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Mister Ecks
New Server, Same X
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:07 pm Posts: 28297 Location: ... siiiigh...
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Re: Elf
Dr. Lecter wrote: C
Finally caught up with it after all these years. I am not impressed. Zooey Deschanel is cute as hell here, but that is offset by Will Ferrell being annoying as fuck. I was sick of his performance 15 minutes into the film... Why this film is so popular is beyond me. I have to agree. I don't know how this movie has become the pinnacle of holiday viewing in the last 15 years, standing alongside (and perhaps above) Home Alone, A Christmas Story and Christmas Vacation. My first viewing came last year followed by a repeat viewing this year. As a holiday watch, it's OK, but it's nowhere near the classic it's made out to be, and features the quintessential annoying Will Ferrell performance.
_________________ Ecks Factor: Cancelled too soon
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Tue Dec 23, 2014 7:06 pm |
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Jacko
Speed Racer
Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2014 7:20 am Posts: 181 Location: Dancing in the Dark
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Re: Elf
billybobwashere wrote: Ferrell's best performance and movie to date. His performance is just as charismatic as Amy Adams' in Enchanted, minus the singing ability (although he does try haha), in a movie mixing a fantastic sense of humor with a touching story about an outsider wanting to love and be loved. This was Jon Favreau's first big movie, right? It's definitely his best work to date. The best Christmas film in recent memory.
A- Yes, Will nails the character he is supposed to be playing, in just a fun movie.
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Tue Dec 23, 2014 7:19 pm |
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Mister Ecks
New Server, Same X
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:07 pm Posts: 28297 Location: ... siiiigh...
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Re: Elf
Tom Green nails the role he is supposed to be playing in Freddy Got Fingered. Doesn't mean it's good.
_________________ Ecks Factor: Cancelled too soon
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Wed Dec 24, 2014 8:50 am |
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Jacko
Speed Racer
Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2014 7:20 am Posts: 181 Location: Dancing in the Dark
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Re: Elf
Mister Ecks wrote: Tom Green nails the role he is supposed to be playing in Freddy Got Fingered. Doesn't mean it's good. If you read the whole sentence, I said in a fun movie....which is kind of an important detail. And Freddy sucked so I don't really care anything about it, as it was a very disgusting movie. And since you need everything spoon fed to you, the thing that I liked about Will in Elf, was the navity, surprise and joy that he exhibited throughout the movie.
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Wed Dec 24, 2014 9:27 am |
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Mister Ecks
New Server, Same X
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:07 pm Posts: 28297 Location: ... siiiigh...
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Re: Elf
Yes the navity was aces.
_________________ Ecks Factor: Cancelled too soon
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Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:35 am |
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Dr. Lecter
You must have big rats
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:28 pm Posts: 92093 Location: Bonn, Germany
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Re: Elf
Will Ferrell can be annoying at times, but as Ecksy pointed out, this is the pinnacle of him being a nuisance.
_________________The greatest thing on earth is to love and to be loved in return!
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Wed Dec 24, 2014 1:11 pm |
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Mister Ecks
New Server, Same X
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:07 pm Posts: 28297 Location: ... siiiigh...
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Re: Elf
Ferrell, like Adam Sandler, is a love-hate actor for me. I don't hate either at all, they star in some of my favorite movies and their performances are accordingly strong. But too often they slip into these annoying characters that paint them as lacking in talent. But those are the movies that do well, so what can I say? I'm in the minority.
I guess that shows my navity.
_________________ Ecks Factor: Cancelled too soon
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Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:01 pm |
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Mister Ecks
New Server, Same X
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:07 pm Posts: 28297 Location: ... siiiigh...
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Re: Elf
"Some of my favorite movies" is a slight stretch there for both. But there are movies from both that I like a lot.
_________________ Ecks Factor: Cancelled too soon
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Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:02 pm |
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Jonathan
Begging Naked
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:07 pm Posts: 14737 Location: The Present (Duh)
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Re: Elf
I was positive-to-mixed on this when it first opened (the final act was way too syrupy for me), but on repeat viewings I've come to forgive that and enjoy most of it. This is actually one of Ferrell's best performances, I think - it's him doing his man-child schtick, but with completely unfiltered innocence, and he commits to that like a pro. I guess that's make or break for many here, but it makes the movie for me.
And yes, Deschanel is mind-bogglingly hot here.
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Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:13 pm |
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Dr. Lecter
You must have big rats
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:28 pm Posts: 92093 Location: Bonn, Germany
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Re: Elf
Well, we can at least wholeheartedly agree on that last sentence.
_________________The greatest thing on earth is to love and to be loved in return!
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Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:14 pm |
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Jacko
Speed Racer
Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2014 7:20 am Posts: 181 Location: Dancing in the Dark
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Re: Elf
Mister Ecks wrote: Ferrell, like Adam Sandler, is a love-hate actor for me. I don't hate either at all, they star in some of my favorite movies and their performances are accordingly strong. But too often they slip into these annoying characters that paint them as lacking in talent. But those are the movies that do well, so what can I say? I'm in the minority.
I guess that shows my navity. Per your lacking in talent, how was Will supposed to play the role? For me, he did it perfectly?
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Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:25 pm |
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Mister Ecks
New Server, Same X
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:07 pm Posts: 28297 Location: ... siiiigh...
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Re: Elf
OK, if it pleases you. To the best of his abilities, Will Ferrell did his best.
_________________ Ecks Factor: Cancelled too soon
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Wed Dec 24, 2014 4:52 pm |
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thompsoncory
Rachel McAdams Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:13 am Posts: 14560 Location: LA / NYC
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Re: Elf
Can't believe the hate on this board. This movie is hilarious and a holiday classic.
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Wed Dec 24, 2014 11:02 pm |
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Mister Ecks
New Server, Same X
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:07 pm Posts: 28297 Location: ... siiiigh...
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Re: Elf
To be fair, I'm in the minority here.
Without the RAPID holiday fanbase, this would be a pleasing Christmas film that I might get around to watching once a year.
_________________ Ecks Factor: Cancelled too soon
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Thu Dec 25, 2014 9:33 pm |
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zwackerm
Hold the door!
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:26 pm Posts: 20711 Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
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Re: Elf
Will Ferrell's best. He is funny here without being rude or crude. Very original and funny
A
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Tue Dec 30, 2014 10:35 pm |
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Mister Ecks
New Server, Same X
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:07 pm Posts: 28297 Location: ... siiiigh...
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Re: Elf
Like Lewis Black in a room with a bowl of candy corn at Halloween, I come to find myself watching Elf every year despite knowing how I feel about it. Call me crazy but I actually enjoyed it a lot more this time around. I don't know if my mood is playing a part, but so many things I found annoying and disgracefully unfunny are actually cute, charming, and, dare I say it... funny.
I can definitely understand now where the love comes from. It's such a big movie with a big childlike heart, while it also features a lot to keep adults interested, including, but not limited to, Zooey Deschanel's hotness, Will Ferrell's goofiness, James Caan's crankiness and Peter Dinklage's Dinkiness.
For my favorite holiday viewing, I still rely on Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, Scrooged, The Family Stone and Home Alone. But I gladly name Elf on the honorable mentions list, alongside Four Christmases, Jingle All The Way and Surviving Christmas.
_________________ Ecks Factor: Cancelled too soon
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Sat Dec 05, 2015 9:39 pm |
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Mister Ecks
New Server, Same X
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:07 pm Posts: 28297 Location: ... siiiigh...
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Re: Elf
I realize my honorable mentions list is chock-full of some major holiday dreck, but my dreck-meter takes a break for Christmas flicks. I have a soft spot for 'em.
_________________ Ecks Factor: Cancelled too soon
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Sat Dec 05, 2015 9:41 pm |
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David
Pure Phase
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:33 am Posts: 34865 Location: Maryland
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Re: Elf
This movie never did it for me, and I am a fan of Ferrell. I just do not find it very endearing, particularly once it leaves the North Pole.
_________________1. The Lost City of Z - 2. A Cure for Wellness - 3. Phantom Thread - 4. T2 Trainspotting - 5. Detroit - 6. Good Time - 7. The Beguiled - 8. The Florida Project - 9. Logan and 10. Molly's Game
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Sat Dec 05, 2015 9:43 pm |
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Mister Ecks
New Server, Same X
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:07 pm Posts: 28297 Location: ... siiiigh...
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Re: Elf
It loses some magic when Caan kicks Ferrell out for calling The Dink an elf.
_________________ Ecks Factor: Cancelled too soon
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Sat Dec 05, 2015 9:47 pm |
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Darth Indiana Bond
007
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:43 pm Posts: 11346 Location: Wouldn't you like to know
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Re: Elf
I really like how this has become a holiday classic, but I am not a fan of the film's climax in Central Park. Did Christmas really need to be saved? Couldn't this film have stayed more focused on Caan's character learning to accept his son.
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Tue Dec 08, 2015 4:15 am |
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zwackerm
Hold the door!
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:26 pm Posts: 20711 Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
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Re: Elf
I love this movie. But something bothered me. The James Caan character is not a nice person. But the film demonizes him for the work he has to do to keep his job. Is this job not important? Why does his family not value his career?
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Wed Dec 21, 2016 6:48 pm |
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Chippy
KJ's Leading Pundit
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:45 pm Posts: 63026 Location: Tonight... YOU!
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Re: Elf
You do realize you can do work and have a family without screwing one over in the process.
If you're put in a situation where your work is taking over your life and ruining your family life, you should probably drop it.
His family supported him all the way until the end. He treated them like shit.
_________________trixster wrote: shut the fuck up zwackerm, you're out of your fucking element trixster wrote: chippy is correct
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Wed Dec 21, 2016 6:52 pm |
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zwackerm
Hold the door!
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:26 pm Posts: 20711 Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
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Re: Elf
I just think it's unfair when men are portrayed as awful for attending to work needs and ignoring their loved ones, but women are praised because they are "empowered" and men just need to back off.
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Wed Dec 21, 2016 7:39 pm |
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Algren
now we know
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:31 pm Posts: 67688
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Re: Elf
I've not seen this. I really should.
_________________STOP UIGHUR GENOCIDE IN XINJIANG FIGHT FOR TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE FREE TIBET LIBERATE HONG KONG BOYCOTT MADE IN CHINA
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Wed Dec 21, 2016 9:24 pm |
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Chippy
KJ's Leading Pundit
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:45 pm Posts: 63026 Location: Tonight... YOU!
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Re: Elf
zwackerm wrote: I just think it's unfair when men are portrayed as awful for attending to work needs and ignoring their loved ones, but women are praised because they are "empowered" and men just need to back off. Oh go fuck off. What a stupid thing to say. There are plenty of movies about women working too much. Probably the same amount where a man works too much. Men have had decades of films about them having success in the workplace with no qualms from their family.
_________________trixster wrote: shut the fuck up zwackerm, you're out of your fucking element trixster wrote: chippy is correct
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Thu Dec 22, 2016 10:47 am |
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