tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post268449134259899187..comments2023-11-05T02:01:53.847-06:00Comments on Antagony & Ecstasy: BLOCKBUSTER HISTORY: ADVENTURES IN YOUR OWN BACKYARDTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491952893581644049noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-90167839618207436372013-05-31T12:29:04.081-05:002013-05-31T12:29:04.081-05:00Ouch. I re-watched this movie some time ago, and i...Ouch. I re-watched this movie some time ago, and it felt painful - all the more because it was one of my favourites as a kid. I still remember being scared to death of the giant scorpio. Still, it's so sad to realize that some of your better childhood experiences are just... not good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-61402342718880810722013-05-31T12:12:50.612-05:002013-05-31T12:12:50.612-05:00I have nothing interesting to say about this movie...I have nothing interesting to say about this movie but since you brought up the issue (in a way), I'll state for the record that I saw both "The little mermaid" and this one on their first theatrical runs. But in Spain that means I saw them 1 & 1/2 years apart.<br />And it's curious because when I remember the movie-going experience for this movie, I think of myself as just a kid who, of course, was thrilled by the movie (I was thrilled by "Howard the duck" too, which means I was game for absolutely anything remotely fantasy/sci-fi/actiony with comedy, I guess. Oh the '80s).<br />But when I remember my "The little mermaid" experience, I think of myself as a pretentious, self-conscious teenager who was starting to take a big interest in animation as an art and was going to appreciate the movie for its technique, unlike the kids around me. Memories.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-54048245979224467472013-05-28T06:43:43.112-05:002013-05-28T06:43:43.112-05:00I love how the very last scene sweeps an enormous ...I love how the very last scene sweeps an enormous implication under the rug in favor of a cute little gag. The two families are seen gleefully carving a turkey that has been enlarged by Wayne’s machine, which means that he now has the capability to make food bigger…which means holy shit he’s just solved the world’s hunger problem and should be an absolute zillionaire! But never mind that—Giant Turkey! HaHa!Chris B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11667421260749439219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-46182932343839924722013-05-27T22:00:51.980-05:002013-05-27T22:00:51.980-05:00Tim, this is one of those films I saw so many time...Tim, this is one of those films I saw so many times as a kid that I can pretty much play it in my head without having to see it (I didn't see it in theaters though, I was a year old when it came out) and I like it a great deal more than you do. Granted, I haven't re-visited it in years, but I still know it by heart. <br /><br />There's actually plenty of conflict within the Szalinsky household as well, mostly involving how absent-minded Wayne is, which either hurts, annoys or worries all members of his family. There's a scene early on where Nick shows his dad his own shrink ray and tries to pitch him an idea, but Wayne is so involved with his machine he won't hear it. This hurts Nick. Any is a teenager with her own concerns and even though she's not mean to her dad, a lot of the things he does annoy her (like typing with his gloves on). <br /><br />I also don't think the acting is flat. In fact, the kids are pretty good at elevating some often mediocre writing. Jared Rushton is a standout for me as Ron, playing a boy who is constantly looking for attention and he also has a storyline that you didn't mention at all: the giant Ant. I love how Rushton makes his relationship with this ant pretty believable and the scene where the scorpion kills him, I don't see a lot of young actors who can cry on cue like that (by the way, for a film that is as sanitized as you say, that scene where the ant dies is pretty brutal, though I always grew attached to that ant when I saw the film a a kid).<br /><br />I also love how the kids build their relationships to each other. Maybe the Amy/Russ Jr. pairing is a little forced, but Ron and Nick's rivalry-later-turned-friendship, while mostly in the background feels pretty organic, and mostly Ron's understanding of the Szalinskis as a family (for the record, I do think Rushton gives a better peformance in Big, but he's very good here). I also think Robert Oliveri is pretty good here as the smart kid who always knows the answer, but still feels pretty helpless. <br /><br />I do think the film has some problems, but it's a lot of fun and it's one of those films that has stayed with me, so it did plenty of things right (thenagain, as a kid I loved the idea of getting shrunk and having my own adventure in my backyard). I also saw the sequels a lot and I can also replay them in my head. Looking back at those now, they really are not as good, but this one I think still holds up. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17393111879203194988noreply@blogger.com