Ten Inch Hero (Spoilers, ho!)

[feliciakw]

Well. After much waiting and wondering and a bit of frustration, I was finally able to see Ten Inch Hero. Geo brought it home from Blockbuster last night, and we sat down and gave it a look-see.

And you know what? It's really a delightful little indie romantic comedy. We chuckled and chortled out loud quite often, and at one point, I actually laughed heartily out loud (though I now can't remember at what . . . ). The acting was solid, the characters were engaging, the cinematography was good, and the story was sufficiently layered and original.



Where to start? Well, one of the first things I noticed and commented on is how bright the movie's color scheme is. Very inviting, particularly with the beach and ocean landscapes. Bright colors running throughout, and it's just really visually appealing.

Also, the layers in the storyline really impressed me. It's multi-generational and multi-statused (hey, it's a word if I want it to be. :-) ). There's the late-blossoming romance of Trucker and Zo. There's the unwed mother searching for her child, who falls in love with the single father. There's the girl who's never been in a serious relationship because she lacks self-confidence and probably has never had anyone express an interest in her like that. There's the misunderstood guy who is part of the group, but not, and often overlooked as little more than the token guy in the group, rather than a man who can offer the man's point of view in these little dramas, and who can see how these girls are screwing up their opportunities. And the tart, who, if she looked around her and held herself to higher standards, could have ended up with a nice guy a lot sooner.

Elisabeth Harnois is a very pretty girl.

Oh! I remember what Geo and I laughed so hard at: the expression on Priestly's face when Jen points out that unfertilized eggs are merely a bi-product of a chicken's menstrual cycle. I thought we were gonna fall off the couch. Plus, that was so totally a conversation I can see my Aunt J2 taking part in. She would have really liked Zo.

Jen's monologue at the picnic table on the beach almost had me in tears. Why? Because I can totally relate. I spent a lot of my teen years feeling kinda unattractive next to my much prettier cousins. I was never really the one guys noticed. Then a few years back, even after being happily married, when I was hanging out with someone whom guys automatically took notice of when she walked in a room, those old insecurities got stirred up. It's childish, but its real. And I completely understood where Jen was coming from in telling Tish and Piper that they couldn't understand because they were both pretty. (Still, it was rude of her to leave the guy hanging without so much as a word.)

Then we get back to the shop, and Priestly puts the whammy on me by pointing out the opposing view--that Jen didn't like being pigeon-holed because of her looks, but that's exactly what she did to Fuzzy because he was attractive. Oh, Priestly. Underneath the painted mohawk and the multiple facial piercings, you're a very astute, sensitive guy. Why are you hiding?

And Priestly plays matchmaker. Go Priestly.

Also? Jensen is fairly hilarious.

Also, also? Jensen looks incredibly young once Priestly cleans up. And he cleans up nice. (But then, we knew that. Right?)

And for the record? Boaz is a strong Biblical name, dude. Okay, maybe not something you want to be called by, and you don't really look like a Bo, but do the research. Your namesake was really quite awesome.

And? Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls? Gangster/gambler extraordinaire? His name was Obadiah. So there ya go.

Now, there were a few things in the movie I really could have done without. Like the sex scenes and nudity. Full-nudity sex scenes really do nothing for me. I'd much rather have the suggestion (however strong that suggestion might be) than the full-on "bam, there you go. See? We're not afraid to show the sex." Because in this case? There really wasn't a need for it. I mean, I suppose the argument could be made that it was necessary to show the level of Tish's promiscuity, and the lack of artistic treatment shows the lack of care Tish puts into it. But still. For me, that's reaching. I'd much prefer scenes along the lines of what we get in SPN, for example. Where, yeah, they let you know what's going on, but they also don't have to (because they're not allowed to) show you everything.

And there was one more element that I was very disappointed in on a personal level. Izhi, you can probably figure out what that was.

Also, apropos to nothing, I really wish the people who keep saying that Jensen and Danneel met while they were doing TIH would pay attention. Jensen and Danneel are listed as both having worked on "Plight of Clownana" (2004), and at the time the behind-the-scene interviews for TIH were done, Danneel says she and Jensen have been friends for 4 years. *sigh* But I digress.


As the end credits were rolling, I asked Geo what he thought. He said it was a cute little movie, and said, "Why did it take them so long to find a distributor?"

Ah. Isn't that a good question. This should have been able to hit the art house circuit, at the very least.

I think this is one I'm going to have to add to my little indie collection when it's available for purchase. It can go on the shelf right next to Going Shopping and Maze.

Comments

[leelust.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything you said. i like the movie. A lot. it was good indie movie - right what i was expecting. As to sex scene i was left with impression that it was their attempt to buy their movie cos you know - there was sex and people kinda like it. I think it was unnecessary scene. Don't know what else you don't like though :)
But all in all i didn't regret buying dvd.
And as people say you can buy dvd from BB right now if you want yoy just have to spend more money for it (rent plus dvd price).

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

I'm going to ask, when I return the DVD, if they can tell me when it will be available for purchase. Considering what the rental places pay for their DVDs--with the intention of making the money back in rentals--I like the movie, and I like Jensen, but that's just a little out of my price range.

[leelust.livejournal.com]

But did you hear alreay about the opportunity to order it? I believe it was on tihsales site or something similar. The news was posted in comms (sorry, i'm bad with links). You have to wait till April though.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've waited this long. I think I can wait until April to actually own it.

But thanks for the heads-up. I'll check around, see if I can find the TIH site. I'm not really familiar with any of the comms, but I'll see what I can find.

(There are actually several DVDs and DVD sets I'm long overdue in purchasing. I'll have to check my finances.)

[leelust.livejournal.com]

I found a link for you:
http://teninchherosales.com/
Check it out ( i didn't go there cos of lack of free time and nervous connection but people said they ordered the dvd there).

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You just saved me $10.00.

[leelust.livejournal.com]

Oh, great! I'm happy to help :)

[luvwinchesters.livejournal.com]

I liked it overall too. When I first saw it, I was a bit upset that Preistly "changed" to get Tish, but then I thought maybe underneath the Mohawk and piercings, that's who Priestly really "is" if that makes sense, and maybe his "love" for Tish made him want to show who he really was.

And yeah, Danneel and Jensen were friends before the movie. She and her ex (Riley Smith) were both in Clownana. It can be viewed in 2 parts on YouTube for those who haven't seen it. There's one scene in a jeep with Jensen (driver), Riley, Christian Kane, and Kris...I forget his name. The movie is pretty funny.

I bought a copy of TIH from Sweden when it first came out. I know the BB version has extras..were they good? I'm only asking because if they are, my daughter would like to buy another copy when it becomes available in the states.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

When I first saw it, I was a bit upset that Preistly "changed" to get Tish, but then I thought maybe underneath the Mohawk and piercings, that's who Priestly really "is" if that makes sense, and maybe his "love" for Tish made him want to show who he really was.

Actually, Jensen talks a little bit about this in the behind-the-scenes interviews. He talks about how everyone in the movie is hiding: Trucker is hiding his past; Jen is hiding behind a computer screen; Piper is hiding secrets; Priestly is hiding behind the hair, piercings, and image that he projects; Tish was hiding behind the sex; etc.

I didn't see it so much as Priestly "changing" for Tish as baring himself for her to see behind the punk rock trappings.

Of course, I kinda thought that the Priestly behind the image could have done better than Tish with her constant bed-hopping/borderline nymphomaniac tendencies, but I think that was kind of the point, too. That there was more to her than that; she was just too shallow to let it show. She'd boxed herself into an image, thinking that she couldn't get a nice guy like she really wanted.

I actually liked the friendship and caring dynamics they had going. These screwed-up people made their own family unit, with the teasing and the bickering and the ignoring the obvious and the caring.

So, yeah, I'd suggest renting the US release to give the extras a look-see. There isn't much of a gag reel, but what there is, Jensen's great. I haven't looked at the deleted scenes yet. I'll do that tonight when I get home from work.

[luvwinchesters.livejournal.com]

Yea! So I interpreted it correctly! By changing I meant that he had done away with the Mohawk and punk clothes, not who he was as a person (I don't make myself clear a lot of the time) so that he could be who he "really was" beneath all the punk things. That clear as mud? :-) I will try and rent the movie in the next day or so and check out the extras.

I did wish they had fleshed out Tish's character just a little more. Someone who does that kind of bed-hopping usually has some deep scars underneath, and I found myself wishing I knew more of her story. Priestly too. But I realize there's only so much time they can work with and even without delving into their past stories the characters still worked for me.

I loved that wacky little shop and the people in it. And I laugh every single time I see Priestly go on his "mission" to the store.

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

Yay, you saw it! Your reaction seems to be mostly like mine--I was pretty impressed, even though there were a few unnecessary scenes (like the sex; I'll buy the need for nudity in the scene where Tish is almost assaulted, for the sense of betrayal/vulnerability, but not for the other ones).

As for what may have bugged you on a personal level, are we talking about the movie/characters dissing Jen's Christian background? *refrains from getting more specific*

I was a bit unsettled (or annoyed?) that Priestly had to change to get Tish to notice him, but I do agree that it goes along with the theme that everyone is hiding something or hiding from something. Also, I love that the film tackles both sides (male and female) of issues like attractiveness and stereotyping because of it. \o/

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

As for what may have bugged you on a personal level, are we talking about the movie/characters dissing Jen's Christian background? *refrains from getting more specific*

Actually, no. That wasn't it. It was more of a language issue. Specifically, a couple of Priestly's lines.

I'm finding it really interesting that I seem to be in the minority, not being particularly phased by Priestly's "change." Maybe it was because I'd been spoiled for it and knew it was coming. Maybe I thought it was nice that he was willing to take the first step and meet her half-way. Maybe I see it as not so much a change in personality as a maturing, an acceptance that he could be who he is without all the excess. Because if any of us believe that Priestly is going to continue shopping a Banana Republic? That's just nuts.

*shrug* I don't know. I just thought it was a really sweet gesture, that he was willing to step out of his comfort zone and take the risk for her.

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

Language issue...Oh, right. Yeah, there were a couple of lines that made me twitch a bit, but I tend to forget language issues once I'm done with the film (especially in a film like this where everyone except maybe Jen had fairly salty language, iirc).

I'm finding it really interesting that I seem to be in the minority, not being particularly phased by Priestly's "change."

*g* The rest of us are, I think, showing our own issues. I'm all for compromise and meeting in the middle, but the idea that one might have to become something that one "isn't" for love hits all the wrong buttons for me. Otoh, as you say, it's awfully sweet coming from Priestly, partly because it's SO deliberate, a concession to something he knows is silly, but is meeting the woman he loves where she is. So...yeah.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there were a couple of lines that made me twitch a bit, but I tend to forget language issues once I'm done with the film

There are a couple of things that really twitched me, and those twitch-inducing lines coming from Jensen made them twitch me that much more, which is probably why I remember them. If you want, we can talk about it via phone.

Re: the change(s) in the characters. You know I don't recommend the discussion threads on imdb--and we've talked about why--but I checked out a couple of the threads on this movie, and specifically, this topic. A lot of people are really bothered by it. But there are some people (one of whom I believe is the writer) who explain it much better than I can. Basically, everyone has to give up what they're hiding behind and show their real selves in order to find happiness. And if I were to project what I thought the character of Priestly specifically was going to do, I'd say that he probably won't go back to the colored mohawk and all the piercings (though he might keep some of them), but I can't see him as the button-down Dockers type for long, either.

Of course, now, after seeing the kilt, I'd like to see Jensen in full Scottish regalia, ala the Black Watch. Just for kicks. (Jensen in a costume drama . . . *nods* . . . )

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

Yay, I'm waiting for a pixie-free night when Soupy and I can watch this. I think I will be skipping over the sex scenes completely, though, if they're that graphic. If I want to see boobies, I have a mirror.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

If I want to see boobies, I have a mirror.

Bwah!

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

Or, you know, I could just look down. Not as flattering an angle that way, though.

[sarcasticval.livejournal.com]

I was so sad when Priestly ditched the punk gear. Nooooo, boyo, Banana Republic is the dark side! I wouldn't make you change!! In fact, I'd really love it if you stayed just that way because Jensen Ackles in alterna-gear? Not since Reeses have two great tastes tasted so great together!

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Not since Reeses have two great tastes tasted so great together!

Bwah! To each their own. :-) I'd prefer he not hide that gorgeous mug behind the weird sideburns and the piercings and the multi-colored hair. (If I'm gonna go against the "conservative"--and I use that word loosely--good-looking guys in black leather tend to be my thing. *misses Mack at the PAC.*)

Honestly, I didn't see the ditching of the punk image as anything more than a stepping out of the comfort zone to show that he was serious about her.

But apparently, I'm in the minority of most of the fandom on that count. *shrug*

In the meantime, hour mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find a copy of the magazine I mentioned in the post I just made. :-)

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

I didn't see the ditching of the punk image as anything more than a stepping out of the comfort zone to show that he was serious about her.

Doesn't he actually say something like that at some point? Not that bluntly, but...I did get a similar vibe.

[just-ruth.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, by calling him "Priestly" it has set up a bunny idea in my head for a crossover with "the Devil Wears Prada."