two completely different--and subjective!--qualities. I find The Fellowship of the Ring to be both an extremely well-made movie and enjoyable as all hell on top of it. Another movie I saw recently that was both good and enjoyable: Picnic at Hanging Rock, an old favorite. So we're not even necessarily talking about popcorn levels of enjoyment here. I enjoyed the hell out of Troy and Van Helsing and King Arthur. In fact, Eye of the Beholder is a movie that is so incredibly, awesomely bad I went from pure hatred to adoration in two viewings. On the other hand, I wrote a review to that effect, and got taken to task by a reader who thought it was brilliant. But then take a movie like Unforgiven. Objectively, I can admit that it was a very good movie. But dear God, do I never want to see it again.

So you have to keep that in mind when you read a "Fifteen Minutes," or, for that matter, most Harry Potter or LOTR parody out there: usually it's done with love. I mean, I can point out how dunderheaded the casting priorities in Phantom of the Opera are, or how awesomely cheesy some of the songs are, or how ridiculous some of the plot holes are, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to go see it again next weekend.

P.S. I think most of y'all have been over at [livejournal.com profile] m15m, but there are a couple of icon entries up over there, too, and we'll probably be adding more. I feel bad spamming everyone over and over again, but... really, it'll probably be weeks before I put another movie up. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Page 1 of 2 << [1] [2] >>

Date: 2005-01-11 03:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] zhai.livejournal.com
I don't suppose there's any chance of getting the Phantom m15m into the book, is there? =) I thought it was really well done.

Date: 2005-01-11 03:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com
Aww, thanks. No chance, though--1) it's been posted online and 2) the book is basically blockbusters from 1993-2003. If the book goes over well, though, I wouldn't be surprised if eventually they put together a compilation of stuff I did post online--I mean, already-written manuscript right there.

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/lorien__/ - Date: 2005-01-11 06:00 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 06:11 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/lorien__/ - Date: 2005-01-11 06:13 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] zhai.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 11:41 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-12 12:07 am (UTC) - Expand

Date: 2005-01-11 03:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meredith-mae.livejournal.com
My first guess is the same thing I'm listening to, featuring my new obsession, Patrick Wilson. ;-)

Date: 2005-01-11 03:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] barrelgoddess.livejournal.com
I firmly believe that the best parodies are done by those with a strong love of the source material. I can tell the difference, and I can clearly see that what you do is all in fun, and believe me, I appreciate it. In fact, you know what bits of the book I'm looking forward to the most? The LOTR movies. And I LOVE those movies. Yet, I also am able to appreciate well-done, loving parody of it, and have poked some fun at it myself in the past. So trust me, there ARE those of us that understand. =)

Date: 2005-01-11 04:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com
Good to know that *someone* gets it. : )

Date: 2005-01-11 03:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] skylark97.livejournal.com
Here's the thing: Everything is funny to me.

Sounds like a good philosophy to me! :3 And just from the ones that I've read, it's easy to see that you don't do them with any sort of malice intended. Anyone who can't see that either isn't reading it right or is taking themselves and the movie in question waaaaaay too seriously.

Date: 2005-01-11 04:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com
Yeah... that's about the way of it. This time it was mostly people being like, "Awww, I really liked it. I mean, the movie was still hilarious, but..."

Date: 2005-01-11 03:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] edda.livejournal.com
But then take a movie like Unforgiven. Objectively, I can admit that it was a very good movie. But dear God, do I never want to see it again.

Legends of the Fall. Dear God, may I never be forced to witness it again, even if Brad Pitt was hot. There was so much wrong with that movie it made my head hurt, even if technically it was well-made.

Slimfast? Are you dieting, or is that just easy food to grab without having to stop Making Funny?/nosy

Date: 2005-01-11 03:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] foresthouse.livejournal.com
I second the Legends of the Fall observation. Heartily.

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 04:09 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] meredith-mae.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 05:43 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 06:01 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] elspethsheir.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 05:33 pm (UTC) - Expand

Date: 2005-01-11 03:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] girlfrom10thave.livejournal.com
I, for one, love your parodies. I love when things in movies are funny... though it always makes me kind of sad when I'm the only one who laughs at the funny something. I think it's kind of funny that people have pitched a spaz over your parodies. Why can't they just laugh at the funny parts of a movie they love? WHY?!

Date: 2005-01-11 04:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com
For real, man. Mostly it's people misreading "parody" as "trashing the movie," which is not necessarily so, and they get all up in arms that I clearly didn't like their new most favoritest movie ever. Fortunately, Phantom people seem to have a healthy appreciation of the absurd, although I've had to correct a few people who would say, very wistfully, "Well, *I* liked the movie," as if I didn't.

(And thanks!)

Date: 2005-01-11 04:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] katla-asriel.livejournal.com
Every few months you have to make that speech? Ick.

One of the things, I think, people have a problem with, when it comes to parodies, is that it isn't OMG SO SERIOUS when it's talking about the movie. For some reason, people like to pretend what they like is flawless, and that's not right.

Now, I am a huge Tolkien fan, but I know that when you wrote The Lord of the Rings in 15 Minutes, it's going to be funny, because I can accept that it's not perfect.

I think that's why. That's all, really.

Date: 2005-01-11 04:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] all-ephemera.livejournal.com
I'm a HUGE LotR fan as well, but I have to say that "Frodo: *falls over*" damn near writes itself! *grin*

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 04:36 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 04:17 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] katla-asriel.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 05:07 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] kittygopounce.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 03:13 pm (UTC) - Expand

Date: 2005-01-11 04:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] all-ephemera.livejournal.com
See, I don't think your m15m would be half as funny if you didn't like the movies.
Welllll.... then again, maybe they would be, but whatever. Point is, ...

dammit.


*wanders off, searching for point*

Date: 2005-01-11 04:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com
Heh. No, I know what you mean. I just don't have the heart to really, really hate stuff at length. If it's really that bad, then it just sort of becomes a different kind of awesome (Eye of the Beholder). But someone else mentioned Legends of the Fall just now, and--it's that kind of awful, and yet I don't think I'd have the fortitude to do that one. It's just *that bad.* Painful, you know?

Date: 2005-01-11 04:08 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tselmende.livejournal.com
Actually, I always thought your paradies are sort of...affectionate. You can tell that you love movies. I never took offense...and by the by, the Phantom made my night. :) Thank you for taking time to write it.

I'm so glad The Matrix was fine...and I can see them making a compliation book of the posted online thingies, it's been done before, I just received a book for review that was serialized originally on some gent's blogger.

Date: 2005-01-11 04:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com
Awww, you're welcome. At least y'all seem to get what I'm trying to do. : )

POINT FOUND!

Date: 2005-01-11 04:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] all-ephemera.livejournal.com
I bet you're listening to Noveeeelllllllas of the Niiiiight!!

Re: POINT FOUND!

Date: 2005-01-11 04:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com
Heh. Nah, I've been stuck on "Phantom of the Opera" because I love the guitars and the organs. I'm a child of the '80s; cheese is my natural habitat. ; )

Date: 2005-01-11 04:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] maidenoflight.livejournal.com
hey, you don't know me, but just wanted to say, love your work! amazing! love it soooooooo much!!!! omg! and ur icons!!!!!!!!! love em!!!!!! great job!!!!
-ps-do u mind if i show my friends your icons, may i use them? if i say u made them? they are sooooooo cool!!!!!!

Date: 2005-01-11 04:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com
My icon policy is basically take what you want, do what you like. Glad you enjoyed everything. : )

Date: 2005-01-11 04:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] the-grim-wombat.livejournal.com
:D I really really appreciate the making-fun-of-something-doesn't-mean-I-don't-like-it rant. That's what I keep telling people -- if I hate something, I'm not going to bother poking fun at it.

(Sidenote: I actually reallyreallyreally LOVE Independence Day, if only because it's SO overblown and cheesy and expensive and hilariously bad. Plus, you just can't go wrong with that cast: Jeff Goldblum + Bill Pullman + Will Smith + Randy Quaid + Brent Spiner + that one kid who looks like Mexican Keanu... DAMN, THAT'S HOT.)

Date: 2005-01-11 04:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com
I actually saw the movie in the theater on July 4 that year, with a really rowdy (and partly drunk! At NOON!) audience, and it was a great movie-going experience. It wasn't until I saw it on video that I went, "Oh my God, this is terrible." I'm usually totally down with the awesomely bad thing, but for some reason this one doesn't do it for me.

(Yeah, that kid *was* kinda hot...)

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] all-ephemera.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 04:40 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [personal profile] elbales - Date: 2005-01-11 07:22 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] elbiesee.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 02:12 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] swirlingchaos.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 04:51 pm (UTC) - Expand

Date: 2005-01-11 04:59 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bibsy.livejournal.com
Seriously, if someone attempts to parody something that he or she hates, it's really more like a criticism. The way you do it so awesome, and I love the icons! :)

Date: 2005-01-11 05:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tabbyclaw.livejournal.com
I meant to post a note to this effect on the actual m15m when I read it, but for whatever reason I never got around to it. I've only read the recaps you've posted of movies I actually saw, and I've been lucky enough that all the ones I've seen I've liked on at least some level. And I think you're brilliant. I think the big thing that sets your work apart is that you clearly take delight in the madness and stupidity that can crop up in even the best of movies.

I'm sure if I had context for any of the others you'd written, regardless of the feelings I had about the films I'd love the m15m treatments.

(I was going to make some comment in which I compared your glee over the cheese to the sheer agony evident in some of the more brilliant TWoP recaps of truly bad television, but it kind of got away from me and stopped making sense.)

Date: 2005-01-11 05:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com
Awww, thanks.

(For real, there's a new Star Trek: Next Generation recap of a terrible old episode up today--I didn't even watch that show, and it's frickin' hilarious.)

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] tabbyclaw.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 05:30 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] mustang-bex1126.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 05:45 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] tabbyclaw.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 10:18 pm (UTC) - Expand

Date: 2005-01-11 05:50 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] computermaniac.livejournal.com
Love your m15m's. Long time reader, seldom poster here. Glad to hear that The Matrix got their approval, especially after all that you went through putting it together. I, for one, love The Matrix despite some of it's minor mistakes (Wish I could say the same about the sequel. The third one? Doesn't exist to me). Can't wait to read your m151m about it. Same goes for all your other m15m's. :)

Date: 2005-01-11 05:53 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Strangely, King Arthur was the one movie that no one took me to task for. Make of that what you will.

Does that mean that someone took you to task for Van Helsing? 'Cause that would be amusing.

-Clayr

Date: 2005-01-11 06:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com
Yeah, I had about two or three people who were like, "OMG THIS WAS A GRATE MOVIE U SUCK!" Which... I mean, yes, they missed the fact that I enjoyed it, but... really, they didn't have much of a leg to stand on, either.

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] anniesong.livejournal.com - Date: 2005-01-11 07:17 am (UTC) - Expand

Date: 2005-01-11 06:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/lorien__/
i actually watched hannibal - which i soo didn't wanna see cause i saw that bit about the brain-eating-thing when i was flippin the channels one night and it was just yuck - because of your m15m about it... and i laughed my head off... - okay boyfriend didn't think it was amusing, but he didn't get why i thought the movie was "funny" instead of "creepy" , men!

and i rented van helsing - which i never thought i would do, but there you have it.

and now i'm trying to get hold of dracula (1979) cause i'm dying to see that one...

and - don't ever do that when you're taking a "serious" friend with you - i saw king arthur the day after i read your parody... and i had a hard time keeping a straight face and not burst out laughing... specially with the 'girliest kid ever' taking the ring off that guy he "loved for like 5 seconds"...

okay i'm rambling here... haven't slept for 48 hours... gotta love insomnia...

Lorien__
cheerleader and nutcase

ps: can't WAIT to see what you did to my favorite movies ...

Date: 2005-01-11 08:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sunihiroku.livejournal.com
Oh HELL yes...I had a LOTR Extended Edition marathon a few weeks ago with some friends, and even though we're all a bunch of adoring LOTR nerds (we had to be, to sit through fourteen straight hours of it and call it a party), we had a running commentary that got wildly out of hand by the time the Mouth of Sauron appeared on the screen. The movie takes itself so seriously (in a completely good way) that anything remotely non-Tolkienesque sounds hilarious in comparison.

Date: 2005-01-11 08:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cellardoor28.livejournal.com
i cried in independence day

what? why are you all looking at me like that?

Date: 2005-01-11 10:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lady-elina.livejournal.com
Personally I think laughter is possibly the highest form of love and adoration for the source material, because it means you can see and accept the flaws, and still love it. I love love love LotR, but I've giggled my way through the movies as many times as I've watched them with religious seriousness, because -- let's face it -- they're funny, and not always intentionally so. The fannish experience is not reduced but enhanced by having a good laugh, IMHO.

Date: 2005-01-11 11:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sapphsmum.livejournal.com
I have to agree on the movies being fun idea! I love to go to the movies! And I love to sit and mock just about everything including all the sexual inuendo, especially in the Disney/family /children's movies.
I find most movies very predictible and within 10 minutes have the plot figured out. With The Sixth Sense I think it was more like three minutes into the movie! But I don't care because I go to be entertained and if the movie isn't entertaining enough I'll sit and make it so to the point that I have Jillian laughing even at sad parts in the movie.
They are loaded with humor everywhere and I just can't resist.
In the Harry Potter movie where they opened with Harry playing with his wand under the sheet I thought "typical boy at 12 to 13." Playing with his "wand."
I love the movies but yes there is a lot to be said for finding the humor in life!
For one it helps you get through the bleak trying times of your life and it is just plain enjoyable!
Life is too short to be taken so seriously 24/7 and some people need to realise it is just in good fun as you say.
I for one loved the Phantom. The costumes were great, I had never seen it on Broadway to compare it to the movie and I always go into a movie with no expectations. I just go in to escape the world outside and leave my problems and pain behind.
I'm not looking for a movie to solve the world's problems, just entertain me for two hours!
I figure if I go in and have an open mind about the movie (even pieces of pure fluff like Booty Call or Not Just Another Teen Movie) I will always find something to make those two hours enjoyable either thru the movie or my own input of it.
So just keep on finding the "funny parts" in movies to share, because I for one love what you do, and I know most others do too from the comments on your posts!
Loved the Phantom in 15m!
Christina

Date: 2005-01-11 08:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mustang-bex1126.livejournal.com
Christina! just wanted to say thank you for your note. Hope things are well with you and yours. Tell Jillian that I'm fedexing her scarf today-so many interuptions from the holidays and such.

Date: 2005-01-11 03:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] whoisdialogue.livejournal.com
Hee. Understood.

So can we expect an ID4 in Fifteen Minutes in the book, or as a treat someday down the line?

I love that movie as a beer and popcorn film, but can see why it would be eyegouging material.

Date: 2005-01-11 03:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com
It's in the book.

Just wanted add my name to the list of

Date: 2005-01-11 04:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sweetsyren.livejournal.com
devotees. Are there plans for the book to be coming out in England at all? I do look forward to checking up on m15m to see if there are new entries.

Just wanted to say thanks for making my work days more interesting since I found your parodies :) So cheers! *raises glass*

p.s. - hope the cold is better soon :)

Re: Just wanted add my name to the list of

Date: 2005-01-11 04:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cleolinda.livejournal.com
The publisher is British, so I think you can rest assured. And thanks. : )

Date: 2005-01-11 05:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pistolharris.livejournal.com
Hey! Independence Day's a CLASSIC!

Date: 2005-01-11 11:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ji-xiang.livejournal.com
In fact, Eye of the Beholder is a movie that is so incredibly, awesomely bad I went from pure hatred to adoration in two viewings.

Hm, looks like I need to take another look at this movie. I got it whilst still high on my Ewan McGregor obsession (and back when I still liked Ashley Judd), saw it once, hated it, and never looked at it again...
Page 1 of 2 << [1] [2] >>

Profile

cleolinda: (Default)
cleolinda

June 2024

S M T W T F S
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jun. 11th, 2025 03:10 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios