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So who should play young versions of Penguin, Catwoman and Robin in Batman Begins 3 and what do you think the dark/gritty/realistic Christopher Nolan angle on these characters should be?

And what should the movie be called?

And should we be having this conversation next week?

Had the pleasure of seeing "Jaws" on the big screen for the first time yesterday at the AFI Silver. What a great, great movie. But am I alone in thinking the first half works better than the second half?

I don't know if you'd be alone. But what starts as sort of a daylight horror movie becomes an adventure film midway. I think they both work well, but they are playing by different playbooks, sort of. I don't know. I love that movie more than most of my relatives, so I'm not an objective viewpoint.

I think that's a fair characterization of the two halves. I think the first half is more interesting. There's a lot more going on in narrative terms. For one thing, you have the mystery of the shark. There's also the dynamics of this insular town clinging to the old anf familiar in the face of this unknown, unseen threat. That comes across most in the depiction of the mayor, a typical small-town pol whose first response is always to be skeptical of the outsider whose only been on the job a few months. There are, too, the great scenes of the shark attacks and the excruciating tension Spielberg wrings out of them. There's something about the insularity of the first half, the sense of claustrophobia you feel as these islanders whose only means of escape has been blocked, that makes it tighter and more cohesive than the second half.

The second half is also excellent, but it's basically three guys out on a boat trying to kill a shark. And it does take a while to get going. I think they could have done without some of the early barrel stuff. And some of John Williams' cues in the second half struck me as bizarre, which for whatever reason hadn't really struck me before. The shark's swimming away and he's almost playing a sea shanty!

It is one of my all time favorite movies, don't get me wrong. But to mind the Hitchcockian pscychodrama of the first half works better than the straightforward action-adventure of the second half. Or, to put it succinctly, "Jaws" is more interesting without the shark than with it.

That's because it wasn't a shark. It was a motorboat accident.

The first half of "Jaws" is more interesting on an intellectual level because of the way that it juggles horror, drama, comedy and social commentary while simultaneously working as arguably the greatest cinematic depiction of the fear of the unknown and unseen since the days of Val Lewton. The second half isn't quite as ambitious from a narrative level, but that is because it shifts into a mode of pure cinema that is equally impressive to behold.

Regardless, it remains Spielberg's finest film and one of the 10 best films ever made and I will cheerfully fight anyone who says otherwise.

I also have JAWS in my personal top 10, it's easily one of my all-time most watched, and I actually consider it a PERFECT movie. Maybe not for everyone, but at least for me. Pretty much what STAR WARS is for most X'ers, JAWS is that movie for me.

Both halves are equally great, and you guys are making a strong case for the first part, but like Earl just said, there's something so primal, minimalist and exhilerating about the ocean-bound portion.

Odd, probably coming from a die-hard Tony Scott and Michael Bay fan, but there's such perfection in the simplicity there; Three guys with brilliantly distinctive personalities, the ocean, the open skies, the basic nature of the colors, down to the wardrobe -- all blues, yellows, and blood reds.

And I've never, ever considered JAWS a horror film and bristle when people do. Indeed, it's a good-natured, sunny ACTION MOVIE, from the lighthearted Williams cues to the wonderfully colorful Quint character. I love Raiders, E.T., Close Encounters, etc., but Jaws is just pure, uncluttered simplicity -- it even predates Spielberg's love of blown-out whites and soft focus... everything is just so crisp -- and that second half on the boat embodies all of that.

The second half is certainly an action movie, but the first half is a (mass-audience friendly) horror movie.

Crow: By "young versions," I assume you don't mean Spencer Breslin as Penguin and Dakota Fanning as Catwoman. So I'll suggest Toby Jones and, I dunno, Rosario Dawson?

I thought Nolan or Bale or someone said Robin wouldn't be part of the franchise on their watch, but if he is, there can only be one choice -- McLovin!

LexG: Saw Meet Dave tonight. With Gabrielle Union. Who OWNS your ass. A woman, not a girl. A woman who, when she walks down the street, priests rip of their collars and throw themselves at her feet. MAJOR OWNAGE.

Leydon loves him some sexual chocolate.

Wrecktum: I suspect I have ties in my closet older than Ms. Union.

A few months ago, I saw JAWs again at the Aero; first time I'd seen it in a theatre since Hell knows when. Still worked fabulously. So of course I was majorly pissed off afterwards when I overheard some punkass kids in the lobby talking about how slow and boring it was. Where's Bruce when you really need him?

i'd say 'jaws' is a monster movie: (largely unseen) monster picks off humans; humans hunt down/kill monster. typical monster movie formula. the shark in jaws has nothing in common with an actual great white shark in terms of behaviour (peter benchly is the first to admit this, even aggressive big whites don't stalk/chase boats to kill the tasty morsels within, it's ridiculous) or even appearance - bruce being the grotesque abomination to sharkdom that he was - i'ts a monster bent on killing and revenge.

cadavra, times really do change. i recently let my 9 yr old watch 'jaws' for the first time because i realised i'd seen it when i was nine when it first came out, all his friends had already seen it, and i don't want to be an overprotective hypocrite. he enjoyed it but was slightly bored at times; the only part that scared him was ben gardner's floating hanging-eyeball head, otherwise he was pretty blase about the rest, little twerp. i wondered if his reaction might have been different had he seen proper-like in a theatre instead of on dvd...i wish i had one of those cool projection gizmos so i could just play movies on my wall

Joe, have no fear, you are preaching to the choir: Gabrielle Union is definitely The Hotness, and much sexier than her unfortunately perennial C-list status would suggest.

Joe, have no fear, you are preaching to the choir: Gabrielle Union is definitely The Hotness, and much sexier than her unfortunately perennial C-list status would suggest.

oh man... i totally spaced on the main reason i came to post on 'bring your own beer' earlier, when my thoughts on 'jaws' distracted me:

robert downey jr. as the infamous sherlock holmes as directed by guy ritchie?!? huh?

i'm a huge sherlock fan (the first 'big girl' book i ever read was a compilation of holmes tales that my mother gave me, so the snuffhead holds a special place in my heart), and i honestly don't know what to make of this. i worship the ground robert downey treads...i'm ambivalent about ritchie...but i'm having a hard time picturing it. who will be watson? i guess that will be critical...does downey do a decent english accent? trying to think...

any thoughts?

So what are the chances of 'Inglorious Basterds' finishing in time for Cannes 2009?

Forgot to add - this is Tarantino, so expect delays. Not much chance, I'd say. Hope Pitt can do it though.

I think the chances are between nil and zero, blue. And, Pitt? Really? Ugh...

Sure, he's a pretty boy, but I thought by now he's proved he's a very good actor who can do interesting, oddball roles. (Fight Club, 12 Monkeys, Snatch,True Romance, Jesse James).

I've not a Pitt fan, I admit. But the thought of him in a freakin' Tarantino film does my head in. Isn't there some weird looking has been actor who can take the part?

So last night I watched Vantage Point and my brain still isn't back to normal. What a mind-numbingly tedious and stupid movie. Imagine my surprise when I read through Cinematical's best of '08 (so far) list and see that Scott Weinberg not only likes it, but also deems it underrated and worth a second viewing. Really?! Vantage Point?! Ugh.

Tarantino could revive Steve Guttenberg's career, he seems to be ready for an action movie.

http://defamer.com/396531/guttenbergs-got-five-reasons-why-the-police-academy-movies-rule

On another note, I just read that Wall-E was budgeted at $180 million. Dear God, I knew the animation budgets had crept over 100 but this is Titanic territory.

leah: Downey played Chaplin, so the accent shouldn't be an issue. Still, an odd choice (but they said that about Iron Man, too, didn't they?). I'm more worried about Ritchie.

Then there's the competing comedy version, with Sasha Baron Cohen as Holmes and Will Ferrell as Watson. Has the world really been jonesing for another comic take on Holmes since the days of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother" and "Without a Clue?"

FYI

I am so glad that this is coming out on DVD...my old vhs is ruined.

This movie is in my top 10 favorite movies of all time.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07082008/entertainment/movies/belated_kiss_119012.htm

if you haven't seen it, see it.

Yup, both underrated and worthy of a second look. Hardly a freaking masterpiece, but I like it.

Thanks for the plug!

I did enjoy the rest of the story. Of course I only talked about the one strong disagreement I had with you. I just watched it last night though and hated it so much I had to mention it.

thanks, yancy, spot on about 'chaplin', i thought of it after i'd posted and was too stuffed to go back and do an addendum. downey is so talented i think he can pull anything off, esp. with a good directer...and therein lies the worry, as you say. i guess it will depend on whether ritchie is trying for 'classic holmes' or something a bit quirky.

Downey had an Aussie accent in NBK, no?

Entirely off-topic, I thought of this the other day:

What happened to The Hughes Brothers? It's been seven years since "From Hell," which I don't recall being a particular flop or critical disgrace. Are they in Director Jail for some reason, or are they just content to work in TV, as it appears they have for the last several years?

indeed downey did, now that i think about it, lex (and again in 'tropic thunder'...hell, the ockers will claim him as one of their own! ;) )

'Ockers', that's a new one.

sorry, couldn't help myself, a good-natured rib from one antipodean to another...

(actually, i imagine kam (young hip urbanite) is the antithesis of an 'ocker', which i believe to be more a stereotypical outback character with the corks hanging off his hat and a roo-bar on his ute...)

'directOr' (typo from previous post)! i must start proof-reading my posts more carefully, lest people think i have less than six uni degrees

I am not an ocker, but like every Australian I have a bit of ocker in me. I have been known on occasion to say "crikies!" and "streuth!" I do, however, use the word "ocker" quite a lot.

Unfortunately, you're probably right about us claiming RDJ. It's the Australian media's "thing" to claim ppl as our own. :/

On the Hughes Bros... well, I hated From Hell, but it looked gorgeous at least. Not sure why they've disappeared.

I'm actually intrigued by Guy Ritchie taking on Sherlock Holmes. Something a little bit different could do him a wealth of good.

streuth! :P

(i just saw cameron's director's cut of 'aliens' tonight at a private function on a huge screen with deafeningly loud sound and i'm still all pumped up and hyper and psyched and stoked! too right, 40 miles of hard road...damn, they don't make 'em like they used to!!!)

anyhoo, i must admit i'm intrigued by the idea of a ritchie/downey 'sherlock'; hopefully they'll make some magic and produce something unique and interesting...(or it'll be a train wreck, but i'd watch downey ironing his laundry so i'll be there with bells on to witness the carnage)

I just returned from Mamma Mia! It's entertaining froth and it's two of the breeziest hours I've had in a cinema for quite a while (especially considering lately movies that are two hours feel like five), but Dave's right about the filmmaking. It's all very lazy. Lazy choreography, lazy cinematography and staging, lazy visual effects (the ocean in the distance actually cuts into Amanda Seyfried's arms at one point) and Pierce Brosnan's singing scenes actually had my audience of roughly 200 or so people laughing uncontrollably. Not a good sign. That last minute turn with Colin Firth's character was a bit offputting though.

Still, the music's good (duh, it's ABBA, it's hard to make it sound like garbage) and all the girls are great fun to watch. B-

Also, the trailer for The Women went down pretty well from what I could tell. The girls I was there with want to see it purely for the cast.

"That's because it wasn't a shark. It was a motorboat accident."

Props mutinyco.

JAWS is just a great horror adventure film, both halves work on different levels. I mean, the second half includes some of Spielberg's greatest moments, including the chum shot, the Indianapolis speech and Shaw's death. And the ocean still scares me because of the film. Thanks Steven!

i'd see 'the women' purely for the cast, too

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