#2002 films

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

August: Fantasy & Sci-Fi

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones / Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala

This is one of Padmé's most understated and (in my opinion) underrated outfits. Attack of the Clones is the movie where they tie her costuming most closely to that of her daughter Leia, so here we see her in white with a modified version of Leia's side-bun hairstyle. (The dress looks pale blue or grey in some lights, but seems to be actually white.)

[bestofcaryelwes]

Cary as Carter in 'Comic book villains' (2002) ✨️

[inter-gal-actic]

Beyoncé in " Austin Powers Goldmember" 2002

[adamwatchesmovies]

Secretary (2002)

Secretary walks a fine line. It could’ve easily been too weird, too creepy, or even offensive. On paper, it might sound disturbing or simply "wrong". It isn’t. Only by watching the film can you truly understand why.

Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a socially awkward woman who self-harms to deal with the stresses of everyday life. Seeking independence and normalcy, she applies for a secretary position under attorney E. Edward Grey (James Spader). A harsh critic who dishes out strange demands - seemingly only to see if she will carry them out - her willingness to endure reveals something about both of them.

It’s a love story. A strange one that doesn’t feel so odd once you’ve seen it play out. When Lee feels overwhelmed by her family – either her alcoholic father or her overly protective mother – she reaches out for a sharp object in her bag and jams it into her leg. As it turns out, Grey (whose name I assume was lifted by author E. L. James in her Fifty Shades of Grey novels in a nod to this film and Mary Gaitskill's Bad Behavior, on which the screenplay is based) is the right person, perhaps the only person for her. They’re both broken people. She's in desperate need of direction. He's aroused by obedient behavior but too ashamed to admit it and frightened of what opening up might lead to. The way their relationship evolves would be a textbook example of how NOT to start an office romance… except for the fact that, in the end, it isn’t abusive; it’s deeply emotional and loving.

While Secretary is about a relationship between a dominant and a submissive, it can also be an affirmation that everyone out there has their “one”, that person who compliments you so perfectly it’s a little scary at first. Trying to explain to others how you feel is impossible but if you look at it, you’ll understand. That's what this movie is about.

Part of what makes this story work is the performances. The sexual awakening that takes place is so out there it’d be easy for you to stop taking it seriously, but James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal are so good in their roles you quickly get over that initial shock. From the way Gyllenhaal holds herself when Spader reprimands her typos, to her nervous smile, you see the years of uncertainty and low self-esteem weighing her down. It never needs to be spelled out. You just feel them. Similarly, little details about Grey’s office speak volumes. The way he’s got it set up. The way people react to his behavior. His delivery brings it all together to make it all feel real. There’s very little sex or nudity in the picture, though it is erotic in unexpected ways.

You’d probably scare away any potential dates by showing them Secretary as a first, second or third movie. Some overly prudish audiences will also struggle to make the story’s unique romance fit within their narrow description of love. Director Steven Shainberg and his co-writer Erin Cressida Wilson explore territory you’ve never seen before. Thanks to the characters and the performances by the actors, the relationship between Lee and Grey is so true it still might turn you on in ways you didn’t think were possible. (On Blu-ray, May 25, 2018)

[nanak0i]

blue 2002

[dersiebentekontinent]

[cityofgod]

[ashlyns-general-blog]

The origin of my anxiety and (maybe) my trust issues:

I started watching horror movies when I was just 4 years old, although I can't recall the first one I saw. However, one film that has stuck with me to this day is M. Night Shyamalan's 'Signs'.

I remember that I was in the front room laying on those couches that double as beds and watching it with my mom and dad.

Like anyone at the age of 4, I was incredibly impressionable. The movie alone was scary enough to leave a lasting impact, but what added to it was a prank my dad pulled the next morning.

He thought it would be hilarious if he and his friend wore green alien masks and quietly stood by the edge of the couch-bed until I woke up. Thanks, Dad, for the minor trauma! Anyways, here is what I would imagine anxiety would sound like (even thought this may be a bit bias as the song itself gives me anxiety but whatever!):

[violetbudd]

10 days of 2000s horror

May (2002) dir. by Lucky McKee

[dipolos]

Secretary (2002)

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

November: Oscar Winners

Chicago / Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly and Renee Zellweger as Roxy Hart

Year: 2002

Designer: Colleen Atwood

Velma and Roxy wear these costumes for the finale. The white may playfully symboize their official innocence, while the lyrics suggest anything but.

There's a nice bit of acting in how they react to the glamorous fur-trimmed robes in which they make their entrance. Velma is more used to this lifestyle, happy to be back but basically taking it in stride. Roxy is practically swooning at the newfound luxury. See below for a close-up.

[zanephillips]

RIDER STRONG Cabin Fever (2002)

[e-mptyflowerfields]

Favourite movie genre: weird girls doing weird shit

May (2002), Excision (2012), Gingersnaps (2000)

[asiaphotostudio]

Indonesia, 2002 Bali, Indonesia. インドネシア バリ島 Photography by Michitaka Kurata

[adamwatchesmovies]

Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (2002)

Believe it or not, Cinderella II: Dreams Comes True ranks among the better straight-to-video Disney sequels. It does not belong in the same category as the original. Not even close. The animation is good - for a movie never meant to go to theaters. The voice actors sound enough like the cast of the 1950 movie to fool young viewers. No adult has any business sitting down and seriously watching this but if your kids LOVE Cinderella and they want a little bit more, for the low-low price of $0 - which is essentially what you pay for a movie on Disney+… - yeah, I’d recommend it.

Following her wedding to Prince Charming (voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes), Cinderella (voiced by Jennifer Hale) has moved inside the palace. There, her mice friends decide to put together a storybook of their favourite post-scullery maid adventures.

Though the film doesn’t appear to be an attempt to recoup losses following a cancelled television series, it's essentially split into three episodes with a wraparound story. The first chronicles Cinderella’s first official job as a princess: planning the annual banquet. Anyone who’s seen their fair share of children’s television will know the entire plot as soon as the story begins but it makes good use of the character. Cinderella isn’t like Ariel or even Snow White. She grew up knowing NOTHING of palace life. If anything, fancy gowns make her uncomfortable. She’s much more at ease in simple clothes cooking, cleaning and relating to common-folk rather than snooty royals. The fact that the film knows this and maintains it is refreshing.

The second segment is by far the weakest. In it, Jaq (voiced by Rob Paulsen) realizes he’s now of little use to Cinderella and gets her Fairy Godmother (voiced by Russi Taylor) to turn him into a human. Once again, you can foresee every development far ahead. What somewhat redeems this story is the amusing reversal. Before, the mice kinda-sorta took care of Cinderella. Now, they’re like little kids who want to impress mom and often get in the way. Though the status quo is inevitably re-established and this might make you think that the story has a message that counters the “Cinderella” story as a whole, it isn’t meant to. The moral is instead that even if you’re small, there are certain things you can contribute, certain things only you can do. Children will appreciate this lesson.

The final tale is easily the best. Actually, it’s the only reason to recommend the film. In it, Cinderella’s stepsister Anastasia (Tress MacNeille) falls for the town baker. Despite her mother’s objection, she allows Cinderella to help her pursue her heart’s desire.

What makes this story good is how much you can expand from it, even with how little we’re shown. If this were a traditional Grimm’s Fairy Tale, Cinderella would resent her stepsisters and stepmother. She would never dream of helping them out. This is a different Cinderella. She’s over what happened in the past - obviously, she came out on top in the end - and decides to do what she always does: respond to others with kindness. In her interactions with Anastasia, we get a lot to unpack. The sister complains that Cinderella always had it easy because she’s beautiful. Could it be that all of the mistreatment Cinderella faced before was caused by jealousy and insecurity? Is this the beginning of a redemption arc for a villain? In the scenes where Lady Tremaine (voiced by Susanne Blakeslee) scolds her daughter for pining after a commoner, we get hints of what life at the manor is now like. With her favourite target gone, Lady Tremaine takes her anger on her daughters and they’re too spoiled to ever make it into the real world. The upbringing she’s given them has had the opposite effect of what she wanted. Again, a lot of this is the viewer extrapolating what’s on-screen, but the beginning of those trails are there.

If someone took Cinderella II: Dreams Come True and really worked hard at it, they could make a great film. This is a true sequel, not simply a rehash or an uninspired rip-off of a story we’ve seen a million times. While there are dumb moments only the kids will like, this movie is for them. Actually, the audience isn't even that broad. It’s made for kids who specifically love Cinderella. For that demographic, it’s got enough sweet and funny moments to make it worth checking out once the grown-ups have finally gotten sick of seeing the same movie 30 times. (May 7, 2021)

[nanak0i]